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#1
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cowl shake
will adding a spring tower-to-tower brace reduce the cowl shake on my '06 GT convert? if so, should I get an aftermarket part, or the FoMoCo part? (and if it makes a big difference, why the heck isn't it standard). I'm not talking about hard use here.....it's just a toy used for normal driving (and 1300 miles in 2 1/2 years).......but the cowl shake is annoying - hit a bump and you have to watch the windshield, dash & fenders dancing. am also not amused since all the magazine reviews crowed about the lack of cowl shake ...... in fact, the 5th covert I've had and the only one where it is a problem. comments/recommendations appreciated! |
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#2
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cowl shake
"Itsfrom Click" > wrote in message
... > > will adding a spring tower-to-tower brace reduce the cowl shake on my > '06 GT convert? if so, should I get an aftermarket part, or the FoMoCo > part? (and if it makes a big difference, why the heck isn't it > standard). > > I'm not talking about hard use here.....it's just a toy used for normal > driving (and 1300 miles in 2 1/2 years).......but the cowl shake is > annoying - hit a bump and you have to watch the windshield, dash & > fenders dancing. am also not amused since all the magazine reviews > crowed about the lack of cowl shake ...... in fact, the 5th covert I've > had and the only one where it is a problem. > > comments/recommendations appreciated! Yes, absolutely, and it probably doesn't matter which brand you install. But I wonder if there isn't more at play here. Our original Princessmobile ('88 LX 4-banger) had A-pillars that waved with every passing breeze. CFrog ('93 GT) is much more solid, but will still respond to a hard jolt. I rented an '06 convertible that was absolutely TIGHT, in comparison to the other two. No noticeable cowl shake in the three days I drove it. I'll join with those magazines. And I have to wonder if there's something wrong with your own setup, other than just the lack of an aftermarket brace. dwight |
#3
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cowl shake
On Jul 5, 6:01*am, (Itsfrom Click) wrote:
> will adding a spring tower-to-tower brace reduce the cowl shake on my > '06 GT convert? *if so, should I get an aftermarket part, or the FoMoCo > part? *(and if it makes a big difference, why the heck isn't it > standard). > > I'm *not talking about hard use here.....it's just a toy used for normal > driving (and 1300 miles in *2 1/2 years).......but the cowl shake is > annoying - hit a bump and you have to watch the windshield, dash & > fenders dancing. *am also not amused since all the magazine reviews > crowed about *the lack of cowl shake ...... in fact, the 5th covert I've > had and the only one where it is a problem. > > comments/recommendations appreciated! It's not going to really help the cowl shake much unless you find one that ties into the firewall, and I don't believe there are any that do that for the S197 Mustang. At best an STB helps in hard cornering. For any other application it's a handy place to grab while working on the motor . A set of welded subframe connectors would be better for eliminating cowl shake but only a roll cage will truly fix the problem . But I'll echo what dwight observed: why is the shake so bad? The S197 chassis is stiffer than any of the previous Mustang chassis', and Ford was particularly adamant that the 'verts were even more improved. My '03 'vert had very little shake in stock trim and the '05+ cars I've been in have been better than that. Dan P49Y83+ |
#4
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cowl shake
Thanks for the comments. I'm perplexed too: maybe it's the expectation
that there wouldn't be any cowl shake after all the hype. And, seems worse with the top up than down, unlike other cars I've had. "Course, although the suspension is stil mild, it's probably tighter than the V6. Yes, my past cars had tower-to-cowl braces: doesn't look like a bolt-in is possible with this body. I see braces from $60 to $200......guess it won't hurt to put one on - and I'll have something to lean on when detailing the engine! BTW.......used to have one of those Continental 4 door converts......beautiful car. Sort of scary when you put the top down and opened all the doors and saw how little structure there was to it. But never a shake, wiggle or rattle. But it weighed 5500 pounds! |
#5
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cowl shake
Edelbrock makes a 3-point for the S197;
http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_...mponents.shtml it won't fit the V6, according to a tech support person the "Thank you for your response, Chris. I found the listing at AJUSA and supposed it was accurate: http://www.ajusa.com/details/index/2...0/0/EDE%205223 Good thing I waited to order, eh? Thanks again, Frank S " "Chris Rowe wrote: > Frank, > Our 5223 strut tower brace will not fit the V6 model. > > For all replies please include the ORIGINAL Email. > Thanks - Chris Rowe, Edelbrock Tech Dept. " I started with a BMR brace which made significant differences in cowl-shake on a particularly rough section of street near here. I did a before-after-before comparison, and it was clearly worth about 60% reduction in the annoy factor; from "Omeingott is it going to come apart", to barely tolerable. My second bar is the Shelby eight-nuts model that is affixed to the towers on all studs, four per tower, and "locks-on" to the wrinkle in the tower-mounting surface. http://www.shelbyperformanceparts.co...r%20Brace.aspx I can't tesitfy as to the change in actual shake-reduction over the same surface as the BMR because the City fixed the patch, but it /seems/ tighter yet than the previous brace. It definitely weighs at least twice what the single-bar four-nut version weighs. Previous catalogs listed a 40-dollar cheaper version without the Shelby plate, but I tried to order one and they said "not available". http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3278/...da797a6a_o.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3137/...cee48d0f_o.jpg http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3015/...2affcd36_o.jpg All said and done, I believe the braces - any kind - are worth the trouble on the convertible, but not so much on the coupe. -- Frank ess Itsfrom Click wrote: > Thanks for the comments. I'm perplexed too: maybe it's the > expectation that there wouldn't be any cowl shake after all the > hype. And, seems worse with the top up than down, unlike other > cars I've had. "Course, although the suspension is stil mild, it's > probably tighter than the V6. > > Yes, my past cars had tower-to-cowl braces: doesn't look like a > bolt-in is possible with this body. I see braces from $60 to > $200......guess it won't hurt to put one on - and I'll have > something to lean on when detailing the engine! > > BTW.......used to have one of those Continental 4 door > converts......beautiful car. Sort of scary when you put the top > down and opened all the doors and saw how little structure there > was to it. But never a shake, wiggle or rattle. But it weighed > 5500 pounds! |
