Front End Bracing |
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Front End Bracing |
57lincolnman |
Aug 17 2013, 08:41 PM
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#1
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Member Group: Members Posts: 174 Joined: 14-September 10 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 12,175 Region Association: Southern California |
My 75 has a dealer installed a/c unit. The lower pan in the front trunk was cut out years ago by the dealer. Has anyone tried to fabricate cross bracing to tighten the front end? I think the structural integrity of the unibody was compromised by this "dealer authorized" surgical procedure. Interested in your thoughts. Thanks.
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messix |
Aug 17 2013, 08:50 PM
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#2
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AKA "CLUTCH KILLER"! Group: Members Posts: 6,995 Joined: 14-April 05 From: between shit kickers and pinky lifters/ puget sound wa.north of Seattle south of Canada Member No.: 3,931 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
if it's just the sheet metal behind the front part of the trunk after about 3" and along the sides 2" from the front sub frame box it should be ok.
looks bad but the strength is in the box sections |
57lincolnman |
Aug 17 2013, 08:57 PM
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#3
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Member Group: Members Posts: 174 Joined: 14-September 10 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 12,175 Region Association: Southern California |
if it's just the sheet metal behind the front part of the trunk after about 3" and along the sides 2" from the front sub frame box it should be ok. looks bad but the strength is in the box sections Yes. Your dimensions accurately describe my set-up. The cut out begins about 3" from the front and I have about 2" to the box frames on each side. Thanks for your help. |
57lincolnman |
Aug 17 2013, 08:59 PM
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#4
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Member Group: Members Posts: 174 Joined: 14-September 10 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 12,175 Region Association: Southern California |
if it's just the sheet metal behind the front part of the trunk after about 3" and along the sides 2" from the front sub frame box it should be ok. looks bad but the strength is in the box sections I suppose what I lost in the transaction was the toe hook (mounted in that section of the panel removed) and drain tubes. |
messix |
Aug 17 2013, 09:22 PM
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#5
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AKA "CLUTCH KILLER"! Group: Members Posts: 6,995 Joined: 14-April 05 From: between shit kickers and pinky lifters/ puget sound wa.north of Seattle south of Canada Member No.: 3,931 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
if it's just the sheet metal behind the front part of the trunk after about 3" and along the sides 2" from the front sub frame box it should be ok. looks bad but the strength is in the box sections I suppose what I lost in the transaction was the toe hook (mounted in that section of the panel removed) and drain tubes. there are more effective tow hooks that bolt on to the front torsion bar mount. search for it in member vendors I think some one here makes them. |
SirAndy |
Aug 17 2013, 09:42 PM
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#6
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Resident German Group: Admin Posts: 41,651 Joined: 21-January 03 From: Oakland, Kalifornia Member No.: 179 Region Association: Northern California |
it should be ok. I dis-agree ... I think any cutting that close to the front A-Arm mounts has to have a negative impact. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif) |
messix |
Aug 17 2013, 09:56 PM
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#7
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AKA "CLUTCH KILLER"! Group: Members Posts: 6,995 Joined: 14-April 05 From: between shit kickers and pinky lifters/ puget sound wa.north of Seattle south of Canada Member No.: 3,931 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
I think the only forces put on that section is horizontal axis locating the front of the A-arm, most all loaded force is placed on the back mount at the cross member.
