Topic: 67 390 Shock Tower repair

[brennancarey]

Hi

Needing some advice on best way to repair 67 shock towers which have torn due to weight/torque of a 390 motor. i have heard that this is a common problem. A PO has welded it rather poorly as seen in image.

What is recommended as a suitable repair ? I want to stay away from replacing the entire shock tower.

[ruppstang]

If you do not wish to replace the shock tower I would grind down the weld and inspect it for cracks. I would also check the back side for cracks. If cracks are found reweld them. If you are not a competent welder I would hire a professional. All though not concourse correct a export brace may help too.
Marty   

[Bob Gaines]

FYI, they factory reinforcement done in those areas (competition suspension and all Shelby's) were typically just as crude but of course those would be on front apron , back apron side seen from the engine compartment side and not just the front.

[brennancarey]

FYI, they factory reinforcement done in those areas (competition suspension and all Shelby's) were typically just as crude but of course those would be on front apron , back apron side seen from the engine compartment side and not just the front.

Thks Bob, any chance of a picture of how the Shelbys were welded?

[ruppstang]

FYI, they factory reinforcement done in those areas (competition suspension and all Shelby's) were typically just as crude but of course those would be on front apron , back apron side seen from the engine compartment side and not just the front.

All big blocks should have the vertical welding. There is a weld perpendicular to that weld that appears to have been a crack.

[WT8095]

Needing some advice on best way to repair 67 shock towers which have torn due to weight/torque of a 390 motor. i have heard that this is a common problem. A PO has welded it rather poorly as seen in image.

Was your car originally equipped with a 390? [S code in VIN]

[brennancarey]

Was your car originally equipped with a 390? [S code in VIN]

Yes, its a S code.
Dearborn car

[WT8095]

Then it should have had the welding from the factory like Marty showed. At least the '68 S-codes did, before the wraparound was introduced. I can't say for certain about '67s.

On a possibly related note - was it hit in the right front? The apron looks like it's been straightened.

[Paperback Writer]

Just for reference, here are a few shots of the shock towers on my 1967 San Jose 390 Convertible (Sept. 22, 1966 build date).  These photos were taken during the restoration of the car in 2012, and at this point the car had only been disassembled, media blasted, had some of the rusty panels cut out, and was painted in red oxide primer.  The welds in the shock tower areas are exactly as they were from the factory...

[brennancarey]

Just for reference, here are a few shots of the shock towers on my 1967 San Jose 390 Convertible (Sept. 22, 1966 build date).  These photos were taken during the restoration of the car in 2012, and at this point the car had only been disassembled, media blasted, had some of the rusty panels cut out, and was painted in red oxide primer.  The welds in the shock tower areas are exactly as they were from the factory...

Thks Paperback,

thats how mine is basically, welds on front of apron are a bit more rough/crude, but same thing. It looks like someone has welded horizontally as well to repair a crack in the tower.  I may have to reinforce the area with a few more welds.

Thks for those pics, and this leads me onto my next problem/question. Are all those holes in the aprons original and correct ? Mine has been drilled by previous owner and I have a lot of extra incorrect holes which i need to weld closed and am looking for a photo of what it should look like. Your pictures are great and very clear are they accurate to follow for positioning of drilled holes etc?

[Paperback Writer]

Hi Brennan,

I have labeled the two shock tower photos for you below...

1 – Fender U-Nut Clip Mounting Location
2 – Space for Rubber Hood Bumper (The bumpers actually mount on the inner fender lip)
3 – Nothing / Open
4 – Starter Solenoid Mounting Location
5 – Power Convertible Top Wiring Fuse Link
6 – Wiring Harness Strap Mounting Location
7 – Lower Battery Tray Mounting Clip Location
8 – Outer Shock Tower Reinforcement Bolt Location
9 – Thermactor Air Filter Canister Bracket Mounting Location
10 – Nothing / Filled with Small Rubber Plug
11 – Upper Control Arm Bolt Mounting Location
12 – Hood Hinge Nut Mounting Location (the uppers were torn out on my car)
13 – Fuel Line
14 – Wiring Harness/Windshield Washer House Strap Mounting Location
15 – Nothing / Filled with Large Rubber Plug

For your '67 Fastback, I believe you would have all of these holes except for "5" (which is for the power convertible top wiring harness) and possibly "9" (unless your car had a Thermactor system).

Cheers!
Kevin

[brennancarey]

Kevin,

Wow.. thank you very much for taking time to label and document all that info !

It really is appreciated that you would do this..

I am in South Africa and as you can imagine there are not too many mustangs  to compare against never mind originals or concours restored ones and people with the knowledge and experience that is found here on this forum.

So again a big thank you for taking your time to help me out.

Rgds
Brennan

[Paperback Writer]

No problem Brennan - helping each other is what this forum is all about!  Hopefully, you'll soon have one of the few concours Mustangs in South Africa - and then you and your Fastback can be the inspiration for other vintage Mustang owners in your country to correctly restore their cars too!

Cheers!
Kevin

[brennancarey]

No problem Brennan - helping each other is what this forum is all about!  Hopefully, you'll soon have one of the few concours Mustangs in South Africa - and then you and your Fastback can be the inspiration for other vintage Mustang owners in your country to correctly restore their cars too!

Cheers!
Kevin

Awesome thks Kevin ! I really hope so and looking forward to that day, but a long road ahead to be travelled !

[1967 eight barrel]

The welding on the first picture isn't Ford.  There was no MIG welding in 1967. There is still wire attached to some of the welds.
They were welded with an arc welder/stick welding.  Paperback's welds are VERY clean compared to several 67 390 examples I have seen over the years, including my 1967 Shelby GT500.