Topic: monte carlo bar width

[kcodecoupe]

what is the width measurement on an original 66 Shelby monte carlo bar from the top bolt holes center side to side , thanks.

[jwc66k]

May I ask why?
Jim

[J_Speegle]

Guess you having problems with getting one to fit. Unibodies can change/move allot over the years of use, abuse and repair so they can be a challenge to reinstall or install for the cars that never had one. Not unusual to have to wrestle with one to get it in place on many cars

Unless someone has one handle or the  measurements will get to an original and measure it as close as possible

[Bob Gaines]

Guess you having problems with getting one to fit. Unibodies can change/move allot over the years of use, abuse and repair so they can be a challenge to reinstall or install for the cars that never had one. Not unusual to have to wrestle with one to get it in place on many cars

Unless someone has one handle or the  measurements will get to an original and measure it as close as possible

I was thinking the same thing. I hope you don't have one of those worthless Monte Carlo bars with the large half hoop in the center for clearance. Those bars are just a little better then worthless compared to a more functional straight bar. The hoop allows the body to flex . If you are wanting to install a Monte Carlo Bar do you have a proper one piece Shelby type export brace installed first? If so is it a original or some kind of repro . How did that go on?  The proper undamaged good repro or genuine export brace is a good tool to determine if your shock towers have moved because of previous accident or age. With a un damaged good reproduction or original brace it is meant to drop right on with little difficulty . You can't be certain of proper dimension with some of the cheesy knock off repro's. Once on then the shock towers should be indexed properly for a Monte Carlo bar to fit properly. The one piece export brace is more important then the Monte Carlo bar from a handling stand point . They work best together. If the export brace does not fit (being used in this instance as a measuring tool )  . If you have the export brace then the Monte Carlo bar should install although snug with a minimum amount of persuasion. Some people will lift the car with a floor jack strategically place in the middle of the lower cross member. By lifting up the car in that middle point it allows the shock towers to relax and give more clearance. You should not have to do that but if you do it is a symptom of shock tower movement. If you have to spread your shock towers to rectify shock tower movement then that can be done easy enough with the engine in the car but I will leave that for another post if determined needed.

[kcodecoupe]

Thank you both Jim & Jeff  , im working on my 65 K car and need to do some work on the front aprons & shock towers . I have an aftermarket export brace on it now and have a strait after market monte carlo bar but as Jim stated most are not the correct length ,I can modify it if needed once I have  original measurements from an original one , thanks again.

[kcodecoupe]

Thank you Jeff, that helps to know that measurement so I can keep everything secure & tight while I do my repairs,

[jwc66k]

WHOA!

Show a picture of your measuring points. Mine, an after market Monte Carlo Bar, is 42 inches center to center of the front top of the fender mounting hole screws. To the rear of that is the factory fender screw that holds the upper A-arm bumper bracket (aka, shock shield) to the fender apron. It has the same dimension.
If you are in need of front end (and other body) measurements, get a copy of the "1966 Comet, Falcon, Fairlane and Mustang Shop Manual". There are a lot of measurements in section 17,  page 5 (fig 3).
Jim

[J_Speegle]

Removed my earlier post since I measured the export brace rather than Monte Carlo bar  

Dummy move

The positive thing is it got caught (thanks Jim)  and got him to go out to the garage to double check my work

Measure ours and it (to the center of the same rear attaching holes on the top rail does also measure to 42"

Sorry for any confusion

[jwc66k]

I got your back, and so very often you got mine.
Jim