T-top cars factory torque boxes?

[russosborne]

Way back in this thread
http://www.stangnet.com/mustang-forums/495114-hackers-world.html
there was a mention of T-top cars having factory installed torque boxes. A couple of people asked if anyone had pictures, but I don't think any got posted.

So I was wondering if anyone may have any they could post now?

And yes, I have been reading from as far back as this goes, into 2003. No, I don't have much of a life.
Seriously, I am trying to find answers to questions before I post them for the 1000th time. Not having much luck with the search engine.

Thanks,
Russ

 

[78CobraII]

Still don't have any photos in my collection. I'd love to have drawings...they would be easy to reproduce with an industrial sheetmetal bender and some heavy guage metal. Actually, easy for a fab shop...

 

[russosborne]

Yeah. I would like to do them on my car, it is going to need all the help I can give it.

I have someone here at work who has offered to bend up some metal for me for the car if I can give him some sort of drawings. Not sure what he will want to do it, but he has a brake at home and says he loves to do that sort of stuff.

Has anyone looked into adapting the torque boxes from an early (65-68ish) Stang? The aftermarket ones sell for pretty cheap. Yeah, I know. I need to forget about the older ones.

Thanks,
Russ

 

[78CobraII]

Still looking for MII T-Top torque box drawings, but still not finding. I'll post on the other site and see if anyone there has pics.

I did find some pics of a guy restoring a '70 coupe in Denmark with loads of welding pics, including pics of new torque boxes going in:
My 1970 coupe project. Very very long opening!!! - MustangForums.com

The torque boxes are just a triangular cross-section tube that connects the outer rocker panel, inner frame rail, the firewall, and the floorpan. You could use cardboard to mock up the panel and have a fabricator bend it out of heavy gauge sheetmetal.

The ones for the '70 Mustang were built with a chunk of floorboard attached, but I don't think that would be necessary. A good design for an add-on would be a sheet of metal bent to a 90 degree angle with tabs to attach to the inner frame rail and rocker panel. Intalling it with a continuous bead of weld would make improve the stiffness. I seem to remember that the MII T-top torque boxes were either bolted on or spot welded on in just a few places.

 

[Mstng2]

My T-Top car has these, as well as the engine bay braces. I dont have a hoist to get a good shot of them but I'll see if I can get some decent shots putting it on ramps. Give me a couple of days and I'll post them in this thread.

 

[russosborne]

That would be cool.
Thanks!
Russ

 

[David B]

78 Mustang II with T tops

I have a very nice 78 that I am parting out that has the factory torque boxes. The complete floors are coming out at the spot welds on the rocker panels, to ship out of state, so I can drill these out and remove as well. FYI there is also a small brace inside the car from the inner quarter panel to the floor pan, as well as the under hood cowl braces on t top cars. It has one nice Right rear quarter panel, and the complete RH front inner fender panel with battery tray and ZERO rust. Decent fenders and rust free door shells as well. I will try to get pictures if interested, e mail me for more information. Thanks, David.

 

[78CobraII]

Hopefully that floorpan is going off to Russ. <joke>

I'm not aware of the inner quarter panel braces. Could you please post pictures?

I'm sure that if you remove the torque box braces, someone will want them. Pictures would be great for our group documentation also.

Thanks in advance.

 

[russosborne]

Nope, I am not buying it, or anything for this car. If the subframe wasn't rusted out I would like to but even then I am out of money for fun stuff for quite a while.
With the subframe being shot, I can't justify spending anything on it. Maybe if I still have it after I get good at welding (suppose I should say IF there) then it could be an option. I mean people replace those on the vintage mustangs all the time. Course now you can even buy them with the aprons already welded on for those cars.
Russ

 

[MUSTANG J]

I think this picture may help you? The Extra T-top bracing. They look like they were bolted into position with studs on the floor then welded to the "frame".

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