Structural Question, crossmember bolts in sheer or tension? Options

[cooler]

hello 914 structural experts,

I am planning to create a new crossmember to stiffen rear suspension and support engine. The 914 rear suspension console is well known to flex under racing stress and was reinforced by factory racing teams. I intend to address the flexing issue and create engine (Audi V8) mounting locations with a new crossmember and diagonal tension members. The attached photo shows the location of crossmember (red) and diagonal tension members (blue).

The crossmember spans between the suspension consoles, on center with the trailing arm pivot axis. The diagonal tension members span also from rear suspension consoles to firewall, near center tunnel. This assembly will need to be removable to facilitate engine removal and is intended to stiffen the entire engine bay/rear suspension.

I am struggling with detailing the crossmember bolted connections at suspension consoles. I assume each connections should include two bolts each but, should the bolts be loaded in shear or in tension? What size should the bolts be?

Thanks in advance

[Charles Freeborn]

hello 914 structural experts,

I am planning to create a new crossmember to stiffen rear suspension and support engine. The 914 rear suspension console is well known to flex under racing stress and was reinforced by factory racing teams. I intend to address the flexing issue and create engine (Audi V8) mounting locations with a new crossmember and diagonal tension members. The attached photo shows the location of crossmember (red) and diagonal tension members (blue).

The crossmember spans between the suspension consoles, on center with the trailing arm pivot axis. The diagonal tension members span also from rear suspension consoles to firewall, near center tunnel. This assembly will need to be removable to facilitate engine removal and is intended to stiffen the entire engine bay/rear suspension.

I am struggling with detailing the crossmember bolted connections at suspension consoles. I assume each connections should include two bolts each but, should the bolts be loaded in shear or in tension? What size should the bolts be?

Thanks in advance

Wow. An Audi V8 in a 914 sounds like a barrel of fun!
AS for your crossmember questions I'd say make the flanges on the ends of the tubing somewhere in the 3/16" thick range (3mm?) and try to use 4 bolts per flange. Weld the flanges to the chassis with weld nuts pre-attached. I'd use a minimum of 4/8mm bolts per, 10.9 hardness minimum. As for the shear / tension question, the fastener choice (hardness) is the mitigating factor.