AutoBanter - View Single Post - 5.0 Mustang Cowl Shake/strut brace/subframe connectors

**[email protected]** · August 11th 06, 09:29 PM posted to rec.autos.makers.ford.mustang

wrote:

> Hi - I bought myself a very nice clean 89 LX 5.0 convertible and it is
> my first fox body car and I can really see why this car has such a lot
> of fans - it is great and I can see these cars being put on the same
> gearhead pedestals as the 55-57 chevies and 64- 71 Mustangs in the near
> future.

> Anyway like many other owners I want to keep it great and make it even
> better where I can.

> One thing I am noticing and was expecting is quite a bit of cowl shake
> - it has 86,000 miles on it so a combination of age and design are
> probably a factor here BUT .... one comment I will make is that I took
> my brother in laws 1992 5.0 convert which has about the same mileage on
> it for a drive and it is much more tight - I looked under the hood and
> there is no strut tower brace so I am wondering was anything done
> factory design wise to make the 1992 cars stronger in terms of body
> structure ? - I took a quick look under the front and can't see
> anything exotic there either . I know there are a lot of components
> that could come into play here but I just thought I would ask this
> question as a starting point.

Good observation. I too noticed the same difference between my '87 LX
5 liter and my current '93 Cobra -- the Cobra being noticebly stiffer
than my older LX. What the difference is some where in the early 90's
Ford strengthen the floor pan because of the earlier cars developing
cracks in the pan around the seat bolts.

> I have new struts on the car which the person I bought it from
> installed but I don't know the vintage of the rest of the front end -
> it passed the mandatory safety inspections we have up here so nothing
> is worn below spec.

> For reduction of the cowl shake and considering strut tower braces vs
> subframe connectors which one of the 2 is the best approach ?

Both are equally effective, IMO, but the strut tower brace being the
easiest, cheapest of the two to install. With a 'vert, I'd install
both (use weld-in subframe connectors) and add a G-load brace.

> Thanks very much for any responses to my guestions - I visit this group
> regularly and it seems like there are a lot of very knowledgeable
> members here who are very generous in helping fellow owners and fans
> out.

Patrick