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#1
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A BODY BRACES UMI
I added these braces because I was told with the new power I am making it will help not rip the upper arms out of the mount area. I already had umi upper and lower arms. I like the look and they bolted in with no issues, fit great. I know factory 4 speed gm cars had brackets but not as pretty!
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#2
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Good upgrade .
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#3
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I went with the PMT Fabrications rear suspension kit for mine. (arms, sway bar, braces). My car was originally a 4 speed, but didn't have any braces when I got it - although that doesn't mean it never did. My front suspension is from UMI - I'm really happy with all of it.
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1965 Pontiac LeMans. M21, 3.73 in a 12 bolt, Kauffman 461. |
#4
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I can't say I've ever seen a set of the braces.
At what point do they become needed? Are they a security thing only or do they offer a benefit you can feel in normal driving? My rear uppers and lowers are BMR Fabrication. A quick look shows BMR offers the braces......a part I didn't know existed or was needed.
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frittering and wasting the hours in an off hand way.... 1969 GTO, 455ci, 230/236 Pontiac Dude's "Butcher Special" Comp hyd roller cam with Crower HIPPO solid roller lifters, Q-jet, Edelbrock P4B-QJ, Doug's headers, ported 6X-8 (97cc) heads, TKO600, 3.73 geared Eaton Tru-Trac 8.5", hydroboost, rear disc brakes......and my greatest mechanical feat....a new heater core. |
#5
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I think the control arm braces were used on MT cars. I believe there was a tendency of frame damage from hard launches. The damage would occur where the UCA would mount in the frame, I think.
I too have the BMR uppers (adjustable) and lowers, but I have the factory style control arm braces from PY. The factory ones look like they were fabricated from thick flat bar stock instead of the tubular style the aftermarket companies usually make.
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The joker in the deck keeps sending me his card. Smiling friendly, he takes me in. Then breaks my back in a game I can't win. |
#6
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Yes manual cars and high h.p. big block chevys got them.
Ther function is to stop the upper control arm mount points from ripping or breaking. Over time the upper control arms are "pulling" on the upper crossmember. It's like when you keep folding sheetmetal, it breaks after a while. It can help with wheel hop too. It ties the upper xmember to the lower arm mount. It does not effect driving at all. I have a TKO 600 and will be making about 750 H.P. this season so it was just insurance for me. |
#7
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Any A-body car making decent power and especially stick cars should have those braces.
Frames were cracking at the rear crossmember so the factory started installing them on the stick cars. Pretty much addresses one of the weak points of the A-body chassis, the very early cars were known for cracking in this area. These braces are from Hotchkis.
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1964 Tempest Coupe LS3/4L70E/3.42 1964 Le Mans Convertible 421 HO/TH350/2.56 2002 WS6 Convertible LS1/4L60E/3.23 |
#8
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Thanks guys.
Sounds like $130 well spent.
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frittering and wasting the hours in an off hand way.... 1969 GTO, 455ci, 230/236 Pontiac Dude's "Butcher Special" Comp hyd roller cam with Crower HIPPO solid roller lifters, Q-jet, Edelbrock P4B-QJ, Doug's headers, ported 6X-8 (97cc) heads, TKO600, 3.73 geared Eaton Tru-Trac 8.5", hydroboost, rear disc brakes......and my greatest mechanical feat....a new heater core. |
#9
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I just installed a set tonight. With UMI they should clear the floor pans as well with their unique bend.
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#10
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Yes cleared the floor pan with no problem!
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#11
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B-Man's look to be straight and appear to clear easily. Is clearance an issue?
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frittering and wasting the hours in an off hand way.... 1969 GTO, 455ci, 230/236 Pontiac Dude's "Butcher Special" Comp hyd roller cam with Crower HIPPO solid roller lifters, Q-jet, Edelbrock P4B-QJ, Doug's headers, ported 6X-8 (97cc) heads, TKO600, 3.73 geared Eaton Tru-Trac 8.5", hydroboost, rear disc brakes......and my greatest mechanical feat....a new heater core. |
#12
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Quote:
Clearance should not be an issue if the part has a specific bend in it. K
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'63 LeMans Convertible '63 Grand Prix '65 GTO - original, unrestored, Dad was original owner, 5000 original mile Royal Pontiac factory racer '74 Chevelle - original owner, 9.85 @ 136 mph besthttp://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/ My Pontiac Story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 "Intro from an old Assembly Plant Guy":http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 |
#13
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Here's what it looks like when it breaks.
K
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'63 LeMans Convertible '63 Grand Prix '65 GTO - original, unrestored, Dad was original owner, 5000 original mile Royal Pontiac factory racer '74 Chevelle - original owner, 9.85 @ 136 mph besthttp://www.superchevy.com/features/s...hevy-chevelle/ My Pontiac Story: http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=560524 "Intro from an old Assembly Plant Guy":http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=342926 |
#14
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I have the UMI braces. They are excellent parts
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-1967 GTO HO Restomod. PKMM 433ci, SilverSport T56 Magnum 6spd, Moser 9", SC&C and a bunch of other pro touring goodies - Build Thread http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...615847&page=23 |
#15
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X2 love mine so far
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#16
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I ordered a set of BMR Fabrication braces last night. It's nice to be fairly close to Summit Racing's Georgia distribution center...they are out for delivery today. BMR's show no bend....if they don't clear they'll go back and I'll get a set of the UMI's. Since the rest of my stuff was BMR I thought I'd stay with them. Reading their instructions, there was no mention of possible clearance issues so we'll see.
I learn something new here on PY every day.
__________________
frittering and wasting the hours in an off hand way.... 1969 GTO, 455ci, 230/236 Pontiac Dude's "Butcher Special" Comp hyd roller cam with Crower HIPPO solid roller lifters, Q-jet, Edelbrock P4B-QJ, Doug's headers, ported 6X-8 (97cc) heads, TKO600, 3.73 geared Eaton Tru-Trac 8.5", hydroboost, rear disc brakes......and my greatest mechanical feat....a new heater core. |
#17
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I have the Edelbrock braces on my '69. IIRC, they are straight. Installation was a breeze.
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1966 GTO 1969 Lemans Convertible- F.A.S.T. legal family cruiser. 12.59 on G70-14 Polyglas tires. 1.78 60' 1969 Bonneville Safari- cross country family cruiser. . 1979 Trans Am 400, 4-speed, 4 wheel disc. View from the drivers seat racing down Atco Raceway- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhYDMdOEC7A Ride along in the other lane-http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIzgpLtF_uw |
#18
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Quote:
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#19
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If the frame is square, the fixed braces work fine, fyi. There should be no reason to 'load' that area with adjustables.
Triangulation is key to ridged strength, hence the braces. Another good area to brace is the front lower rear control arm mount, both F and A bodies. But that can impact header fit with some. In 1970, from what I understand, there was also a brace the 455 HO manual cars got that connects/reinforces the rear frame rails, across the ends. There's a pic of it in the assembly manual, but I've never seen one in person. If anyone has info on that, I would be interested. .
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. 1970 GTO Judge Tribute Pro-Tour Project 535 IA2 http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/...d.php?t=760624 1971 Trans Am 463, 315cfm E-head Sniper XFlow EFI, TKO600 extreme, 9", GW suspension, Baer brakes, pro tour car https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...ght=procharger Theme Song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zKAS...ature=youtu.be |
#20
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Quote:
Dave |
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