My version of a inner fender support/front subframe stiffener
Its not just twisting from torque though. In a handling setting, you're going to get a bunch of twist from suspension and cornering loads. With modern tires, you can actually load up to around 1 lateral G with the right set up. That's more twist than engine torque is going to give you.
Here's pictures of a couple of braces. This one is on an A-body, the brace is made by Magnumforce. It ties the upper firewall, upper shock mount, and front frame together (the brace keeps going forward and down to the top of the front frame rail). This is probably one of the strongest ways to do this. And, because their coilover set up loads the upper shock mount, its also pretty important for their tubular K member/coilover conversion.
This is a B body, but you get the idea. XV's inner fender brace. Notice the inner fender well has been seam welded to the shock mount, reinforcing it. The short length of tube will be pretty inflexible, but it still relies partially on the integrity of the upper shock mount a lot for the strength of the brace. Not as strong as the Magnumforce brace (tied into 3 places instead of 2), but a nice addition none the less. And, out of sight and not competing for engine bay room.
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Now, Curly's brace.
The biggest issues here are that is ties in low on the frame in the back, and on the side of the frame in the front. Tying into the top of the frame would be stronger, as the frame would push directly into the brace (like on the Magnumforce brace). Also, there's really no reason to run parallel right next to the frame in the back. That part of the frame is already strong, and would be better off just boxed in with torque boxes. Tied in high to the firewall at the back, and welded onto the top of the front frame, it would be pretty similar to the Magnumforce brace, without the hassle of it being entirely in the engine compartment.
I'd keep the brace going straight back from the upper shock mount back to the firewall to an anchor plate, and then bend it to follow the inner fender in the front, then take it through the inner fender and tie into the top of the frame rail above the front K member mount.
Its not just twisting from torque though. In a handling setting, you're going to get a bunch of twist from suspension and cornering loads. With modern tires, you can actually load up to around 1 lateral G with the right set up. That's more twist than engine torque is going to give you.
Here's pictures of a couple of braces. This one is on an A-body, the brace is made by Magnumforce. It ties the upper firewall, upper shock mount, and front frame together (the brace keeps going forward and down to the top of the front frame rail). This is probably one of the strongest ways to do this. And, because their coilover set up loads the upper shock mount, its also pretty important for their tubular K member/coilover conversion.
This is a B body, but you get the idea. XV's inner fender brace. Notice the inner fender well has been seam welded to the shock mount, reinforcing it. The short length of tube will be pretty inflexible, but it still relies partially on the integrity of the upper shock mount a lot for the strength of the brace. Not as strong as the Magnumforce brace (tied into 3 places instead of 2), but a nice addition none the less. And, out of sight and not competing for engine bay room.
Now, Curly's brace.
The biggest issues here are that is ties in low on the frame in the back, and on the side of the frame in the front. Tying into the top of the frame would be stronger, as the frame would push directly into the brace (like on the Magnumforce brace). Also, there's really no reason to run parallel right next to the frame in the back. That part of the frame is already strong, and would be better off just boxed in with torque boxes. Tied in high to the firewall at the back, and welded onto the top of the front frame, it would be pretty similar to the Magnumforce brace, without the hassle of it being entirely in the engine compartment.
I'd keep the brace going straight back from the upper shock mount back to the firewall to an anchor plate, and then bend it to follow the inner fender in the front, then take it through the inner fender and tie into the top of the frame rail above the front K member mount.