Vert chassis reinforcement, x-brace, SFC
02-22-2007, 02:15 PM
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Vert chassis reinforcement, x-brace, SFC Researching the best way to stiffen my '99 T/A WS6 6-speed T56 convertible, I am seeing things that aren't completely explained and don't make sense.
Some convertibles apparently came with some kind of x-brace. My '99 has no x-brace that I can see. It has a fairly common looking tunnel cross brace that sits under the exhaust and doesn't look like it does much else. It is held on with 2 bolts at each end. Then there is the transmission mount that crosses the tunnel.
I wanted to add a BMR driveshaft safety loop, but it says it is not designed for convertibles. Maybe it won't fit the x-brace type car, but it looks like it would bolt in just like the tunnel brace on my car. Ths SLP brace/driveshaft loop looks the same more or less as the BMR, and it supposedly fits convertibles.
I know that the convertibles have factory welded-in subframe connectors that seem like extra floor pans. Some companies make additional bolt-in or weld-in SFC.
Questions:
1. Does anyone actually know what cars have the x-brace?
2. Are they only on automatic convertibles?
3. Will the x-brace bolt onto a manual car for improved stiffness?
4. If anyone has pictures of the underside of their convertibles, autos and manuals, different years, we can maybe understand this situation.
Unfortunately, I didn't take too many overall pics of my car before I removed the parts and the tranny and the exhaust. I am trying to stiffen it up now before I put it back together if anyone has any good input. I will not put in a rollbar or weld-in SFC, but I may add bolt-in SFC's.
As soon as I figure out how to attach photo's, I will attach a couple pictures of the bottom of my car. One photo you can see the trans mount and the cross brace. The other photo shows after the removal of the parts. You can see where the cross brace bolts on.
Some convertibles apparently came with some kind of x-brace. My '99 has no x-brace that I can see. It has a fairly common looking tunnel cross brace that sits under the exhaust and doesn't look like it does much else. It is held on with 2 bolts at each end. Then there is the transmission mount that crosses the tunnel.
I wanted to add a BMR driveshaft safety loop, but it says it is not designed for convertibles. Maybe it won't fit the x-brace type car, but it looks like it would bolt in just like the tunnel brace on my car. Ths SLP brace/driveshaft loop looks the same more or less as the BMR, and it supposedly fits convertibles.
I know that the convertibles have factory welded-in subframe connectors that seem like extra floor pans. Some companies make additional bolt-in or weld-in SFC.
Questions:
1. Does anyone actually know what cars have the x-brace?
2. Are they only on automatic convertibles?
3. Will the x-brace bolt onto a manual car for improved stiffness?
4. If anyone has pictures of the underside of their convertibles, autos and manuals, different years, we can maybe understand this situation.
Unfortunately, I didn't take too many overall pics of my car before I removed the parts and the tranny and the exhaust. I am trying to stiffen it up now before I put it back together if anyone has any good input. I will not put in a rollbar or weld-in SFC, but I may add bolt-in SFC's.
As soon as I figure out how to attach photo's, I will attach a couple pictures of the bottom of my car. One photo you can see the trans mount and the cross brace. The other photo shows after the removal of the parts. You can see where the cross brace bolts on.
02-22-2007, 03:54 PM
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My '02 A4 had it. There may be the exhaust differences
'98-'99/'00-'02 in there. The X-brace interferes with any
exhaust other than the stocker, needed beating for the
SLP Y and deleting for the long tube headers.
Your crossmember is different than mine, the 'vert A4 X
bolts to the top of the crossmember body and I have
no tang projecting like you show.
I found eliminating made a tiny bit more flex through the
midsection but this is not a really stout piece to begin
with (and forget the SLP replacement version, it's more
of a joke and as prone to interfere, just in different
spots). SFCs would be superior.
'98-'99/'00-'02 in there. The X-brace interferes with any
exhaust other than the stocker, needed beating for the
SLP Y and deleting for the long tube headers.
Your crossmember is different than mine, the 'vert A4 X
bolts to the top of the crossmember body and I have
no tang projecting like you show.
I found eliminating made a tiny bit more flex through the
midsection but this is not a really stout piece to begin
with (and forget the SLP replacement version, it's more
of a joke and as prone to interfere, just in different
spots). SFCs would be superior.
02-23-2007, 09:46 AM
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PHP Code:
A4 have a x-brace, M6 just a streight metal sheet.
you can fit the M6 piece on a A4, but not the opposite.
I wonder:
1. Could an x-brace be modified to fit an M6 vert?
2. Does that mean that all the driveshaft safety loops (like BMR) will fit an M6 convertible and not an A4 convertible? BMR states that theirs won't fit convertibles.
