Once you start modifying the suspension on your Mustang to hug the corners, you start to realize that the old uni-bodies need all the help they can get. The Mustang has shock towers that handle all the spring and shock absorber loads. The factory installed sheet metal braces to brace the shock towers to the firewall and cowl seam, but they are out of their league when you have some stiff springs, and some real rubber under the fenders. You can buy aftermarket adjustable bracing that uses aluminum tubing and rod ends but I have found that that type of bracing is ornamental at best and does little if nothing to keep the shock towers in place. My solution is to build a tubular export brace similar to the one piece braces that were installed on '67-'70 Mustangs that went out of the country. I use 1 1/4" O.D. x .120 wall thickness tubing to tie the towers into the cowl seam.
Here are the stock braces that the factory installed, which are basically sheet metal. These will be removed and replaced with the export brace:
The braces bolt to the shock towers on these brackets that are welded to the shock towers:
The braces bolt to the firewall/cowl seam here:
A 1/8" thick plate is cut and drilled with the four holes that are on the cowl:
Two pieces of 2" x 4" x .120" wall rectangular tubing are angle cut and the tall end has a piece of 1/8" plate welded to it. These are the pieces that will bolt to the shock tower brackets, so matching holes are also drilled in them:
A piece of 1 1/4" O.D. round tubing is placed in a tubing bender and bent to a 90 degree angle:
The 1/8" plate is bolted to the cowl seam, and the angle brackets are bolted to the shock towers. The bent piece of tubing is trimmed to fit and clamped in place. Once the fit is perfect, it is welded in place:
The export brace is then removed and flipped upside down so the rest can be welded:
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Gydyup - 67 Mustang Coupe
