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Strut tower opening enlarging

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It's a concern. Not a big one IMO in the two pics above.


I dunno what you mean. :D;)

In the S550 mount I don't see any problems opening up the hole with that saw and eliminating the two original notches.

This is about the limit of what I'd cut from the tower. Keeping the lip around the opening is a good thing. Could use some clean up.
6c19ef122ff91863ef79c1a69bc7a8ca.jpg

Some seam welding a bit around the top plate to the tower wouldn't be a bad idea, but not needed.

The main thing to avoid are slots and sharp interior corners for the hole.

This is what I’m doing.e845214f83d76160ac71dfe684099af7.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

boardkat

CAMtard
131
179
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
10-20 Years
Lake Oswego, OR
I took some measurements and had a friend waterjet a template for me to use for opening them up with a hole saw on my ‘15. Main driver was similar, I wanted to be able to adjust camber without having to drop the strut.

Didn’t take any pics during the process but here’s what it looks like (I unbolted the strut and attached with nuts and bolts from underneath):

7ba8e9eabd08a2ab3962de05757ae53b.jpg

And here’s the outcome;

8248a9fdec17bb0b74a066e2820afce3.jpg
 
6,360
8,180
Cut baby cut, the hole will be elongated..I think Sal Molinare actually has a jig for this. I can't find a pic, but I know I have posted it up before. You basically mark what you need and die grind it out like Voodoo boss mentioned. You will cut through part of the "lip" but it won't matter.
 

Fair

Go Big or Go Home
Supporting Vendor
277
492
Plano, TX
all-the-cambers-S197-tower-blank%20-%20Copy-L.jpg

We heard your questions about this task and responded with these fixture tools...

PA151462-L.jpg

We had one of these we hand made 5+ years ago for the S197 chassis but now we have them for 6 different chassis, which we make with our CNC machines plus a little welding

P9261261-S.jpgP9261269-S.jpg

Make this job a snap on either chassis... bolt this fixture in from underneath and then line up the hole saw on top. I've done this to 50+ customer cars and both of my S550. On the S550 a 2-3/4" or 3" hole saw works best.

B61G1465-S.jpgB61G1467-S.jpg

Here are the steps on the S197. These have the same restriction - a tiny opening in the tower. Our 4 bolt fixture is bolted in from underneath then...

B61G1470-S.jpgB61G1461-S.jpg

Line up the hole saw and go to town. We use a 2-1/2" or 2-3/4" hole saw on the S197.

B61G9345-L.jpg

This ST2 classed 2013 Mustang has been on track for several years with this setup.

S197 tool: https://vorshlag-store.com/collecti...roducts/s197-strut-tower-cutting-fixture-tool

S550 tool: https://vorshlag-store.com/collecti...roducts/s550-strut-tower-cutting-fixture-tool

Cheers,
 
I didn't know you were selling those tools. Nothing like having the right tool for the job.
 

Fabman

Dances with Racecars
6,518
8,154
Exp. Type
W2W Racing
Exp. Level
20+ Years
Pleasanton: 1/2 way between Sonoma and Laguna Seca
Cut baby cut, the hole will be elongated..I think Sal Molinare actually has a jig for this. I can't find a pic, but I know I have posted it up before. You basically mark what you need and die grind it out like Voodoo boss mentioned. You will cut through part of the "lip" but it won't matter.

If you make an aluminum template be sure to replace the center drill bit with a piece of 1/4" round bar so the drill bit doesn't wobble out the hole.

20842164_10155622027078535_1075687452685254661_n.jpg20953321_10155622027223535_6763041289942631815_n.jpg20882029_10155622027093535_2384188022184520198_n.jpg
 

captdistraction

GrumpyRacer
1,954
1,698
Phoenix, Az
I opened mine up the PWC way, and switched my plates to (modified) vorshlag plates so I could more easily do on-car adjustments (as I had the same style of plate that uses the socket cap screws to adjust). I'm just not a fan of those style plates in general. Used a angle grinder with a cutoff wheel for the big cuts, then dremel with various bits to clean it up. Beauty was a secondary concern in my application, it could be done far more cleanly.

IMG_2612.jpg
 

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