FE Power Forums
FE Power Forums => Non-FE Discussion Forum => Topic started by: 70tp on June 05, 2019, 08:52:27 PM
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What is available in the way of a severe shock tower cut or replacement that would allow about as much room as a factory boss nine car? Are boss nine style towers being reproduced?
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Dynacorn was going to reproduce the Boss 9 towers but I haven't seen anything that says they have yet. There is a Mustang restorer who has done them but they aren't cheap. Can't remember off the top of my head who he is.
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I’ve seen reference to the dyna corn stuff but couldn’t find anything as to availability, thought I was missing something . I was hoping there was something out there by now
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There is something out there. I am trying to recall who reproduced the Boss 429 towers. I think they were about 1200.00 a pair to my recollection. I know someone who bought them and put a cammer in his Mustang with them. I will try to remember who did them and post. It's been a few years.
-Keith
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There was a Boss 429 restoration guy in Cannon Falls, MN, who was doing the whole Boss 429 front end package. I heard second hand that he didn't always have all the parts required for the swap in stock; this would have included at least the control arms, which I believe are different than stock for 69-70 Mustangs. I've heard the guy's name before, Kevin something. Link below.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Cars/Kevins-Klassic-Cars-150485708331267/
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That's Kevin Manley. Recently he had a set on Ebay for $4500.
There's a bunch of parts that were changed, the shock tower itself, the apron around the top of the shock tower which allows the tower to recess outward, a unique outside shock brace, and then the shotgun brace that goes back to the firewall/cowl. Of course all the pieces except the shock tower itself is left or right handed.
The price does not include the unique export brace which another vendor sells for $950.
The upper arms are largely stock except they are notched at the pivot end to clear the shock tower.
Lower arms were moved out 1/2" on each side.
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Jay has the right guy. I saw that kit years ago. I had didn't realize the export brace was different as well. 5500.00 isn't chump change for a few pieces of stamped steel. However, the cammer in a '67 that looked like a factory install was pretty nice.
-Keith
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Nice but that is a lotta bux for as stated, mainly sheet metal.
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May not be relevant for this conversation, but I've had mixed results with Dynacorn stuff on the Chevy projects I've worked on the last few years. I think that even if all this stuff is coming out of the same pressing plant in Taiwan that different brands have their own dies and not all are spending the same money on that end of production. Never bought anything from Dyna for a Mustang so maybe it's better, or at least more consistent.
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Seems like Kevin’s stuff says permanently closed. Sure was hoping that someone out there was offering the stuff that wasn’t quite so pricey.
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I suppose if this is an attempt at factory type mods that the $ would be expected. Otherwise, get plasma cutter and mod the towers as required. For $5xxx you could trade out the stocker type front suspension for a strut type, then cut the towers way back with some nice blending using 10 or 12 gauge steel and have a lot of money left over.
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Does anyone know if a severe cut of stock towers would allow a boss or cammer to fit without getting into a full blown front clip swap? Or do the stock spring location get in the way? I wouldn’t mind cutting what’s there but don’t really want to cut full front of car off at this point.
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So if the lower arms are moved out 1/2" does that mean the uppers are only moved 1/2" as well and not shorter ones?
I assume the center link is different too or did they just screw the tie rod ends out a little?
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In the Ford TransAm pamphlet it says that Boss 429 arms are shorter, in reference to upper arms. A modification suggested for Boss 302 preparations.
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The center link has about 2.5" of threads. Generally, the spool valve is threaded all the way in until there is about 2 threads remaining.
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There used to be a bunch of rumors about the upper A-arms on a Boss 429, that they were shorter, the metal was thicker, the ball joint angle was changed, and that the shock mounting holes were moved outward. But so far the only proven change was the back was cut out to clear the different shock tower.
I think the upper arm on the Boss 429 is also moved outward by 1/2", just like the lower.
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Here is the kit.
It's still available.
https://www.ebay.com/i/253902828166?chn=ps
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From information from Kevin the upper control arms are notched. It uses the standard lowers. They also offer just the notched portion of the tower to weld into a standard shock tower. His phone number is in the add as well.
-Keith
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I'd heard same that the upper arm is shorter, but none to measure so don't know. Also was once told that the shock towers were from a '64 Fairlane or similar. Don't recall exactly as been a long time.
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I posted the link as I found the contact information for the only manufacturer. He offers a Concours kit as well as weld-in components. None of the arms are shorter. The upper one is notched to clear the inset on the tower, as the bottom side of the tower remains in the stock location. If the O/P is skilled he doesn't even have to change his entire tower.
-Keith
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Thanks guys for coming up with the info on this, I also ran across an old post that Jay had shared of a boss car without a motor that also helped . The car is a 70 Mach one with a tunnel port in it, has been this way since early 80’s, but have always wanted a boss nine. I have been on the fence as to whether to do a new stroker short block or step up to a boss headed motor. Cutting and welding skills are not a problem on this but was hoping as to not cut the entire suspension out. It appears that a cut above the control arm bolts and move the tower back above that may allow it to fit. I’m not too concerned about making it look concours perfect but not look like a hack job either.
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I'd say go for it. Are a few different B9 heads out there now that can use on a stock block. Is still expensive, but it is a Boss 429 too!
As for trimming the towers, you can do a nice job. I'd look at some other shock towers like early Fairlane or 71-73 Mustang. May find can cut a section from on of them and graft it in come close to looking like the B9 stuff, but for a lot less than that kit.
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Some years ago, Brother Lon and I did a job on his '67 Mustang. The car had a TP in it, an installation we did when the car was less than a year old. At that time we used the upper end from one of the LeMans GT cars---got it from Triple E---and a short block from the local Dealer.
Some years later I got Jim Dove to make up a set of TP heads using his 'Type II' exhaust port design. The exhaust ports were raised, spread, and re-shaped. In order to not compromise the header design---this required custom headers---we decided to completely remove the shock towers, We wanted to have a minimum of 6 inches before any header primary made any sort of turn. We solved the shock tower question by using a plasma cutter to remove the entire tower sheet metal.
This made it obvious that the upper arm inner attachment points were also in the way. We sourced a set of shorter-length tubular upper arms from a 'Late Model' circle track supplier (they cost about $25-or-so apiece) and used coil-over shocks out in the wheel-well. We filled in the holes where the towers had been with stainless plate (for strength) properly braced, and mounted the upper ends of the shocks to fabricated pivot points. The inner attachment points for the upper arms were moved down and out, making use of the proper geometry developed by Shelby for the GT350 and 500 cars. Handling was much improved and significant weight taken off the front suspension.
In order to have completely unimpeded room for the headers, it was also necessary to re-do the steering, making use of a Borgeson universal instead of the factory rag joint.
The car is now in New Zealand.
KS
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Here is what they looked like on a Boss 9.
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you can cut the stock towers no problem.its not that hard to do.i did that on my 68 mustang for a boss engine and it fit good with the crites gen 2 mounts and 69 mustang boss 429 headers.iused stock upper control arms and did the shelby 1 inch drop with neg wedge kit.send me a pm and i can send pictures of it.
dan.
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The offerings above are exact. Shotgun mounts and all.
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The official word on the boss transplant is that it can happen with just a shock tower cut and a few special pieces without using the full kit to convert it to boss car look alike . Seems at this time there are two companies offering headers, mad dog and FPA. Headman no longer offers any. Manual brake set up looks to be easy and clears valve cover. Special thanks to hbstang for his input and wisdom on this undertaking.