I think it was Devil concours who asked me to post pics of my 04 with the STB installed. Had a chance to take some pics this week end so here they are.

That just SUCKS PJ!!:rant2: My early '04 will not fit!!:crybaby:

That just SUCKS PJ!!:rant2: My early '04 will not fit!!:crybaby:
I had to modify the inside of the hood to make it fit...

What is the purpose of this thing???

Not that I'm going to get one, just nosy.....:suspense:

Stiffens up turning and body roll. Much like new sway bars.

I had to modify the inside of the hood to make it fit...

Come on PJ...what did you do? Hell I sold my STB but I'll buy another!!:crybaby:

I'm with you Robert. I cancelled mine after seeing we would have to change the hood (mines a real early 04). I would epurchase if theirs a fix. PJ - PLEASE show us what you did. :worship:

What is the purpose of this thing???

But you should! The Strut Tower Brace rocks! It makes turning a little crisper and instills more cofidence in the driver. I don't have my V-sway bars installed yet, but when I do I expect big gains in manuverability. Just the sway bar made a big difference. It's too bad early '04's and before lack the hood indent for the STB, because at $70 it's a cheap and effective upgrade.

PJ,
We need pics of your hood to see what you did man!!:bouncy: .....PLEASE???

PJ,
We need pics of your hood to see what you did man!!:bouncy: .....PLEASE???
OK..here we go...y'all may think it's not worth doing it, but this is what I did...Basically, the hood is already indented. The early 04 models just had an additional layer of metal extending all the way down to the rear edge of the hood. I went to my body guy and had him remove the vertical sections of the last row, which was what was making contact with the STB.... Hopefully the pics explain it better than I did...I also have some pics with the hood closed to show there are no issues with closing or change of the shape of the hood...

OK..here we go...y'all may think it's not worth doing it, but this is what I did...Basically, the hood is already indented. The early 04 models just had an additional layer of metal extending all the way down to the rear edge of the hood. I went to my body guy and had him remove the vertical sections of the last row, which was what was making contact with the STB.... Hopefully the pics explain it better than I did...I also have some pics with the hood closed to show there are no issues with closing or change of the shape of the hood...

Pj,
Do you have a picture from the inside so we can see how much clearance is still left?:D

I need to print some of your pics and compare. What were you charged? Does the hood flex or squeak when you drive it? Any issues?

Damn PJ you've become one of the CTS Pioneers man!!!!!:thumbsup:

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/attachments/cadillac-cts-forum/20380-early-04-strut-tower-brace-indented-hood-002.jpg

What's all the cut-out holes for???

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/attachments/cadillac-cts-forum/20380-early-04-strut-tower-brace-indented-hood-002.jpg

What's all the cut-out holes for???
The holes allow the strut tower brace (SBT) to be installed, otherwise it would hit the bottom of the hood when closed. Think of these as cavities that fit around the STB when the hood is closed. Here's a VERY CRUDE drawing (cross section, as if you're standing at the left front fender looking across the hood, and the fender and hood are transparent).

http://webpages.charter.net/blunn/STBCS.JPG

The holes allow the strut tower brace (SBT) to be installed, otherwise it would hit the bottom of the hood when closed. Think of these as cavities that fit around the STB when the hood is closed. Here's a VERY CRUDE drawing (cross section, as if you're standing at the left front fender looking across the hood, and the fender and hood are transparent).

http://webpages.charter.net/blunn/STBCS.JPG

That makes complete sense!!! Thanks 2004CTS!!! :thumbsup:

PJ, did you then buy the hood insulator that has the indentation or did you put the same one on and due to the cut outs, it now just fits?

PJ, did you then buy the hood insulator that has the indentation or did you put the same one on and due to the cut outs, it now just fits?

I still have my STB hood insulator. It would be nice to have to keep the engine noise down.

how do u know if u can have the right hood for the stb????

how do u know if u can have the right hood for the stb????

Where PJ made the cuts the hood will be flattened already. You will also have a trough across the felt hood liner to clear the STB.

SO let me get this straight...PJs car already had those square holes cut from factory? And his body guy just cut those sections in between so it made one long rectangle of an opening? And did PJ use his stock hood insulator then? And does this apply to the 2003?

SO let me get this straight...PJs car already had those square holes cut from factory? And his body guy just cut those sections in between so it made one long rectangle of an opening? And did PJ use his stock hood insulator then? And does this apply to the 2003?

