[Stallion18]

Hey guys Im in the middle of redoin my car when the firewall needed replaced and decided to stiffen up the front end by welding all the seams in the inner fenders and adding a bar in the front tieing the 2 frame rails together. Heres a few pics......

This is how the frame looked by the battery box area...

Fixed.....

I was replacing the outter frame patch.....

The bar wouldnt work any further to the front so bright idea to drill 1 1/4" hole around the center of the furthes back inner bumper bracket thread....

Welded to outter portion of frame rail...

Heres the bar inside the car...

Angle Iron on top and bottom of the rail tieing to the bar....

Complete Installation.....almost.....

Welded nut to a matching diameter washer....

Welded washer with nut inside the cross bar.....

Let me know what you think, Im pretty happy with the progress. I've never done anything like this before Im 21 and this is the 1st car I've ever dont like this. Hope to road race it occasionally.....Thanks for any thought ahead of time.

 

[7ro1t13210]

I dont see that doing anything... there is already a crossmember about a foot behind that, and the frame rail is a foot farther forward... A good thought, but I dont see it being effective at anything. Sorry.

 

[Stallion18]

I kinda felt the crossmember behind that with a bolt in either end was a joke...

But if its suffiecient I guess it kinda sucks I just spent all that time on this then

 

[7ro1t13210]

Between that crossmember, and your export brace, there is alot of stiffening. The other thing to consider is that the shock towers, being hanging up in the sky from the frame, is really where all the flexing goes on (at least laterally), since the frame is a box, and has the strut rod supports to provide added stiffness.

You are right, the stock crossmember doesnt do a ton, but it does enough. Cobra automotive makes a stronger one that has more bolts and is stiffer, but again, I dont think (and I am sure that someone will correct me if I am wrong) there is all that much flexing in the portion of the frame that you reinforced.

 

[leFrenchie]

I agree, I can't see it doing anything beneficial. On the top of the inner fenders is where it belongs (monte carlo bar). You already have a lower core support and crossmember down there, that lil guy isn't going to do much. But GJ I guess, be proud of your work.

 

[obsidianspider]

It looks ok, I just hope it doesn't have any interference issues with the motor. Doesn't the crank pulley sit near there?

 

[SAC69]

I agree, there may be inteference with the pulleys or oil pan. Have you checked out another veh for measurements? Sorry.

 

[LMan]

Nice thought, but I gotta feeling you'll be cutting it out, once you starting putting the motor in.

 

[Stallion18]

even with different mounts and under drive pulleys?

 

[7ro1t13210]

hard to say off hand, but it looks to me like there will be problems as well...

 

[LMan]

even with different mounts and under drive pulleys?

well, its not a huge deal. You can cut it out pretty quickly if you need to, wont take long.

I cant possibly comment on pulleys and motor mounts without seeing it all go together. Ive never seen anyone weld a bar like that in that location so its new territory to me. Youll just have to see what happens.

 

[2bav8]

I was just looking at my engine bay and I'm thinking your lower radiator hose is going to have some clearance issues with the new bar. I think your crankshaft pulley will clear, but definitely wouldn't be fun to remove with the engine in the vechicle.

 

[Stallion18]

The hose clears, that much I have checked. it will actually go under the bar.

 

[Hemikiller]

You're gonna be cutting that puppy out, unless you can figure out how to run without a harmonic balancer, pullies, etc.

 

[Stroked66]

Agree with other posters re; Engine clearance.

If you want to stiffen up the front of the car. Box those front triangle gaps with some 1/8" steel.

Re: Bolt-in lower cross member; Upgrade to the Cobra Automotive cross member that incorporates the LCA mouniting bolts.

 

[bbenthin]

If you want to stiffen up the front of the car. Box those front triangle gaps with some 1/8" steel.

Also handy to stand on when doing R/R on an engine.

 

[Arto65FB]

I dont see that doing anything... there is already a crossmember about a foot behind that, and the frame rail is a foot farther forward... A good thought, but I dont see it being effective at anything. Sorry.

If you have done TCP rack and pinion, you don't have that aluminium engine cross member. I have been thinking about similar bar for jacking.