Strut Brace 80qt BTDT

[JShadzi at aol.com]

   I recently did this, used the B4 parts, went in very nicely, but I had to modify a few things.  This was on an 80qt, with the battery already moved to the trunk.  This would not work with the battery in the stock location.  The cruise control pump needs to be lowered about 1/2", easy to do, just cut the bracket down, rebend and drill the hole for the stock mounting bolt.  Some metal by the battery tray needs to be trimmed to allow the passenger side bracket to sit flush with the top of the strut tower.
   Ok, here is the duzy part...originally I thought that I could drill a few holes in the metal bracket for each side, and simply run a bolt down thru the strut tower with a nut and washer on the bottom side to hold it.  This will NOT work because all the area under the bracket is held by the strut bushing itself.  Then I thought about welding a few studs to the top of the strut tower, but the strut tower in not flat, and the stud in order to be perpindicular to the bracket would be at very acute angles, and the only way to get the bracket down over the stud would be severe slotting...no good either.  From the factory, the brackets are welded to the tops of the strut tower, but I did not want to do that as I did not want to repaint the strut towers after welding.  So, here is what I thought of.  Why not drill 4- 1/2"  holes in each bracket, and spot weld the brackets (thru each hole) on the top of the strut tower, then mask off the brackets and paint black?  That is what I did!
.  I fist dirlled the brackets, 
market where the holes were on the strut tower, cleaned the paint off just where the holes were, and welded.  I masked off the brakets, hit the brackets with some nice gloss black paint, and I have a factory looking strut tie bar!  Feel free
to email me with any questions, I will take some pics and send to Alex when I get a chance.  BTW, all the parts, including the cool plastic caps that are held down with plastic nuts, cost about $65 from the dealer.

Javad Shadzi
80qt

In a message dated Thu, 11 Jan 2001 10:05:57 PM Eastern Standard Time, "Alexander van Gerbig" <Audi_80 at email.msn.com> writes:

<<     For TYP89?  Not sure there was a stock strut brace.  There is a stock
one for the B4 models and it requires the battery, cruise control vacuum
doohickey, and other bits to move out of the way.  I have a feeling it may
be possible to fit the B4 strut brace and just live without that stupid
cracked battery cover.  I wonder if that is possible?  The parts are cheap,
maybe $60 total, if that, from a dealer too.  This is my next project, strut
brace.>>