Steel cowl extension

2823 Views 31 Replies 9 Participants Last post by homerinthewild, 24 d ago

Shotgunut

Discussion Starter · May 18, 2022

I was looking to purchase just the steel cowl extension that comes with the Ford performance kit because I already have the mishimoto strut tower brace. Wouldn't you know...... no luck! As I called my third ford parts counter the gentleman said ' do you mean the FRONT FENDER APRON ASSEMBLY?' How about that! Ford part number FR3Z16K038A happened to be just what I was looking for.$130 bux. If anyone else was having the same problem, that was my solution. Thought I'd share.

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jackstang

· #2 · May 18, 2022

Cheapest I found...... FR3Z-16K038-A - Genuine Ford Parts

Reactions: 1

Spectre71

· #3 · May 18, 2022

I got the same one with the Ford performance STB, replaced the old plastic one and its a significant difference.

Reactions: 1

Buldawg76

· #4 · May 18, 2022

Its commonly referred to as a "K" brace. It ties the strut towers into the firewall upper section.

It's part of the FP STB kit.

www.americanmuscle.com

Ford Performance Mustang Strut Tower Brace M-20201-MA (15-23 Mustang GT, EcoBoost) - Free Shipping

FREE SHIPPING! Handling Improvement. Improve the handling of your Mustang by reducing the amount of suspension and chassis flex with this Ford Performance Strut

www.americanmuscle.com

BD

Reactions: 2

Horcy1

· #5 · May 19, 2022

Buldawg76 said:
Its commonly referred to as a "K" brace. It ties the strut towers into the firewall upper section.

It's part of the FP STB kit.

Ford Performance Mustang Strut Tower Brace M-20201-MA (15-23 Mustang GT, EcoBoost) - Free Shipping

FREE SHIPPING! Handling Improvement. Improve the handling of your Mustang by reducing the amount of suspension and chassis flex with this Ford Performance Strut

www.americanmuscle.com

BD

This is fitted to all ADM cars. Not sure if that the case with other domestic markets.

Reactions: 1

Buldawg76

· #6 · May 19, 2022

Only domestic HPP cars have the K brace and strut tower brace from factory. It can be ordered as dealer option but will not be badged as a 2.3L HPP on center of strut tower brace.

Non HPP just have a cheap plastic filler panel on right side along battery well that really serves no purpose IMO.

BD

Reactions: 1

zhent

· #7 · May 19, 2022

And...

for '15-'17 cars, the USDM Performance Pack cars got the K brace, but no strut tower brace.

Reactions: 2

Shotgunut

Discussion Starter · #8 · May 19, 2022

It was quite a pain to find just the "k member" part to go with my mishimoto stb. Hope to feel a significant improvement once I get the front end tied together. Thank you all for your response. Looking forward to my first scca course next month.

jackstang

· #9 · May 19, 2022

I don't know what year it started, but the K Brace was standard on convertibles. My 2018 has it, and I just added the Strut Brace.

Reactions: 2

Spectre71

· #10 · May 19, 2022

My 18 premium coupe came with the plastic brace on it as well, but its a non PP. That said, my car is weird since it was flagged as a premium but a "Special order " with cloth interior according to the window sticker. I've also found several pieces of evidence that the car was involved in a non reported rear end collision of some sort, like a clearly non OEM factory rear bumper cover and 17 Tails, a missing trunk actuator switch in the rear, and a replacement headliner for a 17 that didn't quite fit correctly. All of which has been replaced and returned to OEM with the exception of the Tails. (VLAND FTW).

Reactions: 1

Buldawg76

· #11 · May 19, 2022

Forgot about Verts having the K brace from factory and also not sure what year that started.

BD

Reactions: 1

Shotgunut

Discussion Starter · #12 · May 19, 2022

Talked the guy at the parts counter into giving me a discount. 89 bux! Score!

Reactions: 3

Buldawg76

· #13 · May 19, 2022

Good deal.

BD

Reactions: 1

Joe1

· #14 · May 21, 2022

I have a spare I'd sell to you.

Shotgunut

Discussion Starter · #15 · May 21, 2022

Joe1 said:
I have a spare I'd sell to you.

No thank you.

KewlWinter

· #16 · 10 mo ago

To tie the cowl brace in to the firewall properly you need the cowl brace extension panel (FR3Z-63016A52-A). You also need 3 M8x29MM cowl panel bolts to mount the extension panel to the firewall. This will actually add more rigidity by completing that point of the triangle when you tie the cowl brace to the firewall. I don't know why they don't include this in the kit, since this part IS on the PP cars.

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Buldawg76

· #17 · 10 mo ago

Spectre71 said:
My 18 premium coupe came with the plastic brace on it as well, but its a non PP. That said, my car is weird since it was flagged as a premium but a "Special order " with cloth interior according to the window sticker. I've also found several pieces of evidence that the car was involved in a non reported rear end collision of some sort, like a clearly non OEM factory rear bumper cover and 17 Tails, a missing trunk actuator switch in the rear, and a replacement headliner for a 17 that didn't quite fit correctly. All of which has been replaced and returned to OEM with the exception of the Tails. (VLAND FTW).

Mine also came with the plastic brace if you can even call a piece of plastic a brace. Don't really think it was a brace but more of a means to hold the battery cover in place.

BD

Reactions: 1

KewlWinter

· #18 · 10 mo ago

Buldawg76 said:
Mine also came with the plastic brace if you can even call a piece of plastic a brace. Don't really think it was a brace but more of a means to hold the battery cover in place.

BD

You got it in one. It is cosmetic, limited function (batter cover), and definitely NOT structural.

Reactions: 1

Buldawg76

· #19 · 10 mo ago

My K bar bolts right into existing firewall threaded bosses that were already in place to tie the firewall to the strut tower of my 2020 eco premium.

Does the cowl brace above bolt to the same holes in the firewall for even more support or was it only needed for pre 2020 model years? Do not understand where this bolts to add any further support. Got a pic of it installed.

BD

KewlWinter

· #20 · 10 mo ago

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