VMP Strut Tower Brace & Insulation Tips

[MCS]

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.

Yes sir. Tomorrow morning! I've got bigger problems though waiting to find out how the 20" rims and tires will work out post whipple install or whether I have to drive out my stock HP rims and tires and have Ford mount those before end of installation. Then sell my 20s and order a set of 19s with Michelins on them.

Some people back in the S550 forums were using like washers to clear the Roush or Whipple and also removing the under hood insulation. My GT500 hood didn't have any insulation and the paint on it was fine so I imagine the Dark Horse would be same same.

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[Billycar11]

just saw this on evolution performance's google reviews
this guy some how has his stock brace and it looks to be a 2024+

hmm looking closer seems to be notched in the center unless the stock one looks like that

 

[ugasouthernpride]

just saw this on evolution performance's google reviews
this guy some how has his stock brace and it looks to be a 2024+

hmm looking closer seems to be notched in the center unless the stock one looks like that

Interesting. I don’t think they come notched. Def looks like he painted it after.

 

[Hasler74]

Any updates on this?

 

[MCS]

Joel did a video last week where he installed it in his GT without any cutting.

 

[Paul's stable]

Joel did a video last week where he installed it in his GT without any cutting.

can you post that video?

 

[MCS]

can you post that video?

I have been debating picking one of these up during my fall or winter acquisitions phase. But I have other priorities first like those axles you and I have been talking about. Trying to get those into Canada is ridiculous and beefcake hasn’t responded to me so the hunt continues.

 

[Paul's stable]

I have been debating picking one of these up during my fall or winter acquisitions phase. But I have other priorities first like those axles you and I have been talking about. Trying to get those into Canada is ridiculous and beefcake hasn’t responded to me so the hunt continues.

Thanks for the video. This one looks like it's more for looks than function. I just saw one where it looked like a modified stock bar just noched to clear.

 

[Hasler74]

Thanks for the video. This one looks like it's more for looks than function. I just saw one where it looked like a modified stock bar just noched to clear.

that is unfortunate if it does not do the job of a strut tower brace. Wish we had more options.

 

[ugasouthernpride]

Has anyone asked VPM? I think I tried to email them once about it. CF is pretty strong. I should help some.

 

[Paul's stable]

Has anyone asked VPM? I think I tried to email them once about it. CF is pretty strong. I should help some.

Carbon fiber is strong if used correctly. However I am not thinking it's going to snap. I am more worried about it flexing.

 

[GrabberB]

I finished my self installed supercharger installation yesterday including installing the VMP strut tower brace. More on the SC install to come later. Here are a few thoughts on the carbon fiber strut tower brace. I want to start off first with a little positivity and applaud VMP for their efforts. As far as I know nobody else has even tried to manufacture one that will work with a Whipple SC.

Now onto the brace itself.

1. It does have a good amount of flex until installed and torqued down.
2. It's pretty solid once installed. I pulled and twisted pretty hard after install and while there is some minor flexibility I think it will help some just not as much as OEM.
3. I don't want to bash VMP because at least they made an effort. There is just no way this CF brace can provide the same stability as the OEM steel brace that I removed prior to SC install.
4. When installing you will notice the brace can be pushed in or out to increase or decrease the distance from the underside of the brace to the top of the SC. I settled with about 3/16" - 1/4" clearance on the underside to top of SC.
5. It does hit the hood insulation so for now I removed mine.
6. It still felt like something was hitting even after removing the hood insulation.
7. I used and old trick and made some Play-Doh balls and placed in a few spots on the top of the brace. The tightest area is actually the padding that is on the windshield washer lines that are not visible until the insulation is removed. Based on the squished play-doh balls there is approx. 1/16" - 1/8" clearance around the washer lines and padding that is on the lines to stop rattling. I'm still not done playing with the play-doh to see what I can do to move the lines back slightly to clear the brace. It is close and wouldn't take much tweaking to fix this issue.
8. I realize every car can be a little different however, I'm guessing that the insulation on Joel's Mustang is touching the top of the strut tower brace. I wouldn't be surprised to see and update from Joel in the coming weeks were evidence or rubbing occurred.
9. Outside of starting my Mustang after the SC & VMP strut tower brace install all I've done is bleed air out of the cooling system(s) including the intercooler & heat exchanger I have not driven the car yet due to bad weather late yesterday and being to tired after work today to even bother. Also changed the oil to Motorcraft full synthetic 5w-50.
10. More to come after some more fun with Play-doh sometime this week when I have the energy to do so.
11. One other note... Hats off to anyone who can self perform a Whipple install in a weekend. I was very careful and thorough and it took me way longer than 2 days. I was a one man show with zero help except for my wife who helped with the front facia removal. There is a lot to this install. Not trying to scare anyone away from a self install just saying the Whipple install is a chore. I will share the rig I made to place the SC without breaking my back or something else in a later thread when I recover from the install.

 

[ugasouthernpride]

I finished my self installed supercharger installation yesterday including installing the VMP strut tower brace. More on the SC install to come later. Here are a few thoughts on the carbon fiber strut tower brace. I want to start off first with a little positivity and applaud VMP for their efforts. As far as I know nobody else has even tried to manufacture one that will work with a Whipple SC.

Now onto the brace itself.

1. It does have a good amount of flex until installed and torqued down.
2. It's pretty solid once installed. I pulled and twisted pretty hard after install and while there is some minor flexibility I think it will help some just not as much as OEM.
3. I don't want to bash VMP because at least they made an effort. There is just no way this CF brace can provide the same stability as the OEM steel brace that I removed prior to SC install.
4. When installing you will notice the brace can be pushed in or out to increase or decrease the distance from the underside of the brace to the top of the SC. I settled with about 3/16" - 1/4" clearance on the underside to top of SC.
5. It does hit the hood insulation so for now I removed mine.
6. It still felt like something was hitting even after removing the hood insulation.
7. I used and old trick and made some Play-Doh balls and placed in a few spots on the top of the brace. The tightest area is actually the padding that is on the windshield washer lines that are not visible until the insulation is removed. Based on the squished play-doh balls there is approx. 1/16" - 1/8" clearance around the washer lines and padding that is on the lines to stop rattling. I'm still not done playing with the play-doh to see what I can do to move the lines back slightly to clear the brace. It is close and wouldn't take much tweaking to fix this issue.
8. I realize every car can be a little different however, I'm guessing that the insulation on Joel's Mustang is touching the top of the strut tower brace. I wouldn't be surprised to see and update from Joel in the coming weeks were evidence or rubbing occurred.
9. Outside of starting my Mustang after the SC & VMP strut tower brace install all I've done is bleed air out of the cooling system(s) including the intercooler & heat exchanger I have not driven the car yet due to bad weather late yesterday and being to tired after work today to even bother. Also changed the oil to Motorcraft full synthetic 5w-50.
10. More to come after some more fun with Play-doh sometime this week when I have the energy to do so.
11. One other note... Hats off to anyone who can self perform a Whipple install in a weekend. I was very careful and thorough and it took me way longer than 2 days. I was a one man show with zero help except for my wife who helped with the front facia removal. There is a lot to this install. Not trying to scare anyone away from a self install just saying the Whipple install is a chore. I will share the rig I made to place the SC without breaking my back or something else in a later thread when I recover from the install.

Thank you very much for that update. I’m quite disappointed that the brace is probably not up to any performance standard as it sounds like it’s more for aesthetics only. I suppose I’ll save my $400 for the time being.

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