It all depends on how solid your car is. My vert is as stiff as a board. It has a stock 400. I can hammer it every which way and it doesn't flex. I think Pontiac's original design is fine as long as you are running a stock configuration. I do not 'power brake' my car though. I think that a lot of people are using frame ties to solve other structural problems. I like frame ties for race cars. The bolt-in are just fine if they are done right. Just my opinions.