Short answer: If this mod doesn't light your fire then your pilot light is out!
In the next couple of weeks, I am planning on a tires / brakes / shocks upgrade on this 2007 V6 convertible that I bought last winter (103,000 mi). Having never owned a mustang before (An early model F-body gear head from way-back) I didn't really know how these cars were supposed to handle so I decided to start the mods from the ground up with some chassis improvements including the convertible braces. My convertible braces were in decent shape for their age yet did show one small corroded/weak area. Step 1: Last Friday I had the Stiffler FIT chassis brace system welded in at the Stiffler mfg plant . Brian and Mike also installed their latest prototype convertible braces and their adjustable panhard bar. I'll need that adjustable bar because I am installing Vogt 1.2" lowering springs along with (once they arrive) Koni non-adjustables all around.
The change in handling with the both the Stiffler Fit system and the new convertible braces is nothing short of amazing. As I said at the outset: If this mod doesn't light your fire then your pilot light is out!
The car, although in decent shape, is all original and all stock (except for the Aeroform bar, Pypes true duals and a rebuilt alternator added by a previous owner). When I say original - I mean original - it still has the factory installed struts and shocks. Obviously, with 100,000+ miles they need replaced but the change was nothing short of phenomenal. My 25 year old son ran an errand with me on Saturday and without my prompting said ... "This is amazing! It rides like Mrs. Reynolds BMW... What do you mean? You have to watch the speedometer in her car because it's so smooth you don't realize that you're doing 90mph. There is a huge change in how your mustang rides just going down the road." I just smiled ... mission accomplished.
While I am waiting for the Koni's to arrive, I am going to remove the convertible bars and install the rear GT500 13.9" rear rotors and take it for a drive. I'll report back if there is any significant change without the braces. Here are some pics that I took at Stiffler's during the install. Brian and Mike were phenomenal ... the kind of people that I want to do business with.
I'll upload better photos when I have it up in the air but the last photo is just the attention to detail on the install of the Stiffler FIT system - they retained the stock plastic corrosion guard by trimming to fit (pic 3: view just below the drivers seat)
Staying on topic - if you're looking for replacement convertible bars, Stifflers is adding their improved version of the Convertible braces to their product line (they had a prototype but used my car to take jig design measurements) and it will work standalone as well as integrate directly into the Stiffler FIT chassis system. I don't work for them and met them as a result of this post as I was researching what to do about my compromised convertible braces. Call him: Brian can tell you himself how he changed the box orientation to increase the stiffness so it's now more than just a harmonic dampener. Will advise...
I will post additional pics as the tires/brakes/suspension upgrade moves along during my 2 week COVID furlough.
PS. Take a close look at the mounting point of the Convertible braces at the lower control arm mounting point ... It looks like a Torque Box brace design but this setup integrates through the unibody to the rear subframe section.