Can I safely remove/then replace the front strut brace without affecting the wheel alignment or otherwise screwing up the top strut mountings?
Just for servicing/inspecting the engine, with the car sitting in the garage.

The brace is bolted to 2 of the 3 top strut mounting bolts, and I'm concerned with loosening all that, and maybe having something move or shift.

Actually, nothing wrong yet, I just would like to actually see my V6 engine and check out the wiring, etc. Can't do that unless the brace is taken off, in order to get the big plastic engine cover off.

I would assume it would hurt nothing if you removed the 2 necessary nuts, and left the 3rd tight, then replaced and torqued them without ever moving the car.

tks,
DG

Are you sure that you need to remove it? On the v8 that cover snaps off and comes forward and out without removing the brace.

I don't think you'll have any issues. I added one to my 2000 Grand Prix GTP which didn't come with one and there was no need for re-alignment. It is there more to prevent flex while the car is turning in corners than anything else.

It may be hard to get back on but it will not hurt anything taking it off.

I was wondering the same but when I checked a 05 service manual all it said was:
1. Open the hood.
2. Remove the bolts from the cross vehicle brace.
3. Remove the cross vehicle brace from the vehicle.
The "big plastic engine cover" was labelled "Fuel Injector Sight Shield"
There may be updated info on cautions, etc that the library where I looked didn't have

Thanks guys.
Yeah, the brace definitely has to come off the V6 in order to remove the "fuel injector sight shield". Ha, pretty silly name.
I guess surely it won't affect anything around the struts if you only remove two of the three mount bolts, and don't drive or move the car. But it's good to hear it from the manual.
Just wanted to be sure before I messed anything up just because I'm curious to actually see what my engine looks like. Kinda wanta check out the variable-length intake manifold. I think that's what makes all that great low end torque on the little V6.

Tks,
DG