i got a new scott drake export brace that is supposed to fit better than the reproduction ones. well i test fitted it on and it is about 1 inch too wide. i figured it was for a 67-68 engine compartment sotook it back to mustang magic and they said it should fit.but since my car took a hit to the drivers side front fender years ago, it tweaked my shock towers. and now that i think about it, that is why i hadproblems installing my headers a few months ago. anyway,i just drew up a plan for a tool that should spread my shock towers and inner fender wells so the export brace will fit correctly. after i make it, ill let you guys know if it worked or not.

one more thing, does anyone know a guy named Reuben Korbin? i seen a picture of his mustang in the MustangsPlus catalog and i wanted to get a hold of him to get pictures of his engine compartment since it is so beautiful

 

I'm looking at the body alignment section of the Shop Manual and the only dimension that you can use on the front is the center to center of the engine mount holes on the frame - 24.92 inches. Your best bet is to jack the car up and place some jack stands about 32 inches in back ot the center of the front wheel (from the owners manual) and let the car settle overnight. This may releive enough stress on the frame to allow the shock towers to move apart. Remove the old braces before you start and the upper shock mount bracket. I got one side started and bolted down loose, then the other, then the center firewall bolts. I used two drift pins to align the center. Any combination may work better.
Jim

 

thanks, ill give that a try, letting it sit overnight

 

About that alignment dimension I refered to, it is measured from center to center of the sway bar holes, not the engine mount holes. That should be an easy measurment to make.
Sorry for the mistake.
Jim

 

most try leaving the front of the car on jack stands for a day or two to spread out the load.thats the only easy way know

 

Isn't one way of doing this to jack the car up by the crossmember under the oilpan? Seems like that way the shocktowers will be free to relax.....

 

That might work or jack it up using the bell housing. The bell housing method will also test your engine mounts - two problems for the price of one. On second thought -
Jim

 

ive had mine up for 3 nights and i still need about .25 inch total. should i keep it up another night?

 

Try to work it in bit by bit, maybe even take off the cross bar under the engine.
Jim

 

With the engine out I used a bottle jack and a length of 4x4. Or you could use an adjustable monte carlo bar and bolt it on and use it to spread the shock towers. My first export brace install we mounted 2 jackstands centered under the radiator support to spread the towers.
Place jackstands under the frame raild to get the firewall lined up with the export brace center holes. Good luck.