I've had my Racingline strut bar in for a while now but never re-installed the black plastic covers because obviously the strut bar is in the way. I wanted to make sure I didn't cut more than I need to, I want this as flush as I can get it to the strut bar if possible.

I was wondering if anyone else has cut their covers and has a nice fit and wouldn't mind taking a tape measure and getting me some measurements of where the cuts you made are and how long they are?

Also what'd you cut the covers with? A jigsaw? A razorblade? A dremel? What would give the cleanest looking edge?

 

Jigsaw didn't work for me. Razorblade may take some time. Dremel may work for you here.

 

I took em out and left them out... they are pointless... just meant to scare the average guy away from doing ANYTHING to their car

 

If i ever get my order from Racingline i'll let you know... heh

 

I am in NJ and got my order in 10 days from Racingline. Strut Bar looks great.

 

I think the engine bay looks a heck of a lot cleaner with them on. I know several people have cut theirs around the strut bar so just hoping someone either has the measurements or feels like taking 60 seconds to look at theirs and help me out.

I got my Racingline Strut bar pretty quickly, but I heard a bunch of people ordered the Sway bar and are still waiting months later...

 

I'm at... over 5 weeks now... Then again everything i ordered was out of stock at the time... rear sway... front endlinks... rear endlinks.... I think maybe the front strut was in stock... maybe... At least they were nice enough to take $30 off the rear sway for the wait.

If you still need measurements when i get mine in i'll shoot them at you.

 

I put my covers back on because my engine bay was getting dirtier inside since the covers weren't there.

 

It be hard to get measurements. I got the stillen one and you just need to put the cover on n mark where need to be cut.. well that's what I did n came out nice

 

Damn thats a long time I would be pissed.... but if you ever get it let me know how the rear sway helped

 

I am thinking about doing some dressup stuff under the hood ad considered painting under there... just a thought for now ... I love opening a hood and seeing some flashyness

 

Dremel with a wheel will probably do the trick. cut from the top, and smooth the edges when you're done.

What do you need measurements for? Put the bar in, lay the panel back on, and use masking tape and a sharpie to draw out your cut pattern...

 

check this thread, you'll see some examples; http://forums.maxima.org/7th-generat...p-7th-gen.html

(mine is on there too, a shop had did mine, didn't like so i bought a new one and re did it my self, like that last kat said, use duck tape and a marker

 

I put my covers back on because my engine bay was getting dirtier inside since the covers weren't there.

 

I already installed the strut bar so it's hard for me to see exactly how far IN to the piece I need to cut. I can see roughly where I cut into the edge to start, but again am not sure how far IN (to the sides) to go and don't want to cut too much and have a bunch of gaps around this stuff. Maybe I'm being particular but I did want to do it as clean as possible and don't see a way to get exact measurements other than taking the strut bar back off and lining it up with the plastic pieces before I install.

Maybe I should just be extremely conservative and cut way less than I know I need to and just keep edging it out until I have a perfect fit. Just basic fine sandpaper to smooth the edges out I guess? Sorry I haven't worked with much plastic before, at least not that I wanted to look nice after I was done with it.

 

The only way u can cut it is to first install it. U Can never get an accurate cut. One way or the other, u will cut a little piece over.

 

I cut mine with a dremel cut off wheel.

 

Hmm. Maybe I should just plan on overcutting and then putting something black and soft inbetween the two to fill the gap, like maybe a sliced black rubber tube or something. Or maybe I should stop caring so much about an area of the car people barely ever see...hahaha...

 

Anyone who has vut theirs care to snap some pics of them on and off and post them so others can see it and copy them?Since measuring is a PITA a few snap shots and a guesstimate would be a big help for others. I used a dremel to cut mine and a razor to shave a nice edge on them.But I think I could have done a little better of a job.

 

It's what, 3 bolts on each side...remove bolts and bar, put cover on one side, install bar on bolts on opposite side hand tight, strut bar will lay on cover, and you can trace it (masking tape on top of cover, sharpie around strut bar). Then you'd make minor adjustments depending on how small you want the hole to actually be.

...I'd have to presume that's the easiest way to do it...

 

I figured out a good way to get some measurements and got a great cut out on the driver side plastic piece. Problem is because the Racingline bracket is so tall it still pushes the plastic piece upwards in the front and looks kind of stupid. My cut has already gone into the piece sideways several inches and I'm starting to get the feeling I'm going to have to cut pretty deep into the piece to let it sit with the Racingline bracket well. The Stillen one looks much easier to cut for...

 

Leave them off who cares. You'll drive past a millions of people that won't see it and maybe show only 20 people that you know.

 

i figured it out



also - ive shown more than 20 people

 

How did you do that, they look perfect and recessed

 

those red covers look awesome!!!

 

I took the strut bar off, put the engine covers back on with some painters tape on the top. I then set the strut bar where it goes when installed and traced the ends. Took a dremel and about 15 minutes to cut/sand it down for a smooth edge.

 

Strut bar looks great...but what in the world did you do to the plastic?...

 

see the notches cut out of the corner plastic pieces so the strut bar can fit? had to cut those notches out otherwise the plastic covers don't fit back in

 

I know that part looks great...i was talking more about the color of the plastic protectors...dont tell me it came that color

 

if it came that color yours would be red too. first paint project ever, came out amazing considering ive never painted before.

 

Red makes the car go faster... everyone knows that!

 

well it was a given that the red added 15 HP at the wheels. KMoney said his blue added 20 but red is my favorite color so

 

like my red GTR button added 200! Bahahaha. I'm actually tempted to have someone paint my engine cover in the factory RAB navy blue with a gel-coat so it looks smooth as glass. Entire engine bay is black... needs SOME color to offset it all

 

Thats it? i expected more...little dissapointing Gents

 

Weird it didnt take what i typed...
I did this on my benzo...but not to the extreme that you went!

The beauty is int he eyes of the beholder! So rock on!

 

yeah i know some people think it's ricey but its all good. not like id ever pop the hood and have a turbo or supercharger under there so my options were a few bolt-ons and some paint lol. honestly the red came out way brighter than i was expecting, but its all gravy

 

I have another idea for your engine cover that still incorporates the red color. Could do something similar to the Nismo 370 engine cover?

 

BTW what kind of CAI is that?
Thanks!

 

Custom true CAI he built himself. He has a thread on how he built it (materials, pipe lengths, etc) in the 7th gen forum.

 

In my eyes this looks very settled and not that "bright"