Nice. Looks like you can leave one bolt in the strut mount while the other two are loose? Also, did you remove that metal strip that originally ran between those two bolts, or are you on top of it? Hard to tell in the pictures. I'm just thinking that the metal strip would add some clearance to the brake resevoir, but take away from the hood clearance and (guessing here) also hurt the total rigidity of the assembly.

Yeah, let us know if the strips are supposed to be left there or if you're suposed to take them off. The thickness of the strips could make the difference for getting that cover off, if that'* how it'* supposed to be. I think the guy who said he couldn't get his cover off might have removed those strips. I could always experiment too.

When it comes down to it though, it'* easier to type than it is to experiment.

I removed my strips because new bonnes do not have them under the STB. The strips are there to distrubute the load evenly around the top of the strut mount and with the STB there you don't need to have them anymore.

I also remember that the strips have a slightly raised surface so I don't think the STB will fit flush to the top of the strut mount with them installed.

Whoo hoo..!!

I was talkin to a friend of mine has a 92 SSE that he is looking to unload. I asked if I could scavenge his STB. No charge . At this point he just wants to get rid of the car (3rd car between two people, he doesn't need it).

Jr? its no problem to swap the brake fluid reservoir to make this fit right?...just confirming...

My car is a '88 that uses '89 parts, which make me believe that it was made in the middle of the year or somthing, but the STB fits perfect, and I have the regular brake system, not ABS. Check it out on my site, its the NEW PROJECTS page. I used a '93 Bonnie'* STB, but I also saw some on the old Buicks as well.

Jr...

If you want a project, my friends SSE is perfect. He wants it gone. It has plenty wrong with it. Sadly it was never maintained. However, the engine has been replaced and it has lots of kick left in it. The electronics are fading fast and it won't nearly pass a safety or certification.

We good Canadian boyz would love to help you out in making that 3rd Bonne dream a reality. He mentioned that he just wants to leave it in parking lot running and see what happens

Jr..I need a fave. I want to do the STB mod, I'm worried about drilling etc. Could you email me the steps and things to watch out for. I'm leary about drilling new holes. Or is there something in Techinfo yet?

Any assistance is muchly appreicated.!!!

Thats good to know, i'll take those off when I do mine. Looking at timsmooth'* pictures, it looks like there'* good clearance for the brake resevoir. I wonder if it varries slightly, due to production tolerances? Anyway I hope to find out soon, possibly even this weekend.

I've seen two different torque figures used in this thread, for the strut nuts. Willren says it'* 35, Jr says it'* 27. Anyone know which one is correct? Maybe one figure is for the older ('87-'91) cars, and one is for the newer? Not that there'* much difference, but i'd like to do it right. I'm a perfectionist... sometimes.

I'm confused, sorry. I thought you said that the book said 27 ft lbs? I'm afraid you lost me here... :?

Yes, we're officially un-confused now about the correct torque figure for our '87-'91 bonnies. However... now i'm wondering if the torque SHOULD be tighter than that, due to the fact that it has to withstand some horizontal forces from the STB.

What i'm saying is that from the factory, the nuts just held the strut in place against the inner fender (no major stress). Now they have to keep things from sliding sideways as well. Maybe that'* why the newer ones are torqued to 35 ft-lb (per willren way back on page 1)?

I might just tighten closer to the 35 ft-lb. I don't think there'* much danger of breaking the studs off at that low of a torque setting anyway. 18 does seem really weak for something so darn critical, doesn't it?