Monte Carlo Bar--what say you?

[AtlantaSteve]

OK, so Front-End-Rebuild-A-Palooza is about to commence.  I'm getting all my plans laid out and on my list was "MonteCarlo bar" (BTW, only reference I can find to Monte Carlo bar is on mustangs.  Everyone else calls them strut-braces, or tower braces, etc.  Not even Monte Carlos have Monte Carlo bars...anyone know the history behind that?)

So my preference was one of the nifty removable, adjustable, heim-jointed deals, but as I'm comparing prices (and remembering that this build is supposed to be 100% about bang for the buck) I'm having a hard time justifying the over $100 cost, when I compare it to a 15 dollar black monte carlo bar you can pick up all day long out of the catalogs.

SO.

First, once I get the subframe connectors, bigger sway bar and 1-piece Export Brace installed, does a monte carlo bar even matter?  I've read rumblings (but haven't found the posts) that the corner carver guys researched it and found the solid export brace made a difference.  The Monte Carlo bar did not.  So do I really even need one?

Second, aside from the looks-cool-factor, and the ease of removal, is there ANY reason the el-cheap-o straight-bar-Bolted-to-the-aprons is substantially inferior to the more expensive products?

Opinions are welcome.  Facts are even better!

Thanks,
Steve

[FordDude]

That we have so many choices when it comes to parts for our Mustangs it can be overwhelming at times. I cannot say if one is better than the other, I just want to point out one small thing. You have a 65-66 Mustang and a regular straight bar works fine. On my 67 the straight bar is right above the distributor pretty much preventing it from being removed. So on a 65-66 a straight bar is good on a 67-70 (not sure about later) either a curved bar or one that can be removed easily. fd 

[Fast68back]

While I like the looks of the TCP type setup (the new one from Street or Track is really sweet) I like that the Maier racing pieces do not require new holes for mounting the MC bar. I would think you could fab one up if you had any kinda fab skills and save a lot of money.

Maier has a one piece MC bar and a one piece combo MC/Strut brace





mine

[1497]

If any of this is wrong, I'm sure I'll be corrected, so here's my 2 cents.
Pretty sure the Monte Carlo bar was first used on Falcons in Monte Carlo rally racing. Used with the export brace, it triangulated the shock towers to the cowl to provide stiffness.
Seems to me the forces put on the bar are across the engine bay, so a cheap one that fits should work fine to keep the towers from flexing inward. Always wondered how a curved one provides much deflection resistance. A radius will give under stress before  the straight bar. Of course as I said before, I might be wrong.  

[Opentracker]

IMO, the one piece export brace is all you need. Stand that thing up on end and push, it don't move. I won't be putting an MC bar in my next project.

They are nice to lean on while your working on the motor, though they can also be a pain in the a$$. The name did come from the rally racing.

[midpack]

I have a removable one from Kanter. It's pretty slick, there's just a pin on either side holding it in place

[silverblueBP]

Steve,

Depends on what you will be doing. If only on the street then a MC can be overkill. If you will do any spirited driving, autocross or open track, then anything that helps stiffen up these Gumby mobiles is appropriate IMO.

I have the cheapo straight MC bar, triangulates just fine.

[Opentracker]

Good point Mark. The street buggy doens't need the extensive bracing like a track mule.

[AtlantaSteve]

That is a great point Mark...my intention:
It will be a street car MOST(like 99%) of the time.  I hope in a few years to start auto-crossing and maybe even occasional road-course usage, but the car's purpose is the street, and while I expect to do some spirited driving from time to time on the street, I do not treat the road like a race-track.   I want it to be able to handle like it is on rails, but I also am realistic in that I have very limited funds I can put toward this car, AND I am realistic in that any roadcourse/autocrossing I do, the sloppiest, and poorest handling part of my car will be the driver, and am looking to avoid overbuilding the car.

To me it looks like the cheap monte-carlo bar will do the job fine, even if it's un-needed, and at 15 bucks (11 dollars if I buy it today from CJ Pony Parts) not a big enough expense to really worry about.  So, for now, I will NOT be buying a vancy-dancy ajdustable/quick-release monte carlo bar.

[daveSanborn]

First, once I get the subframe connectors, bigger sway bar and 1-piece Export Brace installed, does a monte carlo bar even matter?

It's my opinion that the one-piece export brace will prevent 97.28% of any shock tower "flexing" and the MC bar is more of an "eye candy" piece.

I'd forget about it for now Steve...... you could put the $12 towards some suspenders.

[hivewax]

I have a removable one from Kanter. It's pretty slick, there's just a pin on either side holding it in place

do you have a link to the product or photo? i couldn't find it on their website.

[Fast68back]

Steve...... you could put the $12 towards some suspenders.

Damn near spit burrito all over my laptop......

[lethal289]

Damn near spit burrito all over my laptop......

Did you see the video...  It was no laughing matter!  :barf

[midpack]

no idea if this will work... if not, there are a couple pics in the gallery...

[AtlantaSteve]

I'd forget about it for now Steve...... you could put the $12 towards some suspenders.

BWAH!!!  So glad I put that video out AFTER WE gifts went out.  I'd have been screwed.

[LMan68]

IMO, the one piece export brace is all you need. Stand that thing up on end and push, it don't move. I won't be putting an MC bar in my next project.

They are nice to lean on while your working on the motor, though they can also be a pain in the a$$. The name did come from the rally racing.

+1.    Its a place to put your hand whilst you tinker with the carb.    It doesnt add any stiffness than the export brace doesnt already provide.

[tarafied1]

+1.    Its a place to put your hand whilst you tinker with the carb.    It doesnt add any stiffness than the export brace doesnt already provide.

I'm glad to hear this. I cannot fit one with my 429. I bought one but it hit the dizzy and the valve covers.

[cmayna]

Red is using Kanter's MC bar as well. Very nice when you need to remove any of the top end parts of the motor.  I believe Kanter quit producing this item a couple years ago.

I will be using SorT's adj MC bar on Shag.  Yeah probably don't need it but love the looks.

[Starfury]

FWIW, I dropped in my curved MC bar without any other mods.  I bought an export brace at the same time, but the cheap chinese POS didn't fit, so I put the MC bar on by itself.  It definitely made a difference.  So it's still there:)  And it only takes a couple minutes to remove if I really need it out of the way.

[gwstang]

fyi,  if you do get one...pick the front end of the car up by the engine cross member that goes behind the oil pan and let it sit that way for a few hours or even a day.  Then you can just drop in the mc bar when you are ready.  Some cars have tilted inward a lot at the shock towers and some a little over the years.