Yes it would apply to the '03. I'm sure those large cut outs are the high spots that the body shop had to remove..right PJ? I have the new indented hoodliner so I will soon find out how it fits.

Pj,
Do You Have The Measurements Of The Holes And/or Position??

PJ, did you then buy the hood insulator that has the indentation or did you put the same one on and due to the cut outs, it now just fits?
I have the same insulator - you can see the horizontal crease where the STB meets the insulator. At first I had cut my insulator in two and was going to do away with the small portion of the insulator that would cover the STB...But afterwards, I tried it with the entire insulator (now in two pieces) and it still fits.

I have the same insulator - you can see the horizontal crease where the STB meets the insulator. At first I had cut my insulator in two and was going to do away with the small portion of the insulator that would cover the STB...But afterwards, I tried it with the entire insulator (now in two pieces) and it still fits.

Yeah, go ahead PJ..ignore my requests for measurements:crybaby:

Pj,
Do you have a picture from the inside so we can see how much clearance is still left?:D
I can try, but from what angle are you suggesting? When I pop the hood, you want me to take a pic from the front of the car, or from the side?

I need to print some of your pics and compare. What were you charged?
$75.
Pj,
Does the hood flex or squeak when you drive it? Any issues?
The hood did not flex and there are no squeaks. It closes just as it did prior to the mod. I tried to take some pics showing the hood as it now sits, but I know it's hard to tell from just a pic. Somehow whenever I pop the hood, it seems as if it make a little more noise when it's popped, but that could be just in my head. T think with keeping the entire insulator it makes for a really tight fit. I could lose the insulator that covers the STB, but I wasn;t sure if the heat from the engine would change the color of the un-insulated part of the hood, so I put it back on.

Pj,
Damn PJ you've become one of the CTS Pioneers man!!!!!:thumbsup:
Just doing my part to contribute to this awesome forum!!

Pj,
Do You Have The Measurements Of The Holes And/or Position??
Sorry for the late response Sir Robert....Unfortunately I don't have any measurements...Basically, if you remove the hood insulator, you will see that where my "square holes" are, on your hood there will be vertical veins. These veins protrude out into the engine bay with some clearance from the top surface of the hood. It's like two layers, with a bubble...My body guy bascally cut away the bubble part that sticks out into the engine bay..The width was enought to accomodate the width of the STB and the lengths was enought to stay clear of the top surface of the hood since the two layers are eventually almost one layer and you definitely don't want to cut into the top part of your hood....

I can try, but from what angle are you suggesting? When I pop the hood, you want me to take a pic from the front of the car, or from the side?

The hood did not flex and there are no squeaks. It closes just as it did prior to the mod. I tried to take some pics showing the hood as it now sits, but I know it's hard to tell from just a pic. Somehow whenever I pop the hood, it seems as if it make a little more noise when it's popped, but that could be just in my head. T think with keeping the entire insulator it makes for a really tight fit. I could lose the insulator that covers the STB, but I wasn;t sure if the heat from the engine would change the color of the un-insulated part of the hood, so I put it back on.

Just doing my part to contribute to this awesome forum!!

Ody guess your holes were about 3" square and there are two in the center.

You should do a FAQ write up for others. Just add some measurements.

Any news on the Huggers?

Ody guess your holes were about 3" square and there are two in the center.

You should do a FAQ write up for others. Just add some measurements.

Any news on the Huggers?
I should have anticipated these type of questions and measured the squares etc and do a proper write up - guess I kinda drop the ball on that one. So I'll measure up this weekend if I have some time and re-post (I'm in a wedding on Friday and may move on Saturday - V-front here I come - no steep driveway)....Huggers were shipped late last week..Should be here any day now!

SO let me get this straight...PJs car already had those square holes cut from factory? And his body guy just cut those sections in between so it made one long rectangle of an opening? And did PJ use his stock hood insulator then? And does this apply to the 2003?
It may apply to the 03, but check your hood. The square holes you see were cut by my body guy. He measured, marked out the squares on the hood and VERY CAREFULLY cut through the metal...you don't want that saw touching the top layer, because that is YOUR HOOD...and my stock insulator is back on.

