AAM Plenum Spacer Install Problems
AAM Plenum Spacer Install Problems
After getting my plenum spacer installed this past weekend I noticed a vibrating in the front of the car.
When I popped the hood I noticed that the strut bar was sitting on top of the plenum.
The shop that installed the spacer tells me the following:
1. If they put all three spacers(washers) under the strut brace on the driver side the hood doesn't close correctly. It sticks up on the driver side. (I witnessed this as I just left their shop)
2. If they put only two spacers(washers) under the brace on the driver side it clears the hood, but it sits right on top of the plenum and it vibrates horribly.
Anyone have this problem? My shop and I have no idea on how to make this work.
When I popped the hood I noticed that the strut bar was sitting on top of the plenum.
The shop that installed the spacer tells me the following:
1. If they put all three spacers(washers) under the strut brace on the driver side the hood doesn't close correctly. It sticks up on the driver side. (I witnessed this as I just left their shop)
2. If they put only two spacers(washers) under the brace on the driver side it clears the hood, but it sits right on top of the plenum and it vibrates horribly.
Anyone have this problem? My shop and I have no idea on how to make this work.
I have minimal clearance between the plenum and strutbar but I also have the Motordyne Isothermal gasket installed so that raises the plenums up an additional 1/16".
I use two washers on both sides. Upon initial installation, the strutbar rests on the plenum. When I retension the strutbar by tightening the adjustment num 1½ turns, it raises the bar so I have about 1/8" clearance between the plenum and strutbar. This caused some problems with the hood rubbing on the strutbar so I had to get some rubber pads and mount them under the hood where the rubbing was occurring.
One more note - the hood had a couple of plastic/rubber pads already installed - square ones about 2" long. They mount to the hood with some pins through holes in the hood frame. I had to remove them as they were too thick to let the hood close. That might be your problem. If you remove them, you have a lot of room to raise the strutbar above the plenum. Raise it too high and it starts rubbing on the hood.
I use two washers on both sides. Upon initial installation, the strutbar rests on the plenum. When I retension the strutbar by tightening the adjustment num 1½ turns, it raises the bar so I have about 1/8" clearance between the plenum and strutbar. This caused some problems with the hood rubbing on the strutbar so I had to get some rubber pads and mount them under the hood where the rubbing was occurring.
One more note - the hood had a couple of plastic/rubber pads already installed - square ones about 2" long. They mount to the hood with some pins through holes in the hood frame. I had to remove them as they were too thick to let the hood close. That might be your problem. If you remove them, you have a lot of room to raise the strutbar above the plenum. Raise it too high and it starts rubbing on the hood.
Originally Posted by Cannysage
your shop suck. I installed it on my own (AAM), used 3 spacers, and it clears the strut and the hood, no problem..
The way it was installed they had only two washers under the strut bar on the driver side and it didn't clear the plenum.
They took the strut bar off and placed the third washers on. Put the bar back on and it doesn't clear the hood. When you close the hood it sticks up on the driver side.
Originally Posted by DavesZ#3
I have minimal clearance between the plenum and strutbar but I also have the Motordyne Isothermal gasket installed so that raises the plenums up an additional 1/16".
I use two washers on both sides. Upon initial installation, the strutbar rests on the plenum. When I retension the strutbar by tightening the adjustment num 1½ turns, it raises the bar so I have about 1/8" clearance between the plenum and strutbar. This caused some problems with the hood rubbing on the strutbar so I had to get some rubber pads and mount them under the hood where the rubbing was occurring.
One more note - the hood had a couple of plastic/rubber pads already installed - square ones about 2" long. They mount to the hood with some pins through holes in the hood frame. I had to remove them as they were too thick to let the hood close. That might be your problem. If you remove them, you have a lot of room to raise the strutbar above the plenum. Raise it too high and it starts rubbing on the hood.
I use two washers on both sides. Upon initial installation, the strutbar rests on the plenum. When I retension the strutbar by tightening the adjustment num 1½ turns, it raises the bar so I have about 1/8" clearance between the plenum and strutbar. This caused some problems with the hood rubbing on the strutbar so I had to get some rubber pads and mount them under the hood where the rubbing was occurring.
One more note - the hood had a couple of plastic/rubber pads already installed - square ones about 2" long. They mount to the hood with some pins through holes in the hood frame. I had to remove them as they were too thick to let the hood close. That might be your problem. If you remove them, you have a lot of room to raise the strutbar above the plenum. Raise it too high and it starts rubbing on the hood.
Originally Posted by 350Z007
I went there and witnessed this.
The way it was installed they had only two washers under the strut bar on the driver side and it didn't clear the plenum.
They took the strut bar off and placed the third washers on. Put the bar back on and it doesn't clear the hood. When you close the hood it sticks up on the driver side.
The way it was installed they had only two washers under the strut bar on the driver side and it didn't clear the plenum.
They took the strut bar off and placed the third washers on. Put the bar back on and it doesn't clear the hood. When you close the hood it sticks up on the driver side.
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I thought when these first came out, there were some 2005 owners that had problems with them fitting. I don't recall what the problem or solution was.
I would suggest contacting one of the AAM guys on this board, maybe they can shed some light on it. (dynamic6er or Mike@Altered).
I would suggest contacting one of the AAM guys on this board, maybe they can shed some light on it. (dynamic6er or Mike@Altered).
i installed my motordyne yesterday, used all 8 washers for all the bolts on both sides, and hood has no problem closing. i will look again at the hood to see if it is sticking up at all, but i didnt see it yesterday!
Originally Posted by DavesZ#3
I thought when these first came out, there were some 2005 owners that had problems with them fitting. I don't recall what the problem or solution was.
I would suggest contacting one of the AAM guys on this board, maybe they can shed some light on it. (dynamic6er or Mike@Altered).
I would suggest contacting one of the AAM guys on this board, maybe they can shed some light on it. (dynamic6er or Mike@Altered).
Originally Posted by USN HM 350Z
I used 2 washers and just readjusted the bar and it fit just fine.
This is key, and critical
I believe that the install instructions packaged explain how to adjust the strut bar. I used 2 washers, and adjusted the brace, ...no more vibration
Update:
Sense I didn't do the install, I never saw the instructions so I went out to my car this am and played with the tension on the strut brace. I got it to come off the plenum some and now the nasty vibration and rubbing is gone. It sounds good at low rpm's. The only problem I have is that the hood where it meets the headlight on the driver side sits up just slightly more than the passenger side.
The guys at AAM were awesome. They called me about it this morning. They suggested playing with different tensions and amounts of washers under the different bolts. It is hardly noticable and if you weren't looking for it you wouldn't even see it. I am going to play with the tension and washer more when I have time tonight or this weekend.
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Like I said before I never saw the instructions so I didn't think of changing the tension on the brace.
Sense I didn't do the install, I never saw the instructions so I went out to my car this am and played with the tension on the strut brace. I got it to come off the plenum some and now the nasty vibration and rubbing is gone. It sounds good at low rpm's. The only problem I have is that the hood where it meets the headlight on the driver side sits up just slightly more than the passenger side.
The guys at AAM were awesome. They called me about it this morning. They suggested playing with different tensions and amounts of washers under the different bolts. It is hardly noticable and if you weren't looking for it you wouldn't even see it. I am going to play with the tension and washer more when I have time tonight or this weekend.
Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Like I said before I never saw the instructions so I didn't think of changing the tension on the brace.
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