Project Street Fighter - Brace Yourself

Now that the prep work is done, you can start the actual installation. It's always a good idea to lay out all of the parts to see what you're working with and make sure nothing is missing. Total Control Products offers our Mustang's system as PN PKG-TWRB-01, for $459. They also offer one for the Comet/Falcon, which is slightly different, and runs $509.

The first thing is to attach all of the brackets. For this one, we used the same hardware that was on the black plate before. You would use the same hardware for the upper shock mount for a stock-style suspension application.

The second bracket we put on was the firewall plate that uses the same holes that the factory braces connect with. We bolted it on temporarily to mark where to drill holes for the lower portion, which has a backing plate. After we marked these holes, we ground off the unsightly seam sealer and reshot it with Dupli-Color's Trim Black paint for the final installation.

The third bracket set goes on the flat sides of the inner fender about 12 inches from the radiator support. The machined aluminum engine side bracket needs a steel plate to reinforce it on the inside as you can see in this photo. After measuring off the radiator support to ensure proper location, we marked the second set of holes off the interior bracket.

Here are all of the brackets installed and ready for the links.

Each link has very specific hardware that is explained in Total Control's instructions, and it helps to pre-assemble each piece with the hardware to make sure you've got everything where it should be.

We bolted the firewall links first. Tuning the length of the rods is very simple. One side is standard thread and the other is lefthand thread, so twisting the rod at the knurled portion changes the length-like a turnbuckle.

Here's everything installed! It all went together very smoothly, though the aluminum clamps going over the main truss brace needed a little prying to open wide enough for the bar.