Air Ride/PCW Fender Braces

[darren@ridetech]

Precision Coachworks along with air ride Technologies is now producing fender braces for the 67-69 Camaro, 70-81 Camaro & 68-74 Nova. They are constructed from .625" o.d. x .035" wall 304 Stainless Steel tubing. These TIG welded beauties weigh in at just over 1.5 lbs per set.

67-69 Camaro $199/set


70-81 Camaro $149/set


68-74 Nova $149/set

[1969CamaroRS]

Looks nice

[paulk68]

these are not direct bolt on are they?

[darren@ridetech]

Yes, direct bolt in. I don't even think that you have to drill any holes.

[Chad-1stGen]

Yes, direct bolt in. I don't even think that you have to drill any holes.

This first pic for a 1st gen doesn't make sense to me then. The stock radiator core support only uses one bolt hole for the factory setup but the one pictured uses two bolts for the bracket...

[paulk68]

yeah that is why i was confused it is only 1 bolt to the front fender also.

[Chad-1stGen]

I think the standard core support does have a 2nd hole near the one used by the factory that isn't threaded and IIRC may not be centered perfectly but they must be using that.

[Charley Lillard]

Isn't the fender brace meant to stiffen things up ? Won't the heim ends kind of let things pivot or flex easier than just the stock solid bolt on unit ? I have something similar on one of my Mustang track cars.

[JT_67Tempest]

Probably a dumb question, but is this something that would work on an A-Body, like a 67 Pontiac Tempest?

thanks,
Johnny

[Y-TRY]

Charley brought-up what I was thinking, sorta, and I'm sure this has been questioned before:

How much bracing is really necessary? Especially if the car has frame connectors and stiff bushings. I can't imagine a whole lot of movement there.

With the price of these, and others, it sure seems to be a lot to pay for 'high-performance bling' (read as oxymoron)

[darren@ridetech]

This first pic for a 1st gen doesn't make sense to me then. The stock radiator core support only uses one bolt hole for the factory setup but the one pictured uses two bolts for the bracket...

My bad.....there is a hole that must be drilled in the core support and the fender.

[darren@ridetech]

Probably a dumb question, but is this something that would work on an A-Body, like a 67 Pontiac Tempest?

thanks,
Johnny

A-bodies did not use a fender brace. I am assuming that it is reinforced with the inner fender???

[darren@ridetech]

Isn't the fender brace meant to stiffen things up ? Won't the heim ends kind of let things pivot or flex easier than just the stock solid bolt on unit ? I have something similar on one of my Mustang track cars.

Even though it can rotate on the heim end, the length can not change, so it will not allow the anlges of the triangle to change.

[Charley Lillard]

There is no way that setup can be as stiff as the stock steel tube that is bolted solid. Yes the length won't change but it can move around more.

[Fuelie Fan]

Form over function.

[bret]

I disagree. The 3 points of the triangle are defined by 1. the connection at the radiator support, 2. the connection at the fender, and 3. the junction of the fender and the radiator support. Unless one of these points can move via a slotted hole [which they can't], the triangle will retain its shape. Is it stronger than the oem brace? Probably not, but it certainly no weaker. It's purpose is to be less ugly than the oem component without any other compromise except price. It can also be adjusted for length to accommodate the varied dimensions of replacement fenders, replacement radiator supports, tweaked cars, and oem GM tolerances.
I AM glad to see so much discussion given to such a simple piece as a fender brace. Good Deal!

[Charley Lillard]

I disagree.You now have two points of the triangle that have built in pivots, allowing the up and down pivot motion. Yes if is all bolted tight and the car isn't moving it should stay where it is but I contend that when the car is moving, going over bumps etc, the car is trying to flex and it will flex easier because of those heim ends. I contend it can rack easier with those heim ends. This all means nothing more than a point of discussion. I'm not trying to tube sales, just disagreeing that it is as stiff as stock. The whole point of heim ends is to allow angle changes with less resistance. :-)

[neu68]

I just installed these on my 68 camaro, I had to drill 1 hole in each side of the fender end. The radiator support has the hole the original one went in and another hole that is unused in the stock form. The new bracket lines up perfect.

[Fesler built]

I dont think most people up here drive cars like us or Bret do and if they hold up and are still on the car and working that says something.

The stock ones suck and you have several companies making replacments now its up to you spend the money on what you like to make your car look better or keep the stock ugly ones.

I have a car with 800HP and the ones we built are still in perfect condition on the car with 250 hard miles on it. Lots of track and street time and they are still holding up.

[darren@ridetech]

I don't think that the purpose of a fender brace is to resist vertical movenment. It designed to mearly hold the rad. support and the fender at a 90 degree angle to each other.

If the length of the sides of a triangle can not change.... neither can the angles. If I remember right from Geometry class, (which I mostly slept through ), it was referred to as the SSS Postulate.