SC- 1st Gen (1992-2000)

Cusco Strut Tower bar (Best Price?)

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Old 03-05-02, 02:37 PM
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SSmith
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Default Cusco Strut Tower bar (Best Price?)

Anyone know who has the best price on one of these. SC400 looks like they have it a 225.00. Seems a little high. Anybody??

Shane
Old 03-05-02, 03:05 PM
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mor-power
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Also, is there one for a SC300? If so, where can I get one. thanks!
Old 03-05-02, 04:23 PM
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cupete
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Yeah, I placed an order with them at $225. Never got mine, and why? They are BACK ORDERED!!!

I go to my local shop, they quote me $199. I wait two weeks and go back to the shop to get an update, it is BACK ORDERED!!!

So, if you really like it and if you can get your hand on one of those, I say go for it. According to Supply and Demand theory, even $225 is a cheap price.

Personally, I have the modified version of MKIV front strut tower bar and how much? Try like, $15 + shipping.

Does it help with the front suspension? Yes and No, you can definitely feel it right after you install it in your car, it attempts you to push harder while cornering. However, you will feel more road through the steering wheel, meaning, your steering wheel vibrates more. I could only think of one reason why it's doing it, you have your front sway bar connecting the bottom of your suspension, when you add the front strut bar, you will connect the top portion of your suspension thus creating a complete rectangle (on top, you have the STB, on the side, you have two shocks, on bottom, you have the sway bar), in theory, this will eliminate your suspension from moving from the top and in return you will feel more vibration coming through the steering wheel.

Peter~
Old 03-05-02, 10:32 PM
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ACleanSC4
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I've seen some japanese websites before selling these strut bars for $125 i think. But you can only buy them if you send in Yen. I have one of these and got it for around $200. If anyone wants to buy mine, I might sell it for the right price =)
Old 03-06-02, 01:50 PM
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MadMaxSC400
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The important question is why would you sell it?
Old 03-06-02, 02:17 PM
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My sentiments exactly. I can't believe with all the strut tower braces out there, we can't get one. I've been told that even the Cusco is a tight fit and may have to be modified. Anybody have an idea. Surely there are some people on here with this.

Shane
Old 03-06-02, 03:34 PM
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ACleanSC4
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The Cusco bar fits PERFECTLY!!
The only reason why I would want to sell it is only to get some extra pocket change (strugglin' college student )
Anyways, the only modification that you would need to do is to remove to two black metal pieces before you mount the strut bar. THAT'S ALL!!

I know a guy that has a machine shop and he might be able to replicate some strut bars. I also showed him the Heat Shield, so we might be working on those if people would be interested! Oh yeah, one more thing, I think we can also make MAF adaptor plates.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Tony
Old 03-06-02, 06:44 PM
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cupete
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That's strange, aren't you the guy who sells the drilled/slotted rotors as well? Are you sure you are a poor college student? I bet you probably have tons of Cusco strut bar for the SCs somewhere in your garage... You gonna be rich real quick selling them at $225 per.
Old 03-07-02, 02:15 AM
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Manaray
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Believe it or not, I'm still working on manufacturing some STB's...Front and rear for the SC300 and SC400 (no more ghetto-rigging a Supra STB). Unfortunately, I've been bogged down with some freelance jobs and helping some friends get some projects done...plus my "sample" SC300 is a sometimes here, usually not kinda deal.

It would help if I OWNED one...but I have constantly "borrow" someones...if anyone has one laying around (or you don't drive it much) in Southern Cali, let me know....I'll need like a good week with it...if you let me borrow it, I'll give you a set of bars for free...and you don't have to worry about me trying to pimp your car around town...I have my own Lexus for that... Hehehehehe

The real hold up is the SC300's engine clearance. There isn't much. I might have to make the bars with a stiffer material (like titanium) in order get the strength...but that'll raise the cost significantly...I need more time to study the engine bay and experiment...but like I said, I never have a SC long enough...
Old 03-07-02, 02:24 AM
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ACleanSC4
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Hey Manaray,

I live in Garden Grove, near Anaheim. If you are anywhere near me, i'll loan you my Cusco strut bar. Anyways, the "free set of bars" sounds GoOD! Well, just let me know.

