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Torn torque boxes

  • Thread starter Thread starter pierce.corgan
  • Start date Start date Aug 30, 2022
  • Tags Tags
    battle box fox mustang torque box torque box reenforcement
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pierce.corgan

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May 26, 2020
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Aug 30, 2022
#1
  • Aug 30, 2022
  • #1
Hey guys so about a year ago i picked up a 1989 lx hatch and recently my torque box has torn

the car sat somewhere for a while so it’s a bit rusty underneath but it’s cracked in half and it’s cracked the floor, how should i go about fixing this? a friend of mine said he could make me a brace that would be bolted through the floor and welded in to hold it together and tie into the other box and all that but i’ve also seen that you can just get replacement torque boxes like the s-box. how should i go about this? all opinions are appreciated!
 

90sickfox

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands
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#2
  • Aug 30, 2022
  • #2
You can fix it by drilling the ends of all those cracks and welding them up. Then use a torque box reinforcement kit to weld and bolt extra plating in.

There are several options for complete replacement.

I tore the boxes in my 89 convertible years ago. Had a friend ( professional welder ) weld the cracks up and reinforce them. He was known for chassis work and I never had an issue again.
 
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pierce.corgan

Member
May 26, 2020
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Aug 30, 2022
#3
  • Aug 30, 2022
  • #3
90sickfox said:
You can fix it by drilling the ends of all those cracks and welding them up. Then use a torque box reinforcement kit to weld and bolt extra plating in.

There are several options for complete replacement.

I tore the boxes in my 89 convertible years ago. Had a friend ( professional welder ) weld the cracks up and reinforce them. He was known for chassis work and I never had an issue again.
Click to expand...
I was thinking that at first but recently it started making a metal popping sound when i would accelerate so i parked it to get it fixed but i’m pretty sure the torque box is cracked all the through now, i’ll have to take a picture of it later, is it still possible to just weld it back together and then weld around the seam of the whole torque box? also would i just have to hammer the torque box so that it’s against the floor pan again?
 

90sickfox

Wasn't a pretty sight...and I've got big hands
SN Certified Technician
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#4
  • Aug 30, 2022
  • #4
Yes, you can straighten it out and weld it back up. Mine was completely torn on the drivers side. The lower control arm mounting point was also torn. It was so bad the car would sway different directions when on or off the gas. My buddy Rick did a great job and car tracked straight as an arrow.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
Mod Dude
Aug 25, 2016
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#5
  • Aug 30, 2022
  • #5
What other issues with cracks and rust is there?
If the rust and cracks are that bad there, I bet there are issues that require more patch and welding that need to be addressed in other areas.
 
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pierce.corgan

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May 26, 2020
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Aug 30, 2022
#6
  • Aug 30, 2022
  • #6
General karthief said:
What other issues with cracks and rust is there?
If the rust and cracks are that bad there, I bet there are issues that require more patch and welding that need to be addressed in other areas.
Click to expand...
surprisingly it’s pretty clean and most of the rust is just surface rust, i do have a hole in my drivers side floor towards the front but the guy who is welding my boxes is gonna fix that. it has the usual bit of strut tower rust as well but it’s pretty minor
 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor
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Jan 4, 1985
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#7
  • Aug 30, 2022
  • #7
I came across these recently:

Merillat Racing Foxbody Torque Boxes

Get your stock suspension game on point! With lots of adjustment to fit your ride height and suspension setup, these are the ultimate upgrade for stock frame rail setups. These are drop shipped.
mooreracechassis.com

Have not installed nor do I know anybody that has.

Note that you can choose upper/lower or both.
 

rednotch

I'd like to remain having one chocolate starfish
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#8
  • Aug 30, 2022
  • #8
Yeah I wouldn't screw with any factory style reinforcement with the way that pans torn to hell. There plenty of adjustable uppers kits like the one pictured above that are a much better design..
 
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