Purpose of Front End Frame Brackets

[Master]

Is there anyone out here who might be able to tell me what is the purpose of the rather large brackets located on the underside of the frame just ahead of the front sway bar mounts? Is this something to do with a police package? I could imagine a push bar or skid plate mounting here. Which, by the way, is what I'm hoping for. I'd love to mount a nice Code 3 or Rhino to the front. Pushing cars out of my way right now scuffs the clearcoat. Can't have that...
Has anyone mounted a push bar yet? Any trouble with fit-up on a Merc vs Ford?

[SergntMac]

Isn't this where shipping tie-downs hook?

[Master]

I'd be surprised. They are open on the bottom, and are nothing like any tie-down bracket I've ever seen. They appear to be buttressed more for longitudinal stresses than vertical loads. I've dyno-ed several thousand cars now and have seen nothing like these before. Oddly, my own MM is the ONLY Panther ever to grace our dyno.

[Zack]

I cut them off my car.

[cyclone03]

When my car was pulled on the flat bed they used a chain with a small "T" hook that fit right in that slot.

[rayjay]

IIRC, some here said they were for assembly line use.

[Pantherman]

Rayjay has it right. The plants eventually figured out how to get along without them. They have since been deleted.

[usafsniper]

Has anyone mounted a push bar yet?

I've seen one post on here with a pushbar mounted up front.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/showthread.php?t=21342&highlight=Pushbar

Not quite the style for me, but looks good on black.

[Master]

Thanks very much for the link. Not only are the pictures great, but so are the comments (and commentary). Just what I'm looking for. Not only do I think it makes the car look extremely mean, but it really is great when someone double parks you. Just let the push bar contact their bumper and apply throttle. Not only practical, but fun.
Thanks again, all, for the input and advice - including the info on the brackets.
PS
I've been reading all of the posts from the "Pushbar" thread, and just wanted to add: I originally wanted the push bar so I'd have a good mounting point up front to tie off my Kayaks (I build wooden boats for fun). Nothing to do with wanting to look like a cop. Car has enough of that as it is. It wasn't till the second time I got double parked that I realized that the bar would also be useful for saving the clearcoat when I had to move the offenders. Finally, having grown up on Dukes of Hazard (the REAL ones), I always was kind of hooked on the look. Odd, maybe, but they say opinions and beliefs are formed at an early age - hey, at least I don't smoke or drink, right? Well, maybe that's no consolation :)

[Warpath]

That thread got a little carried away. Its your car. Do what you want to it.

[magindat]

That thread got a little carried away. Its your car. Do what you want to it.

I've been :poke:and :beer: , but more :beer: over my choices to 'stand out'!

Go for it! Your car, your life, your choices! :D