[57chevy]

Getting back to the welds, it looks like you are a little cold on the setting or you are moving to fast. When the weld sits on top like yours you are not assured of good penetration. What you want is a very slight undercut at the edge of your weld. When you but your pieces together you need to grind the edge so you have a v to fill.
Try your style on scrap and put it in a press it will break.
Grind it proper with the heat right and it will bend.
You have good ideas on the braceing but if the welds arent proper they could fail. Not meaning to be negative but you ask for input.