I have noticed that sometimes on the four link brackets there is a cross tube welded from left to right. Is there a lot of flex going on and at what point is it necessary? I have never heard of the brackets flexing or bending, but I guess it's possible. My brackets are 1/4" thick from Smith Racecraft. They are four link brackets, but will be using ladder bars. Car is a big tire four speed setup. Should I be thinking about this mod? Car is going into the 8's.

I've seen mounts rip off a housing. Probably due to lousy welds. But I've seen 3 cars it happened to, one this past year. They all went upside down. My ladder bars are boxed and the shock mounts are supported with a tube at 45 degrees to the mount.
Doug

If the car gets sideways and the brackets aren't at least boxed, they can lay over. Had it happen to me. Luckily I got the car back under control without any further damage.

I put the bar on the stuff I build.. ladder
bar and 4 link.. just to help stiffen up the
longer section that hangs down... I've had to
weld up some brackets that were cracked for
a few people.. and I add that tube for them
EDIT
Also I add a gusset to the front lower section
that you can see on the right side.. to stiffen
that part where the lateral link can crack them
off

Here is what RJ Racecars did on ours. Kinda hard to see as there is a lot going on but it has a couple braces from side to side as well as boxed 4 link brackets

Here is a picture of one I did for a friends altered. Reason for replacement was the lower bracket on the right side folded over and cracked when car got sideways and then caught traction. Previously had neither the cross member or brackets boxed. IHTH Beep

Wow! I've never seen pics of that before, but I guess it happens fairly often. I didn't think of welding the crosstube to the bottom of the housing. I guess that's a real good idea for added side to side strength.

Yeah, pretty common.

Plate the brackets.....install the crossbar.......weld it to housing.......and also, do NOT just weld crossbar to inside bracket on both sides and call it good. Take the time to fit the bar through both plates on either side and weld it all up.

You are NOT going to keep your dana housing from bending, so do all you can to help it. Plus as mentioned, this keeps you from laying the brackets over and ending up on the rooof

Alot going on! Wow that's understatement ! Really cool though!