We reinforce the top of the shock tower and brace it to the firewall not to add strength to the shock mount (which carries small suspension load), but rather to triangulate the frame rail to the firewall and stop it (the frame rail) from flexing.
Look at it from the side - the shock tower is a fairly stout brace, made from formed 1/8 (or so) inch thick plate. But it is connected to the firewall by relatively thin 16 gauge sheetmetal (inner fender). So, we add a nice sturdy brace from the top of the shock tower to a plate welded onto the firewall.
This adds quite a bit of stiffness to the front frame rails, I may have to take some before and after shots of an A-body to show how much front frame rail flex is avoided by adding the shock tower / firewall brace. Factory added them to the E-bodies, later model B and F bodies had tubular versions under the hood so they must have figured out something!
And yeah, we all know folks who drove a slant six without oil for 100 miles or raced the car with 400hp and no frame rail connectors and it never twisted. Still doesn't mean it is a good idea! (chuckle). Hey JohnRR, I'll bet that Dart was quick in a straightline - anybody every try driving it on the street around a corner?? (giggle)
John P.
