[munky69]

lowes and home depot don't sell them here. i looked all over and told me they don;t exist i ended up having to use some plumber stuff. it's a metal band with a bunch of holes and you bolt it . it's workin pretty damn good or me on my DP. got it on super tight

[Chris05STi]

Yah, Lowes, Home Depot, and Napa don't have it. I found it on Jegs.com, 6 for $18 bucks or something like that. I will try and see where I can find them with more qty.

[VSGTS14]

try summit racing, they have everything.

[Chris05STi]

Picking up a Car Labs X-Brace today from a local vendor!!!!!! I am going to have to get my friend who is a welder to custom fab up some brackets for my Spec-C tank to work with this brace. I am very determined to get this to work!!!! I am assuming that with this X-Brace, you can't use the 2 black metal bars that are normally on the car. Thats what the Spec-C tank connects to. Its going to get interesting, but if anyone can fab up a bracket for this to work, my guy can. Pics to come later on.

[VSGTS14]

um i believe you can still use those two brackets, don't quote me on that though.

i was waiting for you to get that thing, it's awesome

[Chris05STi]

You can still use the 2 black bars that are on the car stock with the X-brace??!? Billy, think you can do me a favor and take some pics so I can see if you have them or not, and to see the clearance. Yah it was an awesome deal, I saved over $120 from buying it on the website!

[VSGTS14]

i don't have them on cause i have the beatrush bulkhead cover, which they do work with...but i don't need them if i don't have any seats....
if the spec c tank mounts to it, i believe all you're gonna have to do is get yourself some spacers between the two, since the xbrace will be between them.

is the xbrace going to fit with your cusco econ?

[Chris05STi]

I just saw the vid on HSPN.com. Looks like your correct, spacers should do the trick along with longer bolts. My E-Con is currently working with my Cusco Ti Front Strut Bar, this seems to be the same design....crap I never though of that!!! Hopefully it shouldn't have any problems.........damn it!

[VSGTS14]

yea it's the econ controller fitting with the xbrace's hats which are pretty ****in tight lol...you can always mod it though.

[Chris05STi]

Picked up the X-Brace from a local member here. Awesome part, can't wait to get it installed in my car. I would have tackled it today, but stupid allergies are freaking killing me! Hopefully this weekend will allow me to install it and post some pics. Also hope that the Spec-C tank works with the X-brace and my Cusco E-con. Anyone can chime in about the E-Con working with the X-Brace? I believe it does....

[Chris05STi]

MacSTi (Steve) came over my house, and did some buku work on our cars/parts.

Here is some of the madness. This is a comparison of Steve's SZ49 (RED) and my SZ55 (Silver). Steve's SZ49 is a 3" Inlet, IWG, Fatboy wheel, 7cm Hotside, Ported and Ceramic coated in Red. My SZ55 is a 3" Inlet, EWG, Fatboy wheel, 8cm Hotside, Ported and Ceramic coated in Silver. Here are the shots for the ones who are interested. You can tell ours are pretty much alike except my hotside is bigger than the SZ49's 7cm Hotside. Measuresments proved that the hotside was obviously bigger.

[Chris05STi]

Next, Steve and I installed exhaust wrap and the Thermo-tec silver wrap for the turbo. Here are some shots of my SZ55 all finished up!

[Chris05STi]

Next, I installed my Tenth Street JDM Arm rest cover thats padded, and their E-brake boot in my car. They both came with matching red stitching!! I also installed my ZeroSports shift boot as well. It came out very nice, the ZeroSports shift boot was somewhat of a PITA to install. All the Tenth Street JDM parts were plug and play, just like OEM, BUT BETTER! Enjoy!!

[Chris05STi]

Finally, after some time laying in the trunk, and getting through my back seat, I finally got my Car Labs Development X-Brace installed!!! That was such a PITA to install, only because I have the roll cage in there, and trying to get in and out is a major PITA. Now for the juicy stuff. I have a Spec-C Intercooler tank in there that is used for my Meth Injection. After everything was installed, I grab my zip ties which are heavy duty ones about 14" long. I placed them in the bolt holes for the supporting brackets and the Spec-C tank. I just wanted to hold it in place to get an idea of what kind of bolts and spacers I would need to get the Spec-C tank mounted in there like before. Because of the X-Brace, it would require longer bolts and spacers to fit. Well, I secure it in there with zip ties and thought hmmmmm, why not. So I pulled all the zip ties in there really tight, added a double on the top, and then one more to hold them in place. I grabbed the Spec-C tank and tried to move it, the car moved with it....NO MOVEMENT what so ever....I checked all the areas, and even Steve tried to move the tank, no luck. I filled it up, tried again, same results!!!! These zip ties are the heavy duty ones, and perviously the bolts holding the tank in were really small ones. I figured with all the zip ties in there, this should be solid to last "forever". Tell me what you think, honestly, I swear, you move the tank, it moves the car, there isn't any slack what so ever, its in there mad tight. Here you go Car Labs Development X-Brace and my Spec-C Tank installed:

[VSGTS14]

so did you test drive it yet? stiffen the rear up with that thing? mine is crazy stiff, it's awesome lol i pop like three wheels all the time.