Reply to "2 Brace or Not 2 Brace"

The stock brace is utterly useless, since the bolt holes it attaches to, are slotted. IMHO the best unit around is Hall's cheap painted bracebar that jams into the two pockets, thus spreading the loads to the entire weldment rather than trying to use bolts to absorb it. Incidently, the backside of the two brace brackets ARE the upper shock mounts... All the other braces have too-short ends to jam in there. FYI, the front-end push was designed in by Ford who were terrified of the Pantera's potential for lawsuits. To minimize it, remove all the shock spacers, lower the steering rack about 5/16" to correct most of the bump-steer, run 8" rear wheels in front to remove most of the scrub radius mismatch & 245-50x 15" in front (with bigger rears also on 8" wheels). Use a 7/8" rear swaybar with the stock front bar. This, along with a good frt/rear alignment, will correct 90% of the push while not compromising ride etc. The type of brace-bar you describe is an extension of the cheap one I mentioned and it requires welding to install. You do NOT want to send suspension loads into the bellhousing, as it is cast aluminum; besides, the engine has rubber motor mounts so its not solid enough. Commercially available welded brace systems MAY prevent body-flex and subsequent paint cracking, but they are too new to have a long enough history to say so.