I'm thinking of making a brace to go from where the reinforcing metal from the upper shock mount wraps under the top of the inner fenders, maybe to a piece of angle stock that is mounted to the cowl. Has anyone made one of these? There are aftermarket ones made for the Mousetang. Mousetang brace.

I think this would be of little value. The suspension forces on the chassis don't go through the shock tower like they do on a Mustang. The Mustang's springs attach to the shock tower, so they hold up the weight of the car. Not so with the torsion bars.
But if you want to try it, go ahead. Then post some numbers so we can see how much the braces effect the chassis' resistance to twist.

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David Belau
1966 Dodge Dart GT IRS SOLD
1967 Plymouth Barracuda
http://dartslantsix.wordpress.com/

The equivalent, I think, is bracing the front subframe horns, with a thick tube to replace the lower radiator core support. That is a common NASCAR and road car mod for old Mopars. Lou would know more about this, I think.

Greg

I started fabricating a brace last weekend. I can incorporate a tube below the radiator as suggested by gmader. Mostly playing with the welder and procrastinating on taxes. I'm going for something lightweight that can be unbolted to access engine, etc.

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/6 '67 Barracuda convertible, electronic ignition, 4-OD, street cam, SBP KH discs, 3.55 SG 7.25" 1" t-bars. Bilstein.
340 '67 fastback, Doug Nash 5-speed.
1988 Toyota pickup work truck

The brace is finished and installed. The car is quieter, and there's virtually no more cowl shake, found in some old convertibles. It weighs 15 lbs, and is overbuilt. I used square tube stock from 1" down to 1/2" as needed. I need to post pics, as soon as I figure out how. Also bolted on a round tube, about 1" diameter at the lower part of the radiator surround. Now, on to the brakes and differential.

Here goes nothing, as they say. [img]<a%20href="http://s886.photobucket.com/albums/ac68/Slantfin/Shock%20tower%20brace/?action=view&current=L1110680-1.jpg"%20target="_blank"><img%20src="http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac68/Slantfin/Shock%20tower%20brace/L1110680-1.jpg"%20border="0"%20alt="Photobucket"></a>[/img]

Trying another one. This shows the 1" tube bolted across fan shroud. [img][img]http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac68/Slantfin/Shock%20tower%20brace/L1110684.jpg[/img][/img]

Attaches to cowl sheet metal with 2 flat head grade 8 3/8" bolts. [img][img]http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac68/Slantfin/Shock%20tower%20brace/L1110687.jpg[/img][/img]

I am surprised that made much difference. As mentioned, there is not much load on the shock towers like in the inferior Mustang suspension.

I will do the lower rad support tube before that, but it is worth trying based on your results.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

You may be starting out with a more integral unibody than the one in my convertible, which was born and raised in the New Hampshire salt mines. Also, I attached the radiator surround brace at the same time, so maybe that's doing all the work. In the interest of science I could try them independently of each other.

OK, I missed the vert thing. Yep, not the same as my stiff sedans.

Lou

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Home of Slant6-powered fun machines since 1988

nice work.

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72 dart acquired 12/08 /6,holley2b, mopar perf intake, mopar perf header, cam, built motor,904 finally re-installed, 8.75....still needs sorting out.
99 dakota 318 5 speed reg cab picked up 9/09; Trans finally fixed! woohoo!

Even the factory put some braces in the '73-76 A bodies. I know my Duster had brackets that went from the fenderwells above the shocks to the lip of the firewall.

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Official Cookie and Mater Tormentor.