Cameron

Bump.

.....Cameron
'91 Euro GT

karl ruiter

I replaced the uni-body on my '82 with one from a '78 Euro(I was young and dumb). The Early uni-body has mounting for the brace so I thought I would purchase one and put it on. But it turns out that the brace cannot be installed with the U.S. exhaust. I dont remember if the problem was it hitting the cat or the line that goes to the EGR valve, but I do remember that it does not fit.
So, since I did not want the hack up the exhaust, I did not install the brace. 120K miles later I am still happy with the handling of the car. The only issue I have noticed is that I do have a vibration that sets in at about 125mph that others here have not noted. This might because of the missing brace or because of a trashed front spoiler, and I suspect that it is mostly worn California freeway surfaces, but it might be the missing brace.
If you want to try the brace let me know. I have one that I will never use.

Steve J.

Karl - I sent you a PM. Thanks

Chuck Z

This is a timely topic for me.

I doubt you could add one very easily the holes on the frame rails are threaded and the studs are integrated into the floor pans. I'll take pics this afternoon and post them.

I just ordered the brace to replace the bent one on my 78. According to JB @ 928 International, they were only found on the 78 models. If your car came with the brace, you would know it by the 4 bolt holes on the frame rails (2 on either side) and the two studs sticking out from the bottom of the floor pans (1 on either side). The brace is located directly under the bell housing. The part # is 928 501 091 02 and here are a couple pics of the bent one from my 78:

Steve J.

Looks like mine had one in a past life. Wonder if it was deleted when the cat was added? hmmm...

Cameron

Did they do something to stiffen up the frame post '78-'79 or did they just decide that they over-engineered in the first place?

I have read that if you auto-x/DE/track your car, you can expect to begin to bend the engine compartment cross brace. Would this help offset that or is it too isolated to the lower portion of the frame rails? Maybe the racers can chime in on if they have had rigidity issues. Let me clarify that, automobile rigidity issues.

.....Cameron
'91 Euro GT

jpitman2

Not on my Euro 83, and no fixings to bolt it to. Pretty sure it got deleted around 80.
jp 83 S

rixter

brace is on the queen, will check the others tomorrow

Paul D

For what it's worth my '82 Euro has the brace. You can see the mount points on the left and right after I removed it while replacing my clutch. It crosses just behind the clutch housing.

Chuck Z

Paul,

The mounting points look different, does the cross member look like the unit in the pics I posted? The orientation of the bolts look like they go side to side as opposed to front to back.

rixter

this is #34 with brace, sorry for angle

Paul D

Chuck - My brace looks much different (smaller) than the first one posted. Its just a simple stamped brace without the extensions near the middle. Mounting bolts are different orientation and location too.

PorKen

What are the center 'bumps' on the early brace for?

More views from WSM, early/late:

SharkSkin

My 5/78 car has it... The pix below don't show it very well since I wasn't particularly interested in it at the time...



BTW Chuck, do you check mail at info@928registry.org very often?

Chuck Schreiber

Steve,

You've seen mine. The 79 does have it. At least mine and it was serial #70