Export brace and EFI

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roan65

Member

May 17, 2003

103

0

16

Wasilla Alaska

Jan 28, 2006

#1

• Jan 28, 2006

• #1

What are you guys using that have EFI?

I bought the TCP thinking it would fit. WRONG! I seen the one Parts Plus carries that in the Export and MC combined. Looks okay, I think it is the baer unit.

 

Tubo(2-bo)

Member

Mar 25, 2004

279

0

16

Ft Walton Beach FL.

Jan 28, 2006

#2

• Jan 28, 2006

• #2

I'm using the MPG head Services one. The heim joints allow the cowl lip to flex when a load is put on the arms. When I R&R the engine to detail the underhood, I will first have some extra suppopt welded on to the cowl lip. The Ford usesd an angle bar to help suppor tthe origional export brace.
I think the flex problem will be found with any of the "for EFI" braces that use heim joints to facilitate engine removal.

 

red65

Member

Apr 12, 2003

411

0

17

Ann Arbor, MI

Jan 28, 2006

#3

• Jan 28, 2006

• #3

I have the Maier Racing brace, which is designed to work with EFI. It clears the intake no problem. The Maier unit is a solid weldment, unlike TCP's or others, so it's a bit more of a hassle to install (no adustability - you just have to get the brace to talk to the car, and vise-versa), but I think that may be worth something in terms of chassis rigidity.

I recently modified the Maier unit to allow clearance for a Paxton discharge tube - cutting wheel and a welder, and it still works great.

 

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roan65

Member

May 17, 2003

103

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16

Wasilla Alaska

Jan 28, 2006

#4

• Jan 28, 2006

• #4

How is the quality of the MPG unit? The flexing makes sense. It looks like where the heim joints connects on the firefall is higher then most. The TCP unit is lower.

The TCP unit has an angle piece that bolts under that lip. Then you drill 3 holes into the firewall and bolt it up that way as well. That might work great for the MPG unit.

red65, was it tough to get the car tweaked just right to get the brace to fit?

 

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Protowrxs

Member

Jul 20, 2005

93

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6

Oklahoma

Jan 28, 2006

#5

• Jan 28, 2006

• #5

I've seen Laurel Mountain selling this one on ebay. Didn't see it on their web site but should work with EFI. Not too bad price wise from other options I would guess.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...d=1,1&item=4606402090&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT

-Stephen

 

Tubo(2-bo)

Member

Mar 25, 2004

279

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16

Ft Walton Beach FL.

Jan 28, 2006

#6

• Jan 28, 2006

• #6

The Quality of the MPG is first rate. The only change that might make it better, would be to mount the firewall heim joints horizontally, insted of vertically.
The Laurel Mountain unit seems to be a good price, however dont you have to pull it out before the engine is pulled?? Admittedly you dont change engines that often, it does add another level of work to do & undo though.

 

4MuscleMachines

Member

Jul 20, 2005

417

1

17

South Texas

Jan 28, 2006

#7

• Jan 28, 2006

• #7

Protowrxs said:

I've seen Laurel Mountain selling this one on ebay. Didn't see it on their web site but should work with EFI. Not too bad price wise from other options I would guess.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...d=1,1&item=4606402090&sspagename=STRK:MEWA:IT

-Stephen

Click to expand...

I saw that one also, it looks like a carbon copy of the Maier Racing unit but at half the price.

 

CochinoFilipino

Founding Member

Jan 14, 2002

171

2

19

CA

Jan 28, 2006

#8

• Jan 28, 2006

• #8

I have that Maier or Laurel Mt. unit in my '68 parts car. It seems that the person who installed it had to notch the hood supports to clear the cross brace. It is going into the '67. If it doesn't clear, I will modify the brace before the hood.

 

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mustangracer

Founding Member

Jun 15, 1999

360

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0

Southern California

Jan 29, 2006

#9

• Jan 29, 2006

• #9

Here's the MPG one, I had added reinforcement top and bottom to the cowl mounting area and it still flexes.



The normal monte carlo bar may or may not fit. Mine fit with a little modification, like cutting the ends off and positioning it so it cleared the oil fill.

 

red65

Member

Apr 12, 2003

411

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17

Ann Arbor, MI

Jan 29, 2006

#10

• Jan 29, 2006

• #10

roan65 said:

red65, was it tough to get the car tweaked just right to get the brace to fit?

Click to expand...

It was a combination of choosing how to jack the car (under the front crossmember), enlarging the mount holes a bit, and judicious application of force. Basically, you get it lined up enough to get the bolts all through, then tighten the bolts. Not a big deal but, I'm sure, more difficult than if it had been adjustable.

 

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roan65

Member

May 17, 2003

103

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16

Wasilla Alaska

Jan 29, 2006

#11

• Jan 29, 2006

• #11

How can you guys tell if it's flexing? I think I like the MPG unit the best.

The price on Laurel Mountain ebay brace is pretty good! WAY better than what Maier unit price. That would be a pain to have to remove that to pull the motor or work on the engine for that matter.

Thanks for the info gents!

 

stangman16

Active Member

Nov 16, 2004

640

4

29

San Antonio, TX

Jan 30, 2006

#12

• Jan 30, 2006

• #12

?

Are there any adjustable EFI export braces that work? I figured the TCP one was going to work for it... glad I didn't order one.

 

68rustang

Active Member

Jan 17, 2003

1,537

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36

Cleveland, OH

Jan 31, 2006

#13

• Jan 31, 2006

• #13

I made my own.

 

Tubo(2-bo)

Member

Mar 25, 2004

279

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16

Ft Walton Beach FL.

Jan 31, 2006

#14

• Jan 31, 2006

• #14

To demonstrate the flex, on an MPG brace. Take either side, and crank out to put a load on the brace, then crank a little more. See the cowl lip flex?? Yepper.
I like my MPG also, the cowl flex is just a little disconcerting.

 

Tubo(2-bo)

Member

Mar 25, 2004

279

0

16

Ft Walton Beach FL.

Jan 31, 2006

#15

• Jan 31, 2006

• #15

The double post was unintentional, weirdness w/network @work...previous edited out

 

stangman16

Active Member

Nov 16, 2004

640

4

29

San Antonio, TX

Jan 31, 2006

#16

• Jan 31, 2006

• #16

68rustang said:

I made my own.

Click to expand...

care to share some details on this? That sounds like a good idea

 

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roan65

Member

May 17, 2003

103

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16

Wasilla Alaska

Jan 31, 2006

#17

• Jan 31, 2006

• #17

Stangman, the MPG is adjustable. Looks similar to the TCP. I'll make you a good deal on a TCP!

 

stangman16

Active Member

Nov 16, 2004

640

4

29

San Antonio, TX

Feb 1, 2006

#18

• Feb 1, 2006

• #18

hehe, I would - but I'm going the EFI route as well. I'm disappointed that the TCP one does not work for you. I sure thought it would. How far off was it?

 

68rustang

Active Member

Jan 17, 2003

1,537

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36

Cleveland, OH

Feb 1, 2006

#19

• Feb 1, 2006

• #19

stangman16 said:

care to share some details on this? That sounds like a good idea

Click to expand...

I will try to get pics up when I get home.

 

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roan65

Member

May 17, 2003

103

0

16

Wasilla Alaska

Feb 1, 2006

#20

• Feb 1, 2006

• #20

Stangman:
I have the Edlebrock performer upper and lower intake, and the TCP isn't even close to working! The brace on the firewall needs to be about 4-5 inches longer. Also the mounting points on the shock tower need to be to the rear rather then the sides. Can't even fab it to make it work without hacking it all up. best off to try something else.