Ebay Score!

[dohc82]

I didnt mention this because I didnt want to jinx it. I bid on a JDM triangulated strut tower brace 8) and I just won the auction :D $66.00 plus 25 shipping in US funds. Still only about 140 Canadian. You cant even buy a civic strut tower brace for that price up here and we all know how cheap those are :D. Take a look.

Ebay item # 2418076188.

I know it wont work with a rabid chimp intake so I will have to come up with a two piece with an elbow :roll:

wow first the Racactive filter for less than 40 and now this :)

Unfortunately my search for a hatch had no luck. There was an 85 two weeks ago when I had no money :mad:

-Wil

[Frank_MA61]

I hope you werent under the impression that the bar is a JDM piece.

http://www.supraforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=116783

Its still really nice piece though. And you got it for alot cheaper than he was selling it for on supraforums.

Let us know about fitment and performance.

[BillyM]

I saw that, but it equaled out to only be ~$15 cheaper than the guy is selling them directly. I will rather wait and buy on my own terms. Good grab though. I would buy one up this instant but, alas, I am in stock solo2 class and want to stay there.

--BillyM

[CJSREDPRA]

Will,

It is a nice bar, BUT......

This guy (guru) posted here (on the CS.forums) about the bar about the month ago. And I alse put in a lengthy reply..... Like, Will it clear a Rabid Chimp intake (obviously now the answer is no..). And would it clear the top of the motor & the coil packs for those who have done a 7M-GTE conversion.... Or will it clear the IC piping for those who have done 5M or 6M turbo conversions????

Strangely enough, he never did reply back. :shock: :shock: I'm under the impression that this bar works fine IF you are only running a NA 5M or 6M, with the stock plastic intake piping (or some sort of modded metal intake piping). Sorry..... Based on his "lack of a answer" I'm not too impressed w/ this bar. Not everyone is running a stock 5M or 6M & this bar does not seem all that flexible.. At least w/ the LJM bar, it will fit & clear a 7M-GTE conversion, a 5M & 6M turbo, and the RC intake pipe.

And yes, this is NOT a JDM piece, this bar is something that he designed & fabricated. When I saw his original picture, I noticed how close the bar was to the tops of the cam covers by the #1 & #2 cylinders. That's why I asked if it would fit a 7M-GTE conversion..... Doubtful...... :P

Yes, somedays "silence" is golden.... :lol:

It's still a nice bar for it's intended purpose & design (based on rigidity), but I'm still slamming it for it's lack of flexibility for different engine applications.

[dohc82]

I have no intentions of turboing this car...but it might get gas one day :twisted: I knew it wasnt a JDM or TRD piece-it has his Ebay name on it :wink: but it will serve my purposes just fine. The price was right and he is in the Toronto area so no customs to pay. I am constructing a two piece intake at the moment and it should clear with no problems. I will let you know how it works. :)

-Wil

[BillyM]

why dont you just modify the RC intake?


To those who are downing this bar, I would personally not complain about "oooh, it doesn't fit other engines, and the guy didn't give good tech support" due to it being the only triangulated bar I have ever seen for the mk2. If you have anything other than the 5/6m, dont get this bar, that easy...

Plus its $110, and probably stiffer than anything else out there. I will personally be sticking one in my vehicle as soon as I'm done with Gstock and move on to one of the STS-type classes, maybe DSP...

--BillyM

[Speed Racer]

why dont you just modify the RC intake?

Ouch...

I'd really hate to see what a Rabid Chimp Intake pipe looks like after it's been "modified" to work with this strut bar.

[BillyM]

Does the bar just touch the intake, or is it really really in the way? Ah, I guess I'm just a function over form kinda guy... Do whatever, just get that badboy on there. All I know is that when you get that car to the autoX, that tower bar is going to make one helluva difference as compared to a +2hp intake.

--BillyM
Viva La AutoX!

[Speed Racer]

Does the bar just touch the intake, or is it really really in the way? Ah, I guess I'm just a function over form kinda guy... Do whatever, just get that badboy on there. All I know is that when you get that car to the autoX, that tower bar is going to make one helluva difference as compared to a +2hp intake.

--BillyM
Viva La AutoX!

I agree with you in part (about function over form)...but, since I have the LJM bar on my car - I know from the design of the bar, the hyme joint doesn't allow any flex.

The bolt where it attaches is HUGE. There isn't going to be any flex in the LJM design - I'd be willing to bet on that. Plus removal because of the hyme joint is a breeze. Remove the lock-nut & bolt, swing the bar up and away. It couldn't be any simpler.

[BillyM]

Triangulated vs. not. There is quite a difference in feel, though nothing like strutbar vs not. I helped set up the suspension on a friend's 240, and the triangulated definately had some interesting cornering manners. I liked it quite a bit more than with just the strutbar.

--BillyM
Viva La AutoX!

[dohc82]

I guess the bottom line is-am I happy with my purchase? Answer is YES :) It will work with my two piece intake, it will improve handling and it is different. I have been dreaming about an LJM bar since they were introduced but I never had the money when the purchases were happening. I knew I would have some car money in June and was watching the latest group purchase with interest but after doing the conversion to Canadian plus shipping and any duties it was still to pricey for me.. I found this one on Ebay with 4 hours remaining and jumped on it. It has nothing to do with the LJM being better or worse..it didnt even enter the equation. I hope they keep on making them until everyone has one.

-Wil

[Dean]

I was up to visit the guys at CP Racing a couple of weeks ago. Great guys, really into racing in a big way.

