There was some question about weather or not the CP Racing strut brace is a good fit.

It fit my strut towers well, the passenger side firewall mount had over an inch of gap, driver's side to a lesser extent. However, tightening the bolts did bring them in flush with the firewall. So it's under tension, which may be good, I just hope it doesn't screw with my alignment.

It took some frigging around to get the AC lines to fit with the brace at the firewall, but I got it done pretty clean.

No interference with belts.

I had to cut a little less than a square inch off the inside tip of my clutch fan blades. I didn't like having to do this, but I don't see that it could have a real negative impact.

Soooo, yes they fit. For $100 CDN I'd never complain.

 

pics!!!!!

 

no pics, I don't have a digital camera.

It isn't the prettiest thing in the world as far as strut braces go, but it's perfectly functional (all I care about).

They come painted and mark very easily.

For you guys looking to dress up your engine bay, you may want to spend the extra cash and get one from mazdatrix or whatever.

Do a search I think there's a pic floating around anyway.

 

Considering the 'pretty' bars will run you 2-300$ american... I say its a good deal even with minor fitment issues.

 

Trimming your Fan Blades? Is it in balance now?

 

i have the cp one one, i will try to post some pics

 

i have the CP one one, i will try to post some pics, i havent bolted the to the fire wall yet but its close an shouldnt be a prob., only thing i see that will be tight is tighting the outer bolt on the bar to the fire wall due to the angle the bar is on, i wish i could see pics of yours cause mine seems of low quality, i could of easily just made it myself, and had it turn out nicer, but i had mine for a while too, you may have a newer nicer one

 

Cusco makes a fine looking brace for the FC. Decent value too considering the quality.

 

After driving my car with the 4 point installed, there is a definate improvement in the rigidity and steering of the car.

 

I bought the regular two point from them, and it doesn't fit well at all... If I close my hood, it makes it (the hood) bend... Thus, it's sitting down in my basement. When I called him to discuss it, he told me that it was because my car was in an accident, however I bought her from a friend who is the original owner, and he assured me at no time was the car in an accident, EVER. I also bought a fuel cut defender from them at the same time, and the wiring was really shitty. I had to have a guy in our Med Repair department resolder most of it. So, you might say I have issues with their quality... I will be paying the extra money to get something from Cusco that I know will be a perfect fit.

 

My G/F bought me one 1 week ago for our 6 month anniversary (my kinda girl). i really didnt have much problems, but i trimed my fan blades sparingly, so in reverse the fan rubs the brace, but as im putting an electric fan in over the winter, and dont go in reverse much, it doesnt bother me. i'll post pics soon!!!!!

 

I'll tell you all a story about the CP Racing bars...

Every bar is made in a jig. This jig was made using an all original, low mileage, never wrecked FC as a reference. The jig will not allow the bar to be constructed improperly. However, there were some minor problems with the fitment of the early bars. This was corrected about a year (or maybe more) ago, and should not be an issue for anyone who has recently purchased a bar. In fact, body shops purchase these bars to help realign cars that have been hit.

HOWEVER, even if your car is not radically bent, every car is a little different. There are some fan issues depending on the engine mounts used, and there also seems to be some variation in the fan sizes that Mazda used. Also, early '86 cars have a different fuse box bracket which causes interference. The solution is to notch the bracket to lower the fuse box slightly.

 

CP? sounds like theyre semi-shoddy, but I wanna see some pics!

 

Yeah, pics and a link to thier website if they have one.

 

http://ca.geocities.com/farmz1ca/RX7_Strut_Bars.html

 

I have their front and rear bars.

Rear fits just the way i want it too............very very very tight.
(i put it over the carpet to make it a bit snugger and a cleaner install)

Front fits fine. No problems. Then again i don't have A/C or a clutch fan.

They are excellent products if you ask me.

 

Thanks for the link. Rear strut bar? Link to that?

 

the outside bolt does require a shorter bolt, second trip to the hardware store for me, but it wasn't a problem.

update on my fan blades, trimming a square inch wasn't enough, I could hear them rubbing, had to take MORE off. Don't like that. Still.....$100 CDN shipped. Well worth the improvement to the ride and feel of the car.

 

not if the fan blade being out of balance screws up the clutch fan, and then overheats your motor.

 

....then after my motor overheats, my car could catch fire, and if I was getting gas, the gas station could blow up, starting a fire which could spread throughout all of southwestern ontario, killing thousands. I'd better return the brace.
LOL
Don't mean to be a smart *** but I cut the blades with a template, not with my feet. I'd say on that fan the blades account for less than 15% of the mass so I'm not worried.

It's still cooling well.

 

Instead of cutting the blades, you could have shimmed the bar up with washers.

 

I thought of that, but figured it would rub against the hood. Even asked the question on the board, got the same answer, rubs the hood. Anyway its done.