engine crossmember bracing [1986 LTC]

[Lincolnmania]

i'm going to be working on an engine crossmember brace to replace those two hollow tube braces...............this will be a solid set of braces with a cross brace between those............i installed one on davids volvo, and it gave me the idea............i think it would firm up the chasiss pretty well........thoughts ideas suggestions?
scott

[DuceAnAHalf]

wont hurt, but dont know how much they would benefit. Mustangs benefit from the same thing (Known as a G-load brace) this is because the rear mounting points of the lower control arm are at the end of a big "V" during cornering the cornering forces are focused at the end of the "V" causing the entire K memeber to flex. Stitch welding the K-member makes the entire structure more resistant to flex.

On a Panther since the lower arms are mounted directly to the frame there will be very little flex compared to a uni-body car. Cant remember off hand what the actual mounts them selves look like but if you could reinforce those it would prevent what flex is there.

If nothing else they will give you somewhere to grab while working under the car.

Im wanting to add a set of the factory tubes to mine. after all wont hurt anything except add a pound or two.

[mrltd]

Need to see the setup on a KB car...they have a bit of bracing. Seems to help. I'd think the rear of the panthers need some bracing more than the front...

[p71towny]

Take plate steel and box the lower a-arms. I know on GM b-body cars the lower ball joints can pop out during hard cornering due to flexing a-arms. The B body is the caprice, delta 88, impala models. The arms would flex before the frame I'm thinking.

[DuceAnAHalf]

Bracing the arm is a good idea. There is a mod for the Mustang arms, where you weld a 1" wide strip of steel parrallel to the bushings, this prevents the arm flexing around the bushing. you could very well brace the arm by running say 1.5" wide strips across the arm, just dont go over any bolt holes.