"I would take some flat stock and make a triangular gusset on each side and punch it full of lightning holes to give it that racey look like the rest of your car. You could taper the plates to extend out maybe 8 inches or so forward."

Don,
Are you talking about an 8" x 8" (approx) triangular gussett ,with holes, from the exisiting side tubes up to the main tube? or are you talking like a piece of 1/4 x 3 flat with holes angled from the existing side tubes into the main tube 8" forward of all the tube connections?

John