I love when folks show the whole process, even when things don’t go perfect - I’ve learned so much more from watching folks tackle problems than when everything goes right! So I try to do the same when I run into issues or screw up
Good job on widening the upper torque box panel. It turned out great. There’s nothing quite as frustrating as partially or incorrectly bent flanges on replacement panels. They’re all probably good enough to pass a quick “resemblance” check, but then you discover just how bad they are when you hold one up in place. It really makes me appreciate seam sealer.
Thanks! I’ve definitely learned nothing is a drop-in fit. I’m guessing if you took original parts from different cars/plants, they’d still not fit exactly the same just based on differences on the assembly line
Hi, enjoy your videos...very informative. At time stamp 4:40, should the top panel of your torque box (on right side) go over the flange of the root of the frame extension root or under it? I think under it. That may have caused your small gap at time stamp 6:25. I have a 65 mustang and am preparing for torque box installation this spring. Thanks in advance.
In hindsight, it may have fit better with it going behind. The assembly manual had it in front, so that’s how I put it, but it might not have been best. I would guess that either should give you about the same strength, but I’m not sure. A third option is something that Barry (Joe Daddy’s Garage) did with his 69 CJ build, and that’s put a “joggle” in the upper torque box plate so the flange goes behind, but the plate is flush with the frame rail (not in front or behind - if that makes sense). This would avoid having to bend the firewall to fit up against it too. If I were going to do it again, that’s what I’d do. If you have trouble finding that video, I can see if I can post a link if you want, he did a great job with it.
Here’s that video I was referencing: ua-cam.com/video/dQz4oAVWzP0/v-deo.htmlsi=8eySnEag5Y5mtLLQ He gets into it about 2 mins in, but the whole thing is worth watching. Don’t know if I’d bend it like he did, or cut and re-weld it up, but regardless I really like his approach. His is a 69, but it should work the same for your 65 and my 67.
65-66 production cars did not have torque boxes. Carol Shelby added at least the driver's front torque box on his cars.. I'm not sure if he did passenger then.. Although now, any car you're gonna add big power to, and or road race, everyone adds both to 65-66 and 67 as well.. Check out the Infernal Craftsmen, he fought his torque boxes all of the way.. I beat, cut and rewelded both of the torque boxes, I got from NPD, to within an inch of their lives !!! They came welded together, I had to split them for installation, as my car had new full doors and toe boards already.. 👍 Great job !!!
Oof, I’ve heard folks have had lots of issues with the already-welded ones. I actually watched his videos before I tackled mine. I’m curious where his came from, they looked rather thin compared to the gauge mine were stamped in. Also I originally was going to put the gussets under the frame flange like he did, but turned out they fit perfectly above the flange without and fussing
I have a question where the top section of the torque box site on the lip of front frame where it angles down to the frame rail. Are the left and right lips at the same height? Reason I am asking is on my car is rusted away. With the torque box sitting on top of the lip I would think it would high and cause a high spot on the floor pan. Hope this make sense.
Hey, I don’t know if they’re exactly the same height, but since my car didn’t originally have a passenger torque box, I imagine adding it will raise the toe board area by a little bit from where it was, but only the width of the metal. I don’t think it’ll make a big impact, but since for me it’ll be all new firewall and floor, I’ll make the new ones fit up where they need to to make it sit right. Let me know if I understood correctly and answered your question!
Yep, it’s just primer in a can. I know it will be some time before I’ll work on it, and there are places that won’t be painted, so I try to put something on there to protect it.
I’m more familiar with the 67s, but yeah it looks like early on they only did torque boxes in convertibles. In 67 they did one front box in coupes and fastbacks - and only started putting two front ones in coupes and FBs in 68. So it ~might~ be ~okay~ without them for normal driving provided the rest of the structure is sound. That said, it should definitely add stiffness and strength to the structure and keep it from twisting, which is why I’m adding a passenger side even though mine didn’t have one. I figure Ford realized it was worth the extra cost to add them as the years went on, it might be a good idea.
Thank you for showing your "mishaps" keeps others from doing the same and is real time knowledge.!!
