yesterday I started the work on the strut bar issue. First of all we cut the horizontal connection as this will definitely never fit due to height.
The connection between strut tower and firewall is a no brainer - nothing changed there. Now we have to weld something strong enough to compensate for the missing direct link which runs in front of the plenum.
here is the link how it looks currently:
http://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.ne...32432380_o.jpg
apart from that I have now driven about 2,000 miles with the new setup without any issues - no CEL, no bad behaviour, no idling issues, no nothing. From the current point of view you can simply change your stock plastic intake manifold to the GTR manifold and will have no issues, worries or need for ECU tuning.
Of course, ECU tuning is highly recommended to take full advantage of the new setup but I think its good news you can install it in your garage, drive the car when you need it daily and do the math whenever you have time to and drive the car to your tuner without worries.