Hi,

So, it's been two years since the X's release. I want to do a track event next month... Has anyone figured out a good bolt on tow hook solution for the USDM car?

If not, anyone recommend a shop in S. Cal. to mod the crash beam? I called Road Race Engineering, and they said they would do it but I have to get the brackets from some Porsche place called "951 Racing" or something--the guy on the phone couldn't remember the exact name. Here is a picture of that bracket from their site:


I had no luck locating such a company, nor the bracket. Does anyone offer a full solution so I don't have to search out parts?

Thanks for your help.

 

Why not just use the stock one? It works perfectly well and you dont have to constantly drive around with it sticking out like most solid mounted tow hooks, unless that's what you want.

 

There is no hole in the US bumber/beam for a tow hook, so any after market would require drilling, hence would not be bolt on. I am sure that bracket works, but is sure looks tacky.

 

It doesn't need to look good, it's underneath the bumper.

 

yes, but i was hoping that some company would have found a solution that did not require attaching at the factory location. for other cars, even when there is an oem tow hole, there are usually several options that attach to the frame or whatever in various places.

i also contacted Mullerized and they did actually have another option--they sent me a picture of one of their cars that had a tow strap attached to what they called the "factory tow hook" that apparently is used during shipping overseas. i would post the picture, but since it was sent to me via email, i wasn't sure if they would appreciate that. anyway, that was another option, but i did not like it as it didn't seem to me it would clear my oem aero bumper.

 

HKS makes one
http://www.japanparts.com/db/partsli...ker=38&volkey=

you'd have to modify your USDM front bumper tho, there was another member who was talking about just ordering a whole JDM crash beam to do it

 

Ordering the entire crash beam would be silly. Since it is aluminum, once it is out of the car, having one welded would be cheap and easy. It is easily accessable from inside the beam, and a mount could honestly be bolted on if it was designed correctly.

As soon as I am done getting my current project rolling, I'll see if I can come up with an acceptable alternative that would allow JDM style tow hooks, but still be able to put the cover over the hole when you don't feel like wrecking your shin on a big ring sticking out of the front of the car.

If someone could pm me or post here the thread pitch and diameter of the tow hooks, it would save me from having to buy one to find out. I was actually thinking of producing one of these already, but wasn't sure there would be any market for it.

 

hi kozmic,

sounds like you have talents for fabrication. so, i realize that the typical method would be as you described--to mod the crash beam. but i think it would be cleaner to find a bolt on solution that did not involve the crash beam.

for instance, i happen to track my s2000, so i am familiar with those options:

http://www.speedalliance.com/catalog...tseller=Y&js=n

vs

http://www.evasivemotorsports.com/Me...t_Code=KF-S1-F

you see that the s2000 does indeed have a factory tow hook position in the bumper. however, most people prefer to mount the 2nd style that attaches to holes in the frame.

so, can we do something similar for the evo x?

as i stated above, Mullerized noted that there is some kind of "front tow hook" already existing on our cars that are used for overseas shipping. perhaps this can be of use? i believe normally it is hidden under the underpanel.

 

Why not just replace the crash beam with the jdm version....? Not all that pricey and an added bonus is that it is lighter. Have one sitting in my garage waiting till I find the time to install it..

 

Try Rennline. I think this is the Porsche place that RRE told you about as the brackets look the same. They have multiple brackets and tow hook styles.

 

hi. is the swap hard? and may i ask how much you paid for it and how you got it? maybe this is the best way to go if it's feasible. has anyone confirmed it actually fits on usdm cars?

ah! yes... thanks for the link. if i can't find a better solution, might just have to buy one of those and have RRE install it. the only thing i don't like too much about this is that it would be nicer if the threading matched the JDM beam/hooks, so that i could keep it all oem/jdm style. but i guess it doesn't really matter as long as i get a functional tow hook.

 

I purchased it from japanparts.com, I think i paid right around 180.00. While I have not installed it yet, it looks fairly basic. The most work will be re-installing my SSP transmission cooler as the bar is a bit more narrow and i will have to fab a bracket. Others have installed it so fitment should not be an issue

 

cool.... can you do me a favor and confirm this is the right part?:

http://www.japanparts.com/db/parts_d...Y=&SEARCH_page=

if so, i think i'll go ahead and order it. hopefully the fsm shows how to replace a crash beam. i assume it would since i figure these things get damaged in accidents and would be commonly replaced....