#6
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cowl shake
On Jul 5, 1:43*pm, "Frank ess" > wrote:
> Edelbrock makes a 3-point for the S197;http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_...mponents.shtml > it won't fit the V6, according to a tech support person the > Cool! I hadn't found this one yet. I'll put in my list . Thanks! Dan P49Y83+ |
#7
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cowl shake
On Jul 5, 8:42*am, (Itsfrom Click) wrote:
> Thanks for the comments. *I'm perplexed too: *maybe it's the expectation > that there wouldn't be any cowl shake after all the hype. *And, seems > worse with the top up than down, unlike other cars I've had. *"Course, > although the suspension is stil mild, it's probably tighter than the V6. > > Yes, my *past cars had tower-to-cowl braces: *doesn't look like a > bolt-in is possible with this body. *I see braces from $60 to > $200......guess it won't hurt to put one on - and I'll have something to > lean on when detailing the engine! > > BTW.......used to have one of those Continental 4 door > converts......beautiful car. *Sort of scary when you put the top down > and opened all the doors and saw how little structure there was to it. > But never a shake, wiggle or rattle. *But it weighed 5500 pounds! Just one more word from me, 'cause I didn't make the case as strong as I wanted to . If all you are going to do is one mod, do the subframe connectors. They *will* help. They are more of a pain because they have to be welded (and you want the welded ones, not the bolt-ons) but it's worth the extra effort. SFC's significantly improve the stiffness of the car. Then later, when you have some money for bling, get the STB . Dan P49Y83+ |
#8
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cowl shake
On Jul 5, 6:30 pm, Dan > wrote:
> On Jul 5, 8:42 am, (Itsfrom Click) wrote: > > > Thanks for the comments. I'm perplexed too: maybe it's the expectation > > that there wouldn't be any cowl shake after all the hype. And, seems > > worse with the top up than down, unlike other cars I've had. "Course, > > although the suspension is stil mild, it's probably tighter than the V6. > > > Yes, my past cars had tower-to-cowl braces: doesn't look like a > > bolt-in is possible with this body. I see braces from $60 to > > $200......guess it won't hurt to put one on - and I'll have something to > > lean on when detailing the engine! > > > BTW.......used to have one of those Continental 4 door > > converts......beautiful car. Sort of scary when you put the top down > > and opened all the doors and saw how little structure there was to it. > > But never a shake, wiggle or rattle. But it weighed 5500 pounds! > > Just one more word from me, 'cause I didn't make the case as strong as > I wanted to . If all you are going to do is one mod, do the subframe > connectors. They *will* help. They are more of a pain because they > have to be welded (and you want the welded ones, not the bolt-ons) but > it's worth the extra effort. SFC's significantly improve the stiffness > of the car. > > Then later, when you have some money for bling, get the STB . > > Dan > P49Y83+ I did both the STB and SFC (both MM) within two weeks of each other on my 2003 GT vert... The STB tightened up the front end, made the cowl shake less noticeable and basically gave the car a much more solid feel. In fact, I could feel the difference just backing out the driveway. Truthfully, I was quite surprised because many people claim the STB is a waste, but on a vert I can say it makes a tremendous difference. Maybe it's the MM that makes the difference because it mounts to the firewall in 2 places and is one hell of a solid piece which requires MANY bolts to install. I've seen other STB with one wimpy connection on the firewall, in the middle, and I doubt they will do as much. As for the SFC, I got MM full lengths and they seem to effect the rear of the car more. You don't feel that sloppy feeling on turns anymore, but the difference is more subtle than the STB which was a real surprise to me. For cowl shake test, just suction cup your radar detector/GPS to the middle of the windshield and watch it dance away. With the STB it is much less, still there, but better. I can't say if this holds true for S197 though. For SFC test jack your car up and notice the space between the doors and the frame change. All gone with the SFC installed. Enjoy! Steve |
#9
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cowl shake
"Habib" > wrote in message
... > > The STB tightened up the front end, made the cowl shake less > noticeable and basically gave the car a much more solid feel. > In fact, I could feel the difference just backing out the driveway. > Truthfully, I was quite surprised because many people claim the STB is > a waste, but on a vert I can say it makes a tremendous difference. I think I might have read one such comment, but I believe that most convertible owners would feel the way I do - a strut tower brace is a blessing. Together with the subframes, they should be mandatory on a Mustang. dwight |
#10
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cowl shake
Habib wrote:
> For SFC test jack your car up and notice the space between the doors > and the frame change. > All gone with the SFC installed. > > Enjoy! > Steve That's not really very noticeable to me. When I jack one rear wheel up the same side front comes up too. Then you know it's getting tight. -- Tropic Green Y2K Mustang GT W/bits & pieces http://tinyurl.com/2uqoat |
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