Shock tower question.

Discussion in 'Classic Talk' started by 1966ponyguy, Sep 3, 2004.

  1. 1966ponyguy New Member

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    I've heard a lot about the early mustang shock towers leaning inwards from usual road wear and tear. Several sites list checking them, and spreading them into proper position using a porta power. Can anyone tell me what the measurements should be to check by and just where to measure them?

    I have thought of using a monte carlo bar to check, but I don't have one handy, and due to the 5.0 HO motor going into the car, the bar will probably be a custom polished aluminum to match the other parts. Thanks to everyone who has replyed.

    Thanks again
    1966ponyguy, Sep 3, 2004
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  2. LMan Founding Member

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    40" tower to tower.
    LMan, Sep 4, 2004
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  3. Ozsum2 New Member

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    But from where to where? I guess I could go down and measure from bolt hole to hole on the MC brace, but I'm in my jammies.
    Ozsum2, Sep 4, 2004
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  4. rbohm Founding Member

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    usually what people do is install an export brace, and push the towers outward untill the brace bolts up. you can do a similar thing with a monte carlo bar too, just not as well as the export brace install.
    rbohm, Sep 4, 2004
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  5. 65stanger big blue fuzzy closet monster

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    I asked myself, "What would SuperDave do?":scratch:

    Obvious answer is "Read the Ford Manual!" :D

    Unfortunately the only dimensions I was able to find were in Section 17-1 General Body Service......there is a diagram with the underbody dimensions and all measuring points come off of the subframe.:shrug:
    65stanger, Sep 4, 2004
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  6. StangDreamin' Founding Member

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    Does the manual give a figure for the incidence angle of the shock towers? If it does, we could get the height measurement of the tower - say from the LCA mounting point to the upper shock mount - and the distance between the LCA mounting points. Armed with those measurements; just get the Closet Moderator-Engineer-Dawg to whip out his trusty pocket calc to do the math!


    See, I knew we could make the boy work a little! :D
    StangDreamin', Sep 4, 2004
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  7. Ozsum2 New Member

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    No it doesn't. The MC bar is the key here.
    Ozsum2, Sep 4, 2004
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  8. StangDreamin' Founding Member

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    Okay, but (strictly playing devil's advocate here) how the the manufacturers know the length to make their MC bars? The proper distance tower-to-tower must be recorded somewhere. :shrug:
    StangDreamin', Sep 4, 2004
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  9. Ozsum2 New Member

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    More than likely, they took measurments from an original MC bar.
    Ozsum2, Sep 6, 2004
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  10. StangDreamin' Founding Member

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    I'm sure that, absent any available documentation, measuring an original MC bar is the only way to go (only reasonable way). It just runs afoul of SD's RTFM policy; and that just seems wrong in so many ways.

    I can imagine the bean-counters' decision to dump all manufacturing data for the first two years; but it doesn't seem like something that engineers would do :shrug:
    StangDreamin', Sep 7, 2004
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