This is MY 67 Camaro

[bdahlg68]

Originally Posted by Sonar Chief

Thanks Josh ... thanks for all your help over the phone! I'll have to call and get another set of those coil over mounts (my first idea didn't work so good and I already clearanced them for the bolts). Can't wait to put these shocks to work!

This is what I had in mind ... rude drawing and not to scale!



Any other ideas?

It's a cubic function for stiffness benefit in the cross car plane vs what you've sketched. Is their room just inboard of the frame rails? If not, you are probably fine as is.

[Sonar Chief]

Originally Posted by bdahlg68

It's a cubic function for stiffness benefit in the cross car plane vs what you've sketched. Is their room just inboard of the frame rails? If not, you are probably fine as is.

Huh?? You lost me there ... there is only a few inches inboard then the headers come into play.

Something like this? Like a roll cage brace, gusset? Cross plane, using 1/4" plate ... work too?


Thanks ....

[Vince@Meanstreets]

due to the load direction I'd go this route, if you have the room.

Only time I have seen a mount fail was a shock failure and shock was too short.

[Build-It-Break-it]

All of options seem like they would work but would just be putting a bandaid on it. It would be a lot more work to cut the entire square tube back out and fix it the right way but it would be cleaner and you wouldn't have to think about it or question the repair later.

[grendel]

Originally Posted by Vince@MSperfab

due to the load direction I'd go this route, if you have the room.

Only time I have seen a mount fail was a shock failure and shock was too short.

I'm with Vince. It's probably what I am going to do to mine.

[Sonar Chief]

Originally Posted by grendel

I'm with Vince. It's probably what I am going to do to mine.

JJ ... I like Vince's idea as well, HOWEVER, as my first mount added 3/16" towards the outside and increase the angle of the dangle of the shock it also reduces the clearance to the spring. That's why I decided to take it off the get the shock bolt closer to the mount (decrease the angle) ... I wished the RT mount had a 1" offset bolt hole instead of 1 1/2".

I have another idea to brace the mount from the engine side ...

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Originally Posted by Sonar Chief

JJ ... I like Vince's idea as well, HOWEVER, as my first mount added 3/16" towards the outside and increase the angle of the dangle of the shock it also reduces the clearance to the spring. That's why I decided to take it off the get the shock bolt closer to the mount (decrease the angle) ... I wished the RT mount had a 1" offset bolt hole instead of 1 1/2".

I have another idea to brace the mount from the engine side ...

Honestly if it were my car I'd cut the whole section out and go the DSE style mount. Superior to the existing.

[Sonar Chief]

for the shock brace is ... 1" x 1/8" square stock cut to match the inside of the shock tower (?) I rough cut this one out ... need to refine it a little.

Also cut up the headers ... took 1 1/4" outa the vertical sections of the tubes and now the headers are above the frame rails! Need to cut the tubes at the collector to 'clock' each individual tube to match the upper tubes and then sleeve the 4 tubes and install the collector .... never done this before so I guess its going ok!


Side view of brace ... needs to be a little taller!

Clears the headers too!

Square stock rough cut 1/8" thick .... should do just fine!

Cutting headers to gain clearance, yahoo!

That's what I came up with from adding structural integrity to the mount. Vince ... cutting all this out is not an option, I don't have the know how to weld something completely new in its place.

Thanks for looking ....

[Build-It-Break-it]

I'm still curious about what your going to do for the steering linkage going to the rack and pinion. It looks like it's going to run into the upper control arm mount.

It looks like your solution will work for the upper mount. Looking good!

Are you using a kit to fab up your headers or cutting up existing headers you already have?

[Sonar Chief]

Originally Posted by Build-It-Break-it

I'm still curious about what your going to do for the steering linkage going to the rack and pinion. It looks like it's going to run into the upper control arm mount.

It looks like your solution will work for the upper mount. Looking good!

Are you using a kit to fab up your headers or cutting up existing headers you already have?

The original steering column is in the car for mock up only ... the actual one will be quite shorter, actually terminating w the splines just on the engine side of the firewall. That way the shorter the column the more room I have for a D-D joint and it reduces the angle going to the rack.

I just ordered some 1 5/8" header build kit and will cut and weld those into the existing tubes, I'll need some clearance on #7 for the steering linkage anyway ... couldn't find 14 ga tubing thou, seems everyone uses 16 ga except AME

Thanks ....