The prototype was built on Rob's Euro 84 Supra. I informed them that Rob's car had no auto A/C so had no heater control valve on the firewall. I also told them about slightly different intake plenums on different years, and they wanted to see the differences. So, I took my 83 there along with an 85 intake plenum with the little fitting on the top of the plenum near the rear.
They did a test fitting on my car and made sure it would fit the 85 plenum as well. You will still need to relocate the heater control valve slightly in order to mount the triangulated bar to the pass side firewall. It should be a small price to pay for the added stiffness. Rob felt a huge improvement when it was put on his car. I'll probably be getting one for my race car soon.

[Muchbzy]

I guess the bottom line is-am I happy with my purchase? Answer is YES :) It will work with my two piece intake, it will improve handling and it is different. I have been dreaming about an LJM bar since they were introduced but I never had the money when the purchases were happening. I knew I would have some car money in June and was watching the latest group purchase with interest but after doing the conversion to Canadian plus shipping and any duties it was still to pricey for me.. I found this one on Ebay with 4 hours remaining and jumped on it. It has nothing to do with the LJM being better or worse..it didnt even enter the equation. I hope they keep on making them until everyone has one.

-Wil

That's all that matters Wil. I saw the bar also. I look at ebay almost every day just to hope that I come across something like that. I actually bought the hood struts that someone else had for $27 on Friday.

[dohc82]

Well the deal has gone a little sour. The Ebay ad required payment within 24 hours "or I will be reported to Ebay" So I provided a credit card number right away. I assumed that if they required payment within 24 hours I could expect the same treatment with shipping.
It turns out that he has to make the bar. Two weeks go by and I assume he has taken the payment. He didnt and when He finished the bar he tried to take the money but it wasnt there. Service charges had gone through and there wasnt quite enough to cover it. No problem I put some more in...he had to wait 1 day for that and then 2 business days for it to be deposited. He called said he had the money but that they only ship on Mondays and it is Tuesday so I had to wait. Monday was the 30th of June and Tuesday the 1st was a Holiday and I think they took a 4 day weekend. On thursday I got tracking number. At first all it would say is "invalid" Then it changed to "in transit' Now Today Tuesday the 8th the UPS tracking page says that the package with that number has arrived ib BUffalo!?! I live in Calgary Alberta Canada!!! I tried to call to find out what is going on but got thier machine. I am feeling like I have been scammed. Everything from the start was weird and now this.

I CANT RECOMMEND THESE PEOPLE OR THIS PRODUCT AT THIS TIME

I may have to involve the police and Ebay in this matter if I dont get a response.

[MK2Racer]

Ouch, that sucks! I feel for ya, Ive been screwed over on ebay as well and it is a PITA to try and resolve anything

[dohc82]

I have only had to report a seller once. Ebay gave me his home number :shock: and one call took care of it all. But I already have the number this time so I dont know what ebays next step is. I am waiting for a response from them and will take it from there.

[dohc82]

It finally arrived. It only took 7 weeks to get it :roll: It looks nice but the strut nuts dont quite line up :?: I think If I support the car with a jack under the crossmember it might "pull" the towers apart a little. I sure hope so.

[TRD 83 SUPRA XX]

Hey guys I just got my tri bar LOL its funny same thing happend to me about Id say 3 or 4 weeks ago I won the bet on e-bay and I just got it today "7/30/2003 dam I even went to Mexico and came back!!! LOL well I haveint tryd it yet but i will soon. So did you guys try out the fitment with the RC intake yet? and is there a way to make them fit if it dosin't send picture of it done if any. 8)

[dohc82]

I havent installed it yet. I got caught up in a fibreglass project. I went to buy some bolts for the fire wall mounts. I thought they were half inch but they arent...I think they are 3/8ths. I havent made it back to the hardware store for more bolts yet.

[TRD 83 SUPRA XX]

Hey thanks for the info [dohc82] on the bolts keep up the updates

[TRD 83 SUPRA XX]

The back part dosint even make it to the fire wall wtf man I e-maild him he said to put in spacers???? oh well

[82Spearco]

Sounds like a serious quality control issue. Maybe we should have an area on the Forum to warn others about shady sellers and shoddy parts.

[dohc82]

Mine reaches the firewall but there was a vacuum fitting on top of the intake manifold that was interfering with one of the firewall braces. I rotated the fitting and now the bar clears. 82 was the only year with this valve.

[TRD 83 SUPRA XX]

Well i think he has a good idea to worn peps of this sort of thing I remember reading about something like the moment he got the order that you won on e-bay he would berly start to make it?? Well thats just gay to me. :ghey: Anyway Ifsome one knows how to make a pole lets get this worning forum up in here laterz. Alex aka Speedy Supra

[dohc82]

Yea he demands payment in 24hours but doesnt start building the bar till he has the money. In my opinion if you demand payment that quick then the buyer has the right to expect the same speedy service...IE shipped within a couple of days.
Still havent installed the bar. I have the bolts but when I went to undo the strut nuts one rounded off :pat: So I will have to get a nut buster and hope the threads survive :roll:

[TRD 83 SUPRA XX]

get a gater grip

[dogstar]

hey wil, ive got some of those nut removers from sears.... they work like a trick.
if you still havent gotten it off when i come down this weekend, remind me and we can get it right off there for you... just remember to bring a replacement strut nut eh :)

[dohc82]

That would be awsome. Thanks.

This place rocks :)