Tony
Old 03-07-02, 04:01 PM
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cupete
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Manaray,

What kind of work do you do? If you are into cars, maybe you can give me some pointers regarding my SC400.

Not that I do not trust you but since I don't know who you are personally, it's kind of hard to let my SC400 stay at someone's place for a week. But then if I have enough information about you, I can lend you my car for about a week.

Peter~
Old 03-07-02, 04:20 PM
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cupete, I wouldn't worry about manaray conning you. From frequent visits to the wheels forum, I gather that he's very rich, has friends in the industry, has some really nice guns , and is currently unemployed with lots of time on his hands. If I lived in LA county, I'd gladly loan him my car for FREE STBs!

manray, don't you have a GS or something? Why are you working on SCs? Does the engine clearance apply to the SC400 as well or just 300? Anyway, if you end up with a successful product for a reasonable price, then put me down for one.

Last edited by lex400sc; 03-07-02 at 04:24 PM.
Old 03-07-02, 04:30 PM
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I have '95 SC400 and from looking at pictures of late model SCs, the engine looks different. Will this cause any problem? I mean, I will be happy to have set of front and rear STB, but how about for those people with different engine?

Also, for the rear STB, there is hardly any space for the STB due to the huge fuel tank in the rear. Will it be possible to make a rear STB for SCs?

Peter~
Old 03-07-02, 10:27 PM
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Manaray
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ACLeanSC4 - Is that Cusco bar that you have MADE for the SC/Soarer? Do you know if it clears the SC300? Garden Grove isn't too far...

Cupete - I am actually a Graphic Designer and Computer Specialist (Mac and PC) specialist by trade...cars are just one of my hobbies. I can understand your concern, but like Lex400SC pointed out, I'm not gonna con you. I'm personal friends with MKilty, Steve Ganz, and a few other Club Lexus members....I would only need it to do measurements...then to get some prototypes made, and test them on the car in terms of fit. Once the fit is done, it's just a matter of testing it which we can do together (so I'm just randomly driving around in your car )

Lex400SC - Yes, I do have a GS (a 2001 GS430) but I love the SC, LS, and the older GS's too. I know what it's like to NOT have products available for your cars. Especially something as basic as a STB. I don't plan on making a million dollars on SC specific STB's, I just want to make a product for fellow Club Lexus owners so that they can do REAL IMPROVEMENTS to their cars.

As for the clearance, I think the SC400 and SC300 do have some clearance differences on TOP of the engine (Where the STB would cross). I have taken some preliminary looks at various SC's and the SC300's might need a real special STB in order for it to work or I'll have to use some VERY VERY strong metal (like Titanium) because the bar itself would be very thin. I'm thinking a dual row of titanium tubes with some cross bracing inbetween. This kinda design will REALLY elevate the price however as it's very labor intensive to build and to work with Titanium.

Now the REAR will be interesting...I don't know if one can be done for a reasonable price. What I have seen is the DoLuck chassis crossbar that goes behind your rear seat on the floor and actually bolts into your frame. That thing ROCKS! But if someone sits in the back (in a SC??), they won't be comfortable (like the back of a SC is comfortable in the first place!)

My buddy over at APEXi has a SC and I might just swap cars with him...I gotta get it before he does a 2JZ-GTE swap!
Old 03-08-02, 12:45 AM
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ACleanSC4
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My CUSCO bar is actually for the Supra TT. It clears it perfectly. Well, almost perfectly. The Lexus badge I had on top of the engine came into contact with the bottom of the bar and it broke the badge off. But other than that, there are no problems. You just have to remove the 2 black rings where the strut bar attaches to.

Tony
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