OK so in the process of repairing mine (which is not complete as of yet) i have discovered two changes so far from the 71 model year. there is the external enforcement they only did in 73 which appears to act as a flex brace more than anything else i can determine. however on the inside under the upper a arm mount of the 73 tower is a brace that seems to mount it to the frame in an A frame style. i checked the 74 comet and it had this also. did they leave that on all the later model years? it appears it would add a good amount of flex bracing.....
Are you talking about the piece that wraps around the front of the shock tower? V-8 cars had them, and some 6's also. I've have 3 74's, only the V-8 car had them. That's my 73, it's a factory V-8 car.
yeah thats the one on the outside, now look in the tower where the upper a arm bolt holes are and there is a bracket from the mount holes going down to the frame.....it is spot welded about 8 times and the one i got was also welded. my 71 did not have that at all.
yup, V8 cars came with them from '73-up. and also like u mentioned, they do appear from time to time on 6cyl cars
check out these pics, the one with the red outline is the piece i speak of which is also on my 74 comet. the one without that piece is my 71 grabber. it seems that piece of metal would help prevent the crack monster 302 and i have experienced in the actual tower due to flexing?
makes sense. never realized there was extra bracing on the inside as well. learn something new everyday
Who? Me? I will do the shave some day and get rid of them. I have said it before, if I had seen this board before I put my car together (drive train), I would have done that first. Now I just want to finish it THEN plan it.
yeah but i dont want to do the shave on the grabber, its bad enough there are now going to be extra brackets welded on. but i dont want the other side to crack also and if the brackets arent helping that stinks even with the M2 conversion if the flex point culprit is in the front frame area where will it crack and break instead? i think i may do subframes and a custom monte carlo bar to try and reinforce mine also? BTW the brackets daves pic shows are not solid across. for some strange reason they have about an inch gap under the engine stand assembly. i will probably do some more investigating under the car and in the engine compt to try and figure out what caused the crack\where the car is flexing? i guess it could technically be the improved power we are running out of our motors since the stock 302 setup was only about 150 max and im sure even my spotty build is making more than that, the engine stands do press on the towers at the right angle if they are flexing. also i noticed there are holes at the top that could have had a big bolt put in them yet none of ours have one..... of course that would not help with the tower flex at all...
i would say your right. especially any of us that abuse our cars a little from time to time. but like you said, one never knows untill they pull the engine and/or suspension out to see them
