VMP Strut Tower Brace & Insulation Tips

[Aegir]

Hi everyone,

I'm considering installing the VMP Strut Tower Brace on my Whipple-supercharged Dark Horse, but I have a few questions before diving in.

From what I’ve gathered, the brace would come into contact with the factory under-hood insulation. While the recommended solution is to remove or trim the insulation, I want to maintain a clean and professional look under the hood - to avoid something like this...

(from a YT clip showing a rather brutal approach to solving the same problem on an S550)

Has anyone modified the insulation to maintain a sharp appearance? I'd appreciate any tips on how to approach this.

Also, does it make sense to consider replacing the cut portion with a thinner, heat-resistant material, to retain some insulation properties while avoiding bulk?

I’d love to hear your experiences and any advice y'all can share! Thanks in advance.

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[MCS]

Watching!

I'm about to go through this is another 19 days LOL

 

[ugasouthernpride]

Def curious. Maybe replace with dynamat hood liner?

 

[ugasouthernpride]

Or a thinner hushmat?

 

[ugasouthernpride]

Watching!

I'm about to go through this is another 19 days LOL

Any progress?

 

[MCS]

Any progress?

Whipple install is Monday. But I haven’t seen any option for the strut brace other than removing the under hood insulation or ghetto chopping it.

 

[REV745DH24]

Hi everyone,

I'm considering installing the VMP Strut Tower Brace on my Whipple-supercharged Dark Horse, but I have a few questions before diving in.

From what I’ve gathered, the brace would come into contact with the factory under-hood insulation. While the recommended solution is to remove or trim the insulation, I want to maintain a clean and professional look under the hood - to avoid something like this...

(from a YT clip showing a rather brutal approach to solving the same problem on an S550)

Has anyone modified the insulation to maintain a sharp appearance? I'd appreciate any tips on how to approach this.

Also, does it make sense to consider replacing the cut portion with a thinner, heat-resistant material, to retain some insulation properties while avoiding bulk?

I’d love to hear your experiences and any advice y'all can share! Thanks in advance.

How about putting on an edge trim around the cutting sections so that it doesn’t fray the edges?

 

[robvas]

Just remove it.

 

[ugasouthernpride]

I would be worried about heat and hood paint. That insulation is there for a reason. Thinking a thin heat barrier makes sense

 

[robvas]

I would be worried about heat and hood paint. That insulation is there for a reason. Thinking a thin heat barrier makes sense

Your hod paint won't come off. Does the paint inside your engine bay come off?

It's for sound insulation.

 

[ugasouthernpride]

Idk. Never ran anything without The insulation barrier. Pretty sure it’s for both sound and heat dissipation purposes.

As far as engine bay paint…the hood is going to be somewhat different as heat rises and the sun also beats down on it. Just thinking long term. You may be right though.

 

[REV745DH24]

Good idea to use foil that used for floor insulation should help the situation? Just a thought!

 

[Billycar11]

when i get mine im going to try and just let it push against it will probably leave a dent in the foam but less bad than that cut out

 

[ugasouthernpride]

when i get mine im going to try and just let it push against it will probably leave a dent in the foam but lass bad than that cut out

I have thought about that, just worried it will score the finish and weaken the bar over time. I’m probably going to remove the entire thing and replace it with one of those thin products

 

[Paul's stable]

Whipple install is Monday. But I haven’t seen any option for the strut brace other than removing the under hood insulation or ghetto chopping it.

I know someone who's not sleeping waiting for that Whipple. I just left mine off never even tried to put it on I just thought if it could fit Whipple would have showed you how to do it. However now I might start looking at it.

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