I love when folks show the whole process, even when things don’t go perfect - I’ve learned so much more from watching folks tackle problems than when everything goes right! So I try to do the same when I run into issues or screw up
A excellent video thanks for sharing. It helped me immensely doing my own 67 GT
Thanks, that’s great to hear! Hopefully your project is coming along nicely
Good job on widening the upper torque box panel. It turned out great. There’s nothing quite as frustrating as partially or incorrectly bent flanges on replacement panels. They’re all probably good enough to pass a quick “resemblance” check, but then you discover just how bad they are when you hold one up in place. It really makes me appreciate seam sealer.
Thanks! I’ve definitely learned nothing is a drop-in fit. I’m guessing if you took original parts from different cars/plants, they’d still not fit exactly the same just based on differences on the assembly line
Hi, enjoy your videos...very informative. At time stamp 4:40, should the top panel of your torque box (on right side) go over the flange of the root of the frame extension root or under it? I think under it. That may have caused your small gap at time stamp 6:25. I have a 65 mustang and am preparing for torque box installation this spring. Thanks in advance.
In hindsight, it may have fit better with it going behind. The assembly manual had it in front, so that’s how I put it, but it might not have been best. I would guess that either should give you about the same strength, but I’m not sure.
A third option is something that Barry (Joe Daddy’s Garage) did with his 69 CJ build, and that’s put a “joggle” in the upper torque box plate so the flange goes behind, but the plate is flush with the frame rail (not in front or behind - if that makes sense). This would avoid having to bend the firewall to fit up against it too. If I were going to do it again, that’s what I’d do.
If you have trouble finding that video, I can see if I can post a link if you want, he did a great job with it.
Here’s that video I was referencing:
ua-cam.com/video/dQz4oAVWzP0/v-deo.htmlsi=8eySnEag5Y5mtLLQ
He gets into it about 2 mins in, but the whole thing is worth watching. Don’t know if I’d bend it like he did, or cut and re-weld it up, but regardless I really like his approach. His is a 69, but it should work the same for your 65 and my 67.
65-66 production cars did not have torque boxes.
Carol Shelby added at least the driver's front torque box on his cars.. I'm not sure if he did passenger then.. Although now, any car you're gonna add big power to, and or road race, everyone adds both to 65-66 and 67 as well.. Check out the Infernal Craftsmen, he fought his torque boxes all of the way.. I beat, cut and rewelded both of the torque boxes, I got from NPD, to within an inch of their lives !!! They came welded together, I had to split them for installation, as my car had new full doors and toe boards already.. 👍 Great job !!!
Oof, I’ve heard folks have had lots of issues with the already-welded ones.
I actually watched his videos before I tackled mine. I’m curious where his came from, they looked rather thin compared to the gauge mine were stamped in. Also I originally was going to put the gussets under the frame flange like he did, but turned out they fit perfectly above the flange without and fussing
I have a question where the top section of the torque box site on the lip of front frame where it angles down to the frame rail. Are the left and right lips at the same height? Reason I am asking is on my car is rusted away. With the torque box sitting on top of the lip I would think it would high and cause a high spot on the floor pan. Hope this make sense.
Hey, I don’t know if they’re exactly the same height, but since my car didn’t originally have a passenger torque box, I imagine adding it will raise the toe board area by a little bit from where it was, but only the width of the metal. I don’t think it’ll make a big impact, but since for me it’ll be all new firewall and floor, I’ll make the new ones fit up where they need to to make it sit right. Let me know if I understood correctly and answered your question!
@@evansmessygarage yes and thank you
Yes, it does cause a high spot. Some folks trim that lip and butt weld it to the floor support. Especially when the firewall and toe boards are in.
What did you sprayed on the torque box after welding? (Gray stuff)? Primer?
Yep, it’s just primer in a can. I know it will be some time before I’ll work on it, and there are places that won’t be painted, so I try to put something on there to protect it.
Full floors that is...
What happens if there is no torque box? 65 and 66 didn't have any.
I’m more familiar with the 67s, but yeah it looks like early on they only did torque boxes in convertibles. In 67 they did one front box in coupes and fastbacks - and only started putting two front ones in coupes and FBs in 68.
So it ~might~ be ~okay~ without them for normal driving provided the rest of the structure is sound. That said, it should definitely add stiffness and strength to the structure and keep it from twisting, which is why I’m adding a passenger side even though mine didn’t have one. I figure Ford realized it was worth the extra cost to add them as the years went on, it might be a good idea.