Notching the shock towers

[Wicked65]

Well, Started this little project to get some more room in the engine bay. Figured it would make things easier to change the pugs on the 351. Should be welded up next week.

Took out 1.5inches up from the upper control arm bolts. I had heard you cut 1 inch up.. Thats BS. Its really close the control arm at 1 inch.. 2inches deep from the widest part and 1/2inch down from the top of the tower. Just free hand the lines to put it all together.

 

[Wicked65]

putting it back together

 

[blown65]

Not sure how much your really going to gain to be honest. The headers are pretty close to where the upper a-arm is located, so where your cut out at wont really gain much for room. Maybe I'm wrong but here are some pictures.

http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-for...owers-dennis112-accufab-question-you-too.html


It should help with spark plugs however, but header size probably not.

 

[Wicked65]

Figured it would make things easier to change the pugs on the 351.

It should help with spark plugs however, but header size probably not.

Just makin room while the motor is out. Since im also sanding down the whole engine bay, removing the master cyl, and steering. and painting.

ALL new front suspension parts getting ordered next week too. AOD will be here early next week. And 351 should be picked up next week too.

 

[blown65]

Just makin room while the motor is out. Since im also sanding down the whole engine bay, removing the master cyl, and steering. and painting.

ALL new front suspension parts getting ordered next week too. AOD will be here early next week. And 351 should be picked up next week too.

What are you planning to do for suspension?

 

[Wicked65]

Just doing a "Stock Style" Rebuild. Trying to decide between the TCP or just doing the Grab a track with roller perches, roller uppers, and calvert 90/10s.

Willwood brakes and master (staying with manual) with the cross drilled rotors, new lines ect. Already have discs on the back, but im sure ill be upgrading those to willwod eventually too.

Getting the Grab a trak "make it new" manual steering kit, as well as a new steering box. (mine is just SLOPPY to say the least)

I usually talk to Alex, at Money Maker Racing back in indiana before i buy stuff. He's pretty successful racing his 65.

I wanted to do the Mustang II, but after i figured out i couldnt get the turbo stuff to fit with the modular, there really was no reason to go through all that.

 

[blown65]

gotcha. Well, I'm switching mine this winter to the AJE setup, so if you want some take off stuff at a good price hang in there.

I have the roller perches, 90/10 calvert shocks, calvert strut rods. I'm just on stock upper and lowers, and my springs are cut to lower it some. I couldn't deal with the stock Moog 8088 springs, just sat too high.

As for Alex, he has been a great help, I've got a few things from him (strut rods, strange shocks, springs.)

 

[oh9mustang]

shock towers are structural.

 

[Wicked65]

shock towers are structural.

?????? might need to explain your comment

 

[farmboy89]

Roller perches +1,

I did the roller perches with a Shelby A arm drop, and it made a noticeable difference in ride and handling.

 

[Wicked65]

Roller perches +1,

I did the roller perches with a Shelby A arm drop, and it made a noticeable difference in ride and handling.

Yeah, i hear they are a nice improvement.

I drive it on the street. But with skinnies up front, cornering really doesnt matter to me. As long as i get every ounce out of the straight line, im good.

 

[Wicked65]

gotcha. Well, I'm switching mine this winter to the AJE setup, so if you want some take off stuff at a good price hang in there.

Well, dropped the hammer yesterday. Roller uppers, Roller Lowers, Roller Strut rod, with Strange double adjustble Shocks and coil overs. Getting it all from Moneymaker. Should be a bitchin setup for the horsepower i want to run.

 

[blown65]

Well, dropped the hammer yesterday. Roller uppers, Roller Lowers, Roller Strut rod, with Strange double adjustble Shocks and coil overs. Getting it all from Moneymaker. Should be a bitchin setup for the horsepower i want to run.

cool, those like the coil overs he is running now. That would be a hell of alot better than the moog springs I'd think. Either you sit too high with a good spring rate, or cut them and end up with the wrong spring rate. lol

 

[oh9mustang]

shock towers are structural. He will see when he drives it.
Let's see, Ford pays a slew of structural engineers 100s of thousands of $ to come up with the strongest front end that the set up can hold and someone cuts a huge chunk out of that and I need to explain, Like I said, wait till he drives it.
I think he should also cut the torque boxes out and that cross member is to big , how about if we cut it in half long ways. It would make it easier to change oil.

 

[brianj5600]

shock towers are structural. He will see when he drives it.
Let's see, Ford pays a slew of structural engineers 100s of thousands of $ to come up with the strongest front end that the set up can hold and someone cuts a huge chunk out of that and I need to explain, Like I said, wait till he drives it.
I think he should also cut the torque boxes out and that cross member is to big , how about if we cut it in half long ways. It would make it easier to change oil.

The same engineers designed a backward camber curve in the front suspension. If they got everything right we would not be modding anything. There are plenty of guys running around with notched towers w/o trouble.

 

[oh9mustang]

Ok
Go right ahead. I could care less.

 

[blown65]

I fail to see your issue really. He is I'm sure putting metal back in it's place so it really shouldn't be much diff than stock. Not sure why your getting so bent over it however.

 

[ForceFed70]

Ok
Go right ahead. I could care less.

You do realize that he is plating them back up when done right? They will be just as strong after as they were before. Maybe stronger even.

 

[oh9mustang]

Not getting bent, Don't care. What he said was "Figured it would make things easier to change the pugs on the 351" now does that sound like he is going to fill the hole?
I'm done with this thread.

 

[Helmantel]

You really thought that he made access holes to reach the spark plugs from outside?