which monte carlo bar and export brace

steel1212 · Sep 6, 2005

Ok I'm in need of a monte carlo bar and export brace. I have a few options but not many. First off I have a straight 6 cars so the typical monte carlo bar won't bolt up. Secondly I have a msd probillet dissy so clearance might be an issue.

I would like responses from people currently useing the ones selected in the poll if possible.

Edbert · Sep 6, 2005

I thought they made a Monte Carlo bar for straight sixes

I think many of the aftermarket ones look cool but I doubt they provide much in the way of improved performance over the Shelby parts.

steel1212 · Sep 6, 2005

I really think something is screwed up with my inner fenders or something. I talked to NPD and the straight 6 just has a "special bend" to clear I think the air cleaner or something. It still doesn't mount up as far as the bolts go. The v-8 bar I have has 2 holes on top and 2 on the vertical and only 1 of those holes line up.

Edbert · Sep 6, 2005

Well, it all depends on where the misalignment is but there are never enough holes for all the bolts to be used. If you want to use all the holes you'll have to drill. That is overkill but unused holes are unsightly IMO.

Plus sometimes the inner fenders need to be spread a little due to ~40 years of sagging in order to get the bar to seat right.

Clark · Sep 7, 2005

I know on my setup I used the curved Monte Carlo bar and I also could only use one of the vertical holes with the two on the top per side.

66moneypit · Sep 8, 2005

I am still looking for a monte carlo that works with the HEI distributor. I don't weld, so fabbing one aint happening.

Clark · Sep 8, 2005

I would be surprised that the curved Monte Carlo bar would not work with the HEI because my Accel was too tall for the straight one.

thehueypilot · Sep 8, 2005

Clark said:
I would be surprised that the curved Monte Carlo bar would not work with the HEI because my Accel was too tall for the straight one.

It does fit. Check out "my garage" for the photo. I have since changed to the MPG Head Service quick pin braces. Check out www.mpgheads.com

steel1212 · Sep 8, 2005

Thats not a whole lot cheaper than the total control if you just get the export brace and shock tower brace.

66moneypit · Sep 8, 2005

thehueypilot said:
It does fit. Check out "my garage" for the photo. I have since changed to the MPG Head Service quick pin braces. Check out www.mpgheads.com

Huey....I didn't see your brace on there. Do they sell the brace I saw in your pic ? I just call them up and ask them for it ?

steel1212 · Sep 8, 2005

here is a couple pics. The more I look at them though the more I like them. No extra holes to drill for the monte bar as it bolts into the shock tower thingy like the maeir but its easily removed....mmmmm

mdjay · Sep 8, 2005

Those are pretty cool. However I have always wondered how well these actually help due to the pivot arms. I have the TCP ones so don't get me wrong, I just have always thought this is not a great spot for pivot arms. I'm sure they allow the chassis to flex in a wallow or uneven load. The stock ones and the Maier one hold on a horizontal plane as well as from point to point.

4MuscleMachines · Sep 9, 2005

I have the MPG Heads type on my 71 Boss 351 (yellow car) and the TCP on my 70 Boss 302 (blue car). For the small price difference, I prefer the TCP. TCP did not have one for my 71. The TCP is also a much more refined product than the MPG, IMO.

steel1212 · Sep 9, 2005

about 180ish if you don't get the T pins on the mpg unit. Such a little thing is driving me nuts on makeing a decision lol .

Also I don't do any, right now, auto x or anything like that. I may do a little in the future but I doubt it. I do drag a couple of times a month and do spirited highway driving. Do you think the MPG unit would be good for that?

Edbert · Sep 9, 2005

Listen to what Jay said...

The point of pressure on the ones that use the top of the shock tower brace are at an ANGLE. Of course the export brace is too but where the transition occurs is about the strongest part of the brace. If your goal is stiffness I haven't seen one that will work any better than the original ones. If you are looking at it for cosmetics then most of the aftermarket ones win, but not as much in my book as in other folk's. See, I am still a pushover for much of the '60s FoMoCo appearance, Cobra finned valve covers, blue block, etc.

thehueypilot · Sep 9, 2005

66moneypit said:
Huey....I didn't see your brace on there. Do they sell the brace I saw in your pic ? I just call them up and ask them for it ?

I still had the original curved brace on it in that picture with the HEI. I haven't updated the picture since I changed to the MPG unit but it still clears the HEI but from behind it with a slight bend. I do drag race every weekend and I have not noticed any problems with flexing.

Edbert · Sep 9, 2005

thehueypilot said:
I do drag race every weekend and I have not noticed any problems with flexing.

I doubt you ever will from drag racing. In fact (i'm no expert) aren't you supposed to soften up the front end for DR instead of stiffening it? I wonder if it would matter if you took all the bracing off along with your sway bar. You want to increase the weight transfer to the back half as much as possible. Probably a negligible difference either way, just thinking out loud.

The front end stiffness is primarilly for road-course tracks, where the weight transfer is lateral in the turns.

thehueypilot · Sep 9, 2005

Edbert said:
I doubt you ever will from drag racing. In fact (i'm no expert) aren't you supposed to soften up the front end for DR instead of stiffening it? I wonder if it would matter if you took all the bracing off along with your sway bar. You want to increase the weight transfer to the back half as much as possible. Probably a negligible difference either way, just thinking out loud.

The front end stiffness is primarilly for road-course tracks, where the weight transfer is lateral in the turns.

The only issue with drag racing is when the front tires come off the ground during launch the front end comes back down which could cause the shock towers to bow in over time.

steel1212 · Sep 9, 2005

Isn't the thing about drag racing mainly weight transfer? Chassis stiffness would be there to keep your frame straight right? So therefore the bar and brace would be needed. The only reason to remove the sway bar is so the front end will come back down?

steel1212 · Sep 11, 2005

Ok you guys running just the curved monte bar did you have to drill new holes to mount it? I put the one I had sitting in the garage on there and only 1 hole lines up, the top one and I only have one hole on top.

which monte carlo bar and export brace

Which monte carlo bar

Maier complete monte carlo bar/export brace

Streetortracks quick release monte carlo bar typical export brace

Total control products (way to expensive in my opinion)

make a v/8 monte carlo bar work with typical export brace

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