I'm going to pull my insulator this weekend and check it out. Looks like we 04 owners will get our STB after all. One of you 03 owners should check it out and see if it looks good for you guy's as well. :thumbsup:

i wanna try it...i have an 03.

The 03 and 04 hoods are identical. That's what mine looked like with the insulator remove (except mine didn't have square holes cut into it! LOL). Rather than cut holes, I'm going to cut the cross bar off and have a metal shop bend a new one about 2" lower. This of course only works for the 3.2, since it's about 3" lower than the 3.6.

I just went back to look at PJ hood and realized you have to cut 5 of those square holes! What was it they charged you for that PJ? That's a lot of work!

http://usera.imagecave.com/BobsWork/Indented_Hood_003.jpg

Robert, I still wonder about the insulator (our stock one) and how it will look once the STB is installed. I don't want a half a$$ed look under the hood just to have the upgraded piece. I couldn't tell by PJ's picture how that came out. Maybe we need to still buy the new insulator.

oh man, lucky me.

I want a strut tower brace but since my car is an 04 i thought i was out of luck.
today i popped the hood to take agander at what is required for me to switch out my grill and then i looked at the hood for the heck of it.

rock ON!! I have a long rectangular indentation towards the back of the underside of the hood. so it look like i can just bolt a strut tower brace on!!

rule.

Robert, I still wonder about the insulator (our stock one) and how it will look once the STB is installed. I don't want a half a$$ed look under the hood just to have the upgraded piece. I couldn't tell by PJ's picture how that came out. Maybe we need to still buy the new insulator.

I sold the STB but I still have the new indented insulator pad. If I find a body shop to do this I'll let you know about the fitment.

Robert, I still wonder about the insulator (our stock one) and how it will look once the STB is installed. I don't want a half a$$ed look under the hood just to have the upgraded piece. I couldn't tell by PJ's picture how that came out. Maybe we need to still buy the new insulator.
I have the stock insulator on...I will post pics of that also

I just went back to look at PJ hood and realized you have to cut 5 of those square holes! What was it they charged you for that PJ? That's a lot of work!

http://usera.imagecave.com/BobsWork/Indented_Hood_003.jpg$75 for him to cut those holes

$75 for him to cut those holes

Lordy lordy PJ that was really cheap. I expect double that.

that doesn't look too difficult with the right tools, which i definitely have. my only question is hood on or off? i imagine this would be 10 times easier with the hood off and upside down, but PJ, do you know if your guy took it off or not to do this?

how difficult is it to take the hood off?

that doesn't look too difficult with the right tools, which i definitely have. my only question is hood on or off? i imagine this would be 10 times easier with the hood off and upside down, but PJ, do you know if your guy took it off or not to do this?

how difficult is it to take the hood off?
gonna try it yourself huh?

I wouldn't complicate by taking off the hood. It's not necessary. Plus you run the risk of damaging the hood.

yeah i'm going to try it myself sooner or later. i have a steady hand and as used to machining, so what the hell...piece of cake, right?

yeah i'm going to try it myself sooner or later. i have a steady hand and as used to machining, so what the hell...piece of cake, right?

:thumbsup: 3x0. Gotta a torque wrench?

trips has everything.

if i don't have it, you don't need it.

yeah i'm going to try it myself sooner or later. i have a steady hand and as used to machining, so what the hell...piece of cake, right?

FAMOUS LAST WORDS. :D actually it doesnt look that hard.

FAMOUS LAST WORDS. :D actually it doesnt look that hard.

Installing the TSB is easy. Cutting up you hood would take nerves of steel!!

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/pjohnesq/Picture005.jpg
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y38/pjohnesq/Picture004.jpg

PJ
I suggest you reduce your contrast with your "Picture It" software. You can't see the indent.

PJ
I suggest you reduce your contrast with your "Picture It" software. You can't see the indent.
O.K...It was a bad pic to begin with..I'll try taking another one later...Also, there is noindent..just the slit from where I had originally cut the bottom half and the crease from the STB

O.K...It was a bad pic to begin with..I'll try taking another one later...Also, there is noindent..just the slit from where I had originally cut the bottom half and the crease from the STB

Oh yeah, I remember now. Did you cut the pad into 2 pieces with a gap where the Bar is?

Oh yeah, I remember now. Did you cut the pad into 2 pieces with a gap where the Bar is?
Yup..and then I tried it with the two pieces and it worked.