Well theres a couple options. A pure bolt on fstb is on a cuttlass vert. Its kinda small tho. If you can get to a cheap exhaust shop theres another option. Grab a fstb from a 2000-05 monte/impala or 97-04 regal and have it spot welded to ur strut caps.

 

that sounds like a pretty good idea...i appreciate that...i actually did find them at summit racing for the 5 gen...actually at a decent price too...if i don't go that route, i can get one at a salvage yard and do some measurements and make them

 

Ok. Time to clear up some stuff and add useful info here.

You say you are aiming for 300-350 HP. Your build might not even hit 300. To hit 300 you deff need headers or min of plog and down pipe, cam, full size ic, and custom tuning.

The reason for the distaste for the short stack ic is that they heat soak very quickly. Also you can pick up a used ic setup for the same or less then the ssic.

Headers are difficult to install on our gen Montes, but they are worth it if you are planing more then 300 HP. Pacesetters will make fore an easier install as the goose neck on the speed daddy headers is hell for our cars when lowered.

I agree on the strut tower brace. BMR should still make stb for our cars. Just do a google search.

But for the power level you are talking about... Cam headers full ic tuning and the smallest pulley you can run are all needed

 

i totally agree with ya...i did check however that installing 1.9 rockers will come very close to the same lift as the xp cam, with a difference of lobe separation and duration...i didn't know that the ss ic had those problems that you were talking about...my total build is going to be like this: total l67 swap w/ gen 3 supercharger, oversize rad, tb spacer, ic setup, possible headers (at least plogs), colder spark plugs, 1.9 rockers, 180 degree stat, rollmaster single timing chain, heavier valve springs with lsr lifters and a REAL CAI...hoping to run a 3" pulley with this setup from keeping things very cool, .. i should be able to put down some good boost while preventing KR...of course, the PCM will have the appropriate tuning...i'm hoping to go the 1.9 rocker route because, i can save over $500 and still have about .507 lift...

 

ok first off lift is not everything to look at, duration means more than lift IMO. lift will open it more and stay open almost the same amount of time while duration will hold it open longer making more power. this is why a cam is better every time. also keep in mind you may have to do head work to clear the lift. now since you are changing the timing set why not buy a double roller? i would rather spend a little more on a good timing set then skimp out and risk snapping the timing set and trash the whole engine. you will want a full stack IC and also i suggest using a genV SC for your goals because its more efficient. headers will be needed for over 300whp is my guess, and if you decide to get a plog and down pipe you can only get the front plog not the rear. the rear plog is turbo specific but they do make ported rear manifold if you wish.... my vote is headers every time.

i dont see how you can save $500 by doing rockers over a cam either

i would not worry about the oversized rad i dont see a need for that. turbo monte is still using the stock rad.

and yes BMR still makes the STB'S and laterial and trailing arms

 

thanx turbo...lift and duration are important...of course, the more air the engine can take in, the more power that is produced...while the duration is the amount of time the valves are open...the xp cam, which i am very interested in with zzp's recommend mods is about $869ish from zzp...the 1.9 rockers are $299...i should run the double roller timing set and i am still up in the air on that...it is a route i am very seriously thinking about..i just have so many things that are going through my mind on what i want to do, compared to things i should do to get the power i am shooting for while maintaining the longevity and durability...my mind is going in ten different directions on this build and trying to save money, while not cutting any corners, if that makes sense

 

$869ish for a cam setup is insane! the cam is $325, either way with rockers or cam you need retainers and springs and a double roller so that cost dont matter so im coming up with an extra $25-30ish dollars to cam vs rockers unless i am missing something and if so please correct me.

next i see it harder to spin the gen3 blower to the hp you want. you almost need to get the genV with a full stack IC.

my buddy has a genV setup on 1.9 rockers, phenolic IC, headers, on a 2.9" pulley i believe, and on race fuel and made 309whp with a custom tune that took many many hours.... just to give you an idea.... so if you dont want to run race fuel then you wont be able to run that small of a pulley and you wont make 300whp and you will need to it cam to get there.

also dont forget about a trans build, you will need one for sure!!

 

also something else to consider is run the NIC cam instead of the xp.... the NIC cam was built to take the job of an IC and still run a small pulley..... just another option...

 

thank you again turbo...yes, the cam is 325, with the double roller is 195, modified retainers are 20, ls7 lifters 105, machined oil pump cover is 45 per zzp mods... cha ching cha ching. ..just now got your new reply on the NIC cam...that looks like a way i can go, plus mods..i won't be using race fuel...from reading all of this i may not be able to achieve the power i really want, but will vastly improve the stock power and torque over stock and still have a quick car...now my head is going in more directions LOL...i guess i will start my build with things that i will really need to perform the swap, and just add other mods as money allows me...

 

and another thing i meant to mention, i dont like zzp rockers. there ok and many people use them and have good results but i will only ever use yella terra rockers, there a way better quality product. harland sharps new revised style are very nice as well but IMO yella terra rockers or nothing.