I have seen frame reinforcement braces in several catalogs that are supposed to strengthen the rearend and provide rigidity. Has anyone installed these? Results? I have boxed lower control arrms w/swaybar & Edelbrock anti-hop "bars" that attach to the rear upper control arms. I am getting ready to put energy suspension bushings on the control arms and just wondered of these reinforcement braces are worthwhile.Thanks

I put them on my '65.

As to how well they work remember that the '64 GTO was directly responsible for those braces in the first place - it was a service bulletin part for heavy duty driving because of some '64 GTO's cracking the frame from enthusiastic owners who wouldn't let a bad case of wheel hop stop them from laying down some rubber.

Thomas

These braces "triangulate" the rear end, allowing for less flex at the crossmember where all the control arms are. Cheapy insurance to cut back on frame flex. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

You can get "repro" arms for about $100 from most resto suppliers, but I'd step up and get some Hotchkis or Edelbrock braces... Much sturdier, and not too expensive (Hotchkis were $121 from Summit, and Edel's a little more).

I would also suggest AGAINST Poly bushings in the upper arms, especially with an aftermarket boxed arm. Just like mentioned above about the GTOs, those braces were incorporated to stop the frame crossmember from breaking due to flexing. Even thought the braces will help stiffen the crossmember, stiff upper arms and/or stiff upper arm bushings will not allow the upper arms to flex (which they MUST do to work), and transfer that flexing/stress to the crossmember... While those braces will help with the additional stresses, there will still be alot of stress in that crossmember, possibly causing cracks in the frame... The Articulated upper arms (Edelbrock and Currie) are a little better, but still don't "cure" the problem of stiff upper arms...

From experience, the softer rubber upper bushings make the car handle better that poly upper bushings anyway (I have Poly at all other locations)...

I think Global West suggests against the boxed upper arms too, and they have years of experience...

Remember that those braces on GTOs were ONLY used on Manual transmission cars, not automatics because of potential wheel hop.