02-23-2007, 07:24 PM
#6
Originally Posted by markyf
PHP Code:
A4 have a x-brace, M6 just a streight metal sheet.
you can fit the M6 piece on a A4, but not the opposite.
I wonder:
1. Could an x-brace be modified to fit an M6 vert?
2. Does that mean that all the driveshaft safety loops (like BMR) will fit an M6 convertible and not an A4 convertible? BMR states that theirs won't fit convertibles.
02-23-2007, 09:42 PM
#7
IMO, The stock x-brace is worthless. You can get a two piece driveshft loop and not put in the loop portion. I thought BMR made one for the verts, but I haven't looked in a long time.
I'm not sure why you won't install weld in SFC, but they make the biggest improvement. I have BMRs and UMI is coming out with ones that look like the old KBDD which include the triangle braces. A strut tower brace helps a bit in addition to SFCs.
I'm not sure why you won't install weld in SFC, but they make the biggest improvement. I have BMRs and UMI is coming out with ones that look like the old KBDD which include the triangle braces. A strut tower brace helps a bit in addition to SFCs.
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02-23-2007, 10:00 PM
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My biggest roadblock is that SCCA Solo II autocross ESP class won't allow most of these mods. I could get away with using the x-brace if it fit and added any improvement. I probably can't add SFC, especially weld-in types.
03-06-2007, 08:12 PM
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The area in blue are all the areas that are added in a convertibel 98-02. The area in red is some of what is added inside the convertible. The coupe cars do not have these sections.
03-08-2007, 12:44 AM
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Originally Posted by Mark A. Rogalski
The area in blue are all the areas that are added in a convertibel 98-02. The area in red is some of what is added inside the convertible. The coupe cars do not have these sections.
03-08-2007, 08:26 AM
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Those are excellent pictures and information. I didn't know all that detail.
By the way, where do you get the oval exhaust pipe and is it aluminized or Stainless? I am just now installing Kook's headers and I need to do the exhaust.
By the way, where do you get the oval exhaust pipe and is it aluminized or Stainless? I am just now installing Kook's headers and I need to do the exhaust.
03-08-2007, 11:52 AM
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I've got a 97' 30th anniversary SS 6 speed convertible. Purchased a cross brace and SFC's from Don Goetz. Had them done in Hugger Orange to match the stripes on the car. Couple photos....
03-08-2007, 12:42 PM
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Originally Posted by markyf
Those are excellent pictures and information. I didn't know all that detail.
By the way, where do you get the oval exhaust pipe and is it aluminized or Stainless? I am just now installing Kook's headers and I need to do the exhaust.
By the way, where do you get the oval exhaust pipe and is it aluminized or Stainless? I am just now installing Kook's headers and I need to do the exhaust.
True Duals over the axle WS6
03-09-2007, 08:30 PM
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Those reinforcements along the pinch weld (typically where SFCs go) look pretty rigid. I bet those could be added to coupe/t-top cars. I already have BMR boxed SFCs, but mine do not weld to the floorboard and pinch weld... only to two points on the chassis. Mark, could you please take more pictures closeup of these 'factory SFCs" and send them to me?? I wonder how hard it would be to remove those from a junkyard convertible.
On the interior shot, the side to side bracing at the bottom of the picture looks like it's part of the stamping. You're saying that's not like that on t-top/coupe cars??
Can you take more pics of all those reinforcements and post them or send them to me??
Thanks,
Jim
On the interior shot, the side to side bracing at the bottom of the picture looks like it's part of the stamping. You're saying that's not like that on t-top/coupe cars??
Can you take more pics of all those reinforcements and post them or send them to me??
Thanks,
Jim
03-10-2007, 12:13 PM
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Originally Posted by vtirocz
Those reinforcements along the pinch weld (typically where SFCs go) look pretty rigid. I bet those could be added to coupe/t-top cars. I already have BMR boxed SFCs, but mine do not weld to the floorboard and pinch weld... only to two points on the chassis. Mark, could you please take more pictures closeup of these 'factory SFCs" and send them to me?? I wonder how hard it would be to remove those from a junkyard convertible.
On the interior shot, the side to side bracing at the bottom of the picture looks like it's part of the stamping. You're saying that's not like that on t-top/coupe cars??
Can you take more pics of all those reinforcements and post them or send them to me??
Thanks,
Jim
On the interior shot, the side to side bracing at the bottom of the picture looks like it's part of the stamping. You're saying that's not like that on t-top/coupe cars??
Can you take more pics of all those reinforcements and post them or send them to me??
Thanks,
Jim
