Bracing shock towers?
I don't understand people that think you can cut parts out of a unibody and think its OK. Some people have heard me say this befor, But personally, Fenderwells look discusting. The only reason you would need them is if you are making a Strip car for race porpose only. You won't feal the difference in flow with fenderwells or underchassi on a street/strip car.
I read the hole post, and I understand where you are coming from with the swiss cheese inner fenders. I have a '72 demon project with just that. But I would replace them with new innerfenders any day of the week. They are cheap, and will help your engine bay to stay cleaner..and cleaner looking (not a hack job) You could sell your fenderwells for a good buck, and buy some B body headers and make them work as shown here
http://www.bigblockdart.com/techpages/BBody.shtml
Like I said...I just dislike fenderwells, and why everyone and there dog thinks that they are way better, and are needed for flow with a 440 in an A body, just bugs me.
Let me tell you, chargers came with 440's stock, and you don't see people ripping the manifolds off and putting in fenderwell headers do you? They might put headers in...but not fenderwells. Now I'm getting on a rant.
Sorry
Back to your car...it sounds like you have allready cut them out. so your only options realluy are...
I am guessing TonyGTS has Frame conectors...and if your car is as rusty on the inner fenders as you say they are...don't think the rest of your car can hold up without added suport.
Good luck with the desision makeing
Phil
I think that will be fine if you were to put in frame conectors too. But to be sure, I would do frame conectors, and properly brace the tower. You will not be happy Once your doors don't shut because you didn't streigthen the car.What would you think about running a u-shaped brace bolted to the frame? Would I run into the same issues with bending the frame?
Here's a illustration(lame as it may be) but I think you get the idea. Bend some tubing up and over the shock tower and bolt it to the frame on each side.
I don't understand people that think you can cut parts out of a unibody and think its OK. Some people have heard me say this befor, But personally, Fenderwells look discusting. The only reason you would need them is if you are making a Strip car for race porpose only. You won't feal the difference in flow with fenderwells or underchassi on a street/strip car.
I read the hole post, and I understand where you are coming from with the swiss cheese inner fenders. I have a '72 demon project with just that. But I would replace them with new innerfenders any day of the week. They are cheap, and will help your engine bay to stay cleaner..and cleaner looking (not a hack job) You could sell your fenderwells for a good buck, and buy some B body headers and make them work as shown here
http://www.bigblockdart.com/techpages/BBody.shtml
Like I said...I just dislike fenderwells, and why everyone and there dog thinks that they are way better, and are needed for flow with a 440 in an A body, just bugs me.
Let me tell you, chargers came with 440's stock, and you don't see people ripping the manifolds off and putting in fenderwell headers do you? They might put headers in...but not fenderwells. Now I'm getting on a rant.
Sorry
Back to your car...it sounds like you have allready cut them out. so your only options realluy are...
- Buy or make proper suports from K member to firewall
- put in frame conectors, and your idea of the loop above the shock tower
- buy inner fenders and put in underchassi headers
I am guessing TonyGTS has Frame conectors...and if your car is as rusty on the inner fenders as you say they are...don't think the rest of your car can hold up without added suport.
Good luck with the desision makeing
Phil
