[Frank Amoroso]

Greetings all,

Here is the procedure of my tow eye install with pics (please excuse the crudity of the pics, but my :wallbang: Treo is all I had on hand)...

Ok, Sector 111 says to just use the stock M8 mounting bolts, but I didn't buy it given the depth of the indentations on the diffuser where the stock M8 bolts and "fender washers" sit. So, I used some spacers, and longer M8 bolts to account for the thickness of the spacers, tow eye, and lock washers. I also used some industrial / heavy duty / indoor / outdoor velcro near the trailing edge of the eye to keep it from slapping against the diffuser.

First off, the thread length on the stock M8 bolts is 25mm, the tow eye is 3.3mm at the bolt holes, the spacer I choose to use is 3.1mm and the lock washer is 1.9mm, so if you were to emulate what I have done you would need to source an M8 hex head bolt of at least 33.3mm (I used a 35mm without issue). I sourced the spacers from our local specialty hardware store and I forget the measurement (I don't do SAE / standard), but they worked like a charm.

Ok, here are some pics...

1) Here are the parts amassed: stock washer, spacer, lock washer, longer bolt, tow eye.

2) The order of the hardware, from bottom up: bolt, lock washer, tow eye, spacer, stock washer (which has extra thickness at the inner diameter).

3) Bolted up.

4) Velcro applied at trailing edge of eye that touches the diffuser.

5) Trimmed Velcro (note I left the hook section, that adheres to the diffuser untrimmed).

More...

 

[Frank Amoroso]

6) View from the bottom once everything is bolted (and velcroed) up.

7) View from the back.

All in all a decent piece. I wish it was lighter, but what the hell. I also wish the eye part stuck out a bit more (for flash as well as ease of use purposes).

Happy tow eyeing,
Frank--

 

[Chococar]

Nice job. I'll be installing mine this weekend & I'll follow your lead. Thanks!

I agree with you re: weight.

 

[shinoo]

Frank, looks great. Thx for the write-up.

 

[LotusFamily]

Hey Shinoo, does this part work with the reverie carbon diff.? :shrug:

 

[LemurFart]

any pics of the car from standing behind it


looks good

 

[Frank Amoroso]

Here you go...

 

[LemurFart]

that looks awesome all tucked up close

and racey at the same time

 

[glb]

Frank - Love your lic plate. Must ask, tho, what is the actual purpose of this tow hook? Does it solve a problem I've not perceived? Thanks.

 

[Shiftlock]

Frank - Love your lic plate. Must ask, tho, what is the actual purpose of this tow hook? Does it solve a problem I've not perceived? Thanks.

Yes, pulling the car from the back, should one need that.

 

[Chococar]

I finally got around to doing the installation> I think it's ok to use the standard hardware, per Sector 111's instructions, after all. I did use Frank's velcro trick, though.

 

[Smoky]

I finally got around to doing the installation> I think it's ok to use the standard hardware, per Sector 111's instructions, after all. I did use Frank's velcro trick, though.

This is a great thread, and very helpful for the install tips alone.


Choco: Why do you feel the stock hardware can be used as opposed to the recommendations above? Do you have pics of your install showing that the stock hardware mounted into the indentation does not cause issue? Because I would also think there could be damage to the diffuser over time with the S111 install using the stock hardware. (That's why I'm searching these old threads, because I felt the same thing when I placed my recently arrived boomerang up to the mounting points).

 

[waydui]

Tow Hook Hardware

Why do you feel the stock hardware can be used as opposed to the recommendations above? Do you have pics of your install showing that the stock hardware mounted into the indentation does not cause issue? Because I would also think there could be damage to the diffuser over time with the S111 install using the stock hardware.

While I used the stock hardware, I also used ADDITIONAL hardware on the install.

The issue for me was that the tow hook would dent or bend the diffuser unless you put spacer washers in place to bring the tow hook down to the same plane as the diffuser panel. I added 2 washers per side between the diffuser panel and the tow hook itself to get the proper spacing and plane alignment. I used the big stock flat washer under the tow hook to provide greater surface area to hold the hook so it wouldn't flex up and down.

And of course, the velcro idea was a great one. I used multiple velcro patches to secure mine in place.

Hope the pics explain it a little better.

Regards,
Wayne

 

[Smoky]

That's what I'll do then. Seems to make more sense to space it out. Wish the S111 kit came with the spacers. Ah well...

Recommendation on size of spacer or do you have like a Lowe's part number or something? And did you go to 35mm bolts as mentioned above?

Thx!

 

[waydui]

Recommendation on size of spacer or do you have like a Lowe's part number or something? And did you go to 35mm bolts as mentioned above?

Thx!

I did get the longer bolts. I picked them up at Home Depot. I got Stainless Steel ones, with matching washers. Not lock or fender washers, just normal flat ones.

A little tricky tricky holding the hardware "sandwich" in place when installing, but not too bad.

Good luck.

Regards,
Wayne

 

[Smoky]

Hey guys

Is the cap bolt m8 x 1.25 or m8 x 1.00?

Thx

 

[RoadDad]

M8 x 1.25

 

[djo715]

BTW - velcro doesn't hold up if you track the car. The heat from the exhaust seems to melt the glue and the portion that was attached to the diffuser seems to come undone.
I've seen a few people put this under the diffuser with a hole w/ the tow eye sticks out... but I'd rather not cut the diffuser.

Any other alternatives?

 

[Noisycow]

It looks like that painted loop would get trashed/scratched up as soon as Gomer slapped his galvanized metal hook onto to it to tow you up to his flatbed. That is if he was very gentle. Is this only for pulling you back onto a racetrack?

 

[Mr. Know]

BTW - velcro doesn't hold up if you track the car. The heat from the exhaust seems to melt the glue and the portion that was attached to the diffuser seems to come undone.
I've seen a few people put this under the diffuser with a hole w/ the tow eye sticks out... but I'd rather not cut the diffuser.

Any other alternatives?

I'm planning on just attaching something to the hook itself to insulate it from rattling against the diffuser. Probably just the fuzzy side of a velcro piece. The velcro doesn't need to hold it at all from what I understand.