Mopar Inner Fender Braces - Ideas? Designs?

[james j]

Hi Everyone,
While I may be new to the forum, please take it a little easy on me. ...I did search for a Mopar inner fender thread and didn't find too much that was relevant. I'm excited to be finally dusting off a old project sitting in my garage for a few years. I have a '68 charger that is stripped and on a rotisserie and the plan is to be a cruiser with a mild p-t theme. I've already added in the subframe connectors and torque boxes, and would like to add in some inner fender braces before body and paint work begins. I've seen that the the two most popular designs are the XV motorsports style or the US Car Tool type of designs, and just wanted to get your take on what would be the most stout and robust design? I would be looking to fab either option, but wanted to get your takes on what you've seen and what works. Any information is appreciated, and I am XV is now pretty much defunct. What do you think is a better design?

US Car Tool's 'style' design:
http://store.uscartool.com/B-Body-66...brace-kit.html





or the company formerly known as XV Motorsports design:

[mmosley]

... and option #3 would be J bars. Some people refer to them as down bars. They attach to, or through, the firewall to the cage, go forward above the shock tower and then down to the frame just aft of the radiator. A good example is the Duster they are currently building at Hotchkis East. You tie the shock tower into the J bar. On drag cars you often see folks making tabs to attach the front motor plate to the J bar as well. I spoke to US Car tool about the braces they make, they did not know if they would clear my wheel and tire combo, so keep that in mind. The guy at US car tool also made the comment that these braces are needed and popular for coil over conversion support and did not know how necessary they were for a car that was using the shock tower for its intended use. Now we were discussing an A-body in particular, it has a little stouter shock support than a B/E body chassis. I know for a fact that an XV style brace would not clear my tires. I would mock up whatever you are considering in cardboard before making it or buying it with the suspension in full compression (easy to do without T-bars) and turn the wheel to full lock. My tire almost touches the frame, and might actually rub a little if I was full lock and leaning on it. Realistically, probably will never go there, full lock is a parking maneuver, not a true road course condition.

[Schwartz Performance]

I just received a couple sets from US Car Tool and they are very sturdy. I recommend them highly.

-Dale

[72BBSwinger]

I vote US car tool simply because of tire clearance. With 275's the tube type can hurt ya. Im caging mine so im going to J-bars shortly.