Does anyone know if the Crawford strut brace that goes with the original Crawford plenum, will fit with a Vortech SC and intercooler installed? Here is what the brace looks like:

 

 

PM McDuck...

 

maybe, maybe not but i know that popchoker aint gonna work...........LOL

take a look and you can see if it will or will not

 

 

Thanks, fluidz. It will be close, but my guess is the crawford brace won't fit with the vortech sc. Do you have a stock hood?
If so, I'm surprised that the JIC strut brace fits under it.

Or are you the guy I met at the Latigo Canyon run with the cool car that has the "575 Maranello" hood? If that's you, where did you get that hood???

 

i thought i read that someone had to take off the crawford because they left it on and drove to the tuner and it did have some rub marks from the vortech and i do think it was mcduck.

 

No... likely you will have 2-3mm of clearance between one of the toothed pulleys and the strut bar. As soon as you put the car into a curve (even a mild one) the body flexs enough to make the strut bar rub the gear.

I spoke to Doug at Crawford Z about fabricating a special bracket to move the strut bar back, but then there is a greater chance of it rubbing against the cam sensor housing and that would be worse!

Right now, we're planning (Doug and I) to take some measurements when we meet again at ZDayZ. It probably is going to require a custom fabricated bar, but if we come up with something maybe is something Crawford Z can offer to Vortech owners.

 

For an answer that was "spot on," even if it is not what I wanted to hear. So my choices, if I want to install the Vortech kit are:

1. Dump the Crawford plenum, replace the stock plenum (which I paid the extra $200 to keep, and turns out to be a smart move), and reinstall the stock front strut brace. Then I could sell the used Crawford plenum and strut brace. Not ideal because I would like to run the Vortech with the Crawford plenum, but perhaps the best compromise.

2. Run the Vortech with the Crawford plenum and NO strut brace. I don't consider this a good option, because I run at racetracks frequently, and need the extra suspension bracing in the front.

3. Get and paint Silverstone a different hood, that would accomodate a strut brace that fits on top of the Crawford plenum, but there probably is no such brace. This is a highly unlikely, as well as expensive option.

I really liked the Crawford plenum and hate to give it up. See if you can light a fire under Doug for the custom brace. Thanks again.

 

considering that the crawford brace does little or nothing since it is placed so far forward from your struts i'd get rid of that before the plenum.

 

nice brace there FLU.........

always a gem in your photos!!


do you (or any others) know of any strut bracing applications available for the G35coupe??

looks like one could be fashioned, i think.........

i am aware the Z's wont retro to the G's already, BTW

-eS

 

HunterZ...

Since you track a lot, I don't know if this is the best for you, but I would (and did) take option #2.

I'm am convinced the reasons I am making so much more power than other Vortech Zs are the Headers, Cams, and Plenum. All these things work together to give you some real free flow breathing. If you go back to the stock plenum you create a bottleneck in the breathing that is going to cost you some power.

Personally, I have noticed a slight difference in handling, but nothing I would call detrimental. In fact, I think even though the cornering doesn't feel as tight, it is a little more controlable. Maybe you should just try removing the strut bar as your car is now and try tracking it a bit to see if you can live without it or not.

Again, maybe Doug and I will be able to work out a special strut bar for Vortech SC owners that you will be able to pick up later.

Also, if you are bent on keeping the strut bar, aren't there some other plenum options available now? Maybe you could switch to a plenum more friendly to the stock strut, then put the Vortech on.

 

Is it me.. or does that JIC Strut bar look like it can fit over the Crawford Plenum?

 

that guy you met was me. i'm the one with that hood.. its made by kaminari and its like 800 bucks or so. i got it from an authorized dealer in fountain valley. pm me if you want more details. i also will be getting that jic strut bar soon cuz it looks bad a$$! nice car fluidZ...clean engine bay!

 

You should post a pic of your car. I am not normally into body kits, preferring to keep my car looking stock so it doesn't draw the attention of the cops, while I spend all my mod money on the engine and suspension.

But your car is the best looking 350Z I have seen with body panel mods. And you got a vortech sc to boot!!!

Hope you can make it to the Big Willow racetrack event on June 4. I know I can't keep up with on the front straight (or the back straight, for that matter). LOL

 

thank you very much hunter Z. if you want to see more pics of the car check out
http://www.serenitysoundusa.com/pict...50Z&startnum=0

there is also a link to the old pics too on that page.
if you want to see more let me know i'm still new on posting pics so i like to give links instead.
Dustin