...most of us don't track our cars, so it's the compromise of street comfort and handling prowess. There's always the confusion and misconception of what works on the track will work on the street and vice-versa
How would some bolt-on doo-dad help on the street but not on track?
Also, this was asked in the CORNER CARVER RACING TECH DISCUSSION sub-forum, not elsewhere.
I can personally attest to braces and structural reinforcements being beneficial as my 06' GT was wrecked and the body was damaged but chassis for the most part remained in-tacked protecting the occupants who were my kids driving the car at the time.
The body/chassis shop owner who is has over 40 years of experience and a personal friend of mine even stated that without the aftermarket braces & supports, specifically the Kenny Browen radiator support and Steeda jacking rails... the Convertible GT would have crumbled under the impact.
Yea that sounds like a heck of a stretch there, JC. A body shop owner does see some crashes, but he's not exactly a structural engineer. He is probably telling you what you want to hear. And yes, its always nice to be overly safe with your kids, but putting them a convertible with some braces ain't really the best plan, maybe.
I've got a similar story from a real 15+ year former Ford engineer who now works as a crash investigator for one of the largest rental companies in the world. He flies out to crashes where there were deaths to investigate things. He told me this:
He and his family only drive full size trucks and SUVs on the street. Big, heavy full-framed monsters.
Because that is what "wins" in car-to-car crashes. The highest
mass, modern structural engineering, high strength steel and metal alloys, with a full roof and enclosure, and lots of airbags. That is what gives you and your kids the most safety on the street in a crash, not driving around in a car with the roof cut off (convertibles "crash" poorly) with a few brackets bolted to the underside.
Again, I am not a chassis expert or a race car driver, just a guy who has owned, played and raced with several cars from; 911S Porsche, WS6 Trans Ams, Fiero GT and more Mustangs V8s than I can count on one hand.
I get it, you are being honest here.
But I am also being honest with everyone... I could sell all sorts of doo-dads, could make braces for S197 and newer cars and people WOULD buy them, and I would make money. I choose not to, because as an engineer and racer of 35+ years I know - it is all smoke and mirrors. A pure deception, a cash grab.
Don't fall for the bracket nonsense with an S197 or newer chassis.
Again, the Fox / SN95 and earlier cars aren't a fraction as rigid as the S197, S550 or S650, and they
might see a tiny improvement with a triangulated strut tower brace. I have one in my S550, but its there mostly to hold the 8 coil packs we remote mounted.
Cheers,
