This may be a silly question but is there a substantial difference in the stock export brace on a 1969 Cougar XR-7 convertible and an after market one. If so, is there one people recommend over others? I am running a stock 351w 2V so not a lot of power but do have thoughts of beefing her up some. Thanks for your comments!
You can get the single piece aftermarket one that would be stiffer then the two seperate stock ones. Example: http://www.mustangsunlimited.com/itemdy00.asp?T1=160521+01 most vendors carry this.
Another option to stiffen up a 69 and still look stock is to use the 70 setup. The 70 has a reinforcement piece added to the bottom of the export brackets, and an L bracket on the firewall to make it stiffer.
Yes, the export brace is a lot stronger. One piece as opposed to the two cowl braces from the factory, much thicker and the shape is much different (stronger) as well.
If you would entertain a chrome one, see the 69/70 parts for sale section, I have one for sale.
Also, another part which definitely helps too (maybe more?) is a monte carlo bar, which ties the two shock towers together. Have one of those (in chrome) for sale too!
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Bob
I have noticed several sites offer a mounting plate… is that needed?
Some people use them, some don’t. Everything helps. The plate was originally made for Shelby’s as I recall and installs in the ugliest way you can think of! On top of the cowl pinchweld and up the vertical of the upper cowl cap above the pinch weld! Many people (including myself) install the plate underneath the pinchweld, making a sandwich of the pinchweld. To do that though, you either have to trim away most of the half of the bracket without the holes (to install it with the blank side toward the firewall) or install it with the blank side of the bracket pointing down and forward under the pinchweld (which is FUGLY!).
Bob, I have a painted monte carlo bar that is straight but if I install it where I think it should be, It will interfere with the distributor. What am I missing? SalD
Well brother Sal, it’s like this. With a stock type distributor (mines a Duraspark, but same envelope externally as stock) and a stock type cap (not Duraspark although I’d bet that would fit too) the bar runs right over top (not quite center) of the cap with some (3/8"?) clearance to the wire boots. Getting the cap off and distributor out (as I recently did for getting the advance curve dialed-in) with the MC bar in place is a bit of a trick but it too is possible.
Have a look right 'cheer!:
Bob, dam that looks good! but too much trouble and since I’m hard headed and still want to run points, again, to much trouble. Also, the factory air cleaner just will not bend enough to make it work. In the other car with the MSD distributor, the cap of the distributor sits to high. Looks like to much trouble!
You could get one of those MC bars with the bend in the middle, Sal…??
FWIW, my air cleaner is a stock '69 351W base, sans the snorkel. Otherwise, POINTS!?! LOL Sal, hard headed is right! How about a nice Pertonix II (BNIB, bought didn’t use, blah, blah, blah)??