if there is a lot cut out of the front vertical panel at the nose I would worry more about that! |
FourBlades |
Aug 17 2013, 10:01 PM
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#8
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From Wreck to Rockin Group: Members Posts: 2,054 Joined: 3-December 07 From: Brevard, FL Member No.: 8,414 Region Association: South East States |
Restoration Design just started making a perfect panel to fix this if you want to. They totally rock when it comes to Porsche repair panels. John |
messix |
Aug 17 2013, 10:05 PM
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#9
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AKA "CLUTCH KILLER"! Group: Members Posts: 6,995 Joined: 14-April 05 From: between shit kickers and pinky lifters/ puget sound wa.north of Seattle south of Canada Member No.: 3,931 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
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FourBlades |
Aug 17 2013, 10:08 PM
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#10
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From Wreck to Rockin Group: Members Posts: 2,054 Joined: 3-December 07 From: Brevard, FL Member No.: 8,414 Region Association: South East States |
Restoration Design just started making a perfect panel to fix this if you want to. They totally rock when it comes to Porsche repair panels. John unless he wants to keep the a/c if it is working.... Doh! I did not catch that part.. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) John |
messix |
Aug 17 2013, 10:24 PM
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#11
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AKA "CLUTCH KILLER"! Group: Members Posts: 6,995 Joined: 14-April 05 From: between shit kickers and pinky lifters/ puget sound wa.north of Seattle south of Canada Member No.: 3,931 Region Association: Pacific Northwest |
I just went out to put my '75 back in the garage and looked at it, and it looks like there is a lot of "bracing" on the front of the later cars. if it's just a street car I don't think its worth worrying about.
if it keeps nagging at you weld in some 3/4 square tube along the inside edge. |
914Sixer |
Aug 18 2013, 06:44 AM
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#12
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914 Guru Group: Members Posts: 8,886 Joined: 17-January 05 From: San Angelo Texas Member No.: 3,457 Region Association: Southwest Region |
Yes, 75-76 do have a little more structure to them due to the heavy bumpers. The front bumper brace runs almost the full length of the wheel well whereas the 73-74 only goes half the distance. The U shaped brackets had some strength too. The 70-72 do not have this extra bracing. Early cars are the ones I would be concerned about.
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jimkelly |
Aug 18 2013, 06:57 AM
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#13
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Delaware USA Group: Members Posts: 4,969 Joined: 5-August 04 From: Delaware, USA Member No.: 2,460 Region Association: MidAtlantic Region |
comparision
Attached thumbnail(s) |
ChrisFoley |
Aug 18 2013, 07:38 AM
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#14
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I am Tangerine Racing Group: Members Posts: 7,927 Joined: 29-January 03 From: Bolton, CT Member No.: 209 Region Association: None |
...if it's just a street car I don't think its worth worrying about. if it keeps nagging at you weld in some 3/4 square tube along the inside edge. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) |
rhodyguy |
Aug 18 2013, 08:27 AM
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#15
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Chimp Sanctuary NW. Check it out. Group: Members Posts: 22,081 Joined: 2-March 03 From: Orion's Bell. The BELL! Member No.: 378 Region Association: Galt's Gulch |
cracks can result that run towards the front control arm mounting points. plus there are bunch of holes for the hoses that would have to be welded up and in most cases the pass side engine shelve gets butchered. as noted installs vary. somewhat clean to out right dog crap.
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57lincolnman |
Aug 18 2013, 10:24 AM
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#16
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Member Group: Members Posts: 174 Joined: 14-September 10 From: Los Angeles Member No.: 12,175 Region Association: Southern California |
I have invested quite a bit to have working a/c, so I want to keep that. I've thought about welding in some "x" cross-bracing just above a/c unit to get some rigidity back. With a uni-body it seems to me that this floor pan acts as a diaphragm to resist some torsional forces between the box beams.
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zambezi |
Aug 18 2013, 11:54 AM
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#17
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 711 Joined: 14-April 08 From: Lafayette, LA Member No.: 8,920 Region Association: South East States |
Heres what I did. Not sure if it added any structural rigidity, but it should not let cracks form and travel.
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ChrisFoley |
Aug 18 2013, 04:44 PM
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#18
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I am Tangerine Racing Group: Members Posts: 7,927 Joined: 29-January 03 From: Bolton, CT Member No.: 209 Region Association: None |
I have invested quite a bit to have working a/c, so I want to keep that. I've thought about welding in some "x" cross-bracing just above a/c unit to get some rigidity back. With a uni-body it seems to me that this floor pan acts as a diaphragm to resist some torsional forces between the box beams. THe biggest loads at the front mounts are twisting forces from stock rubber bushings or tight polygraphite bushings binding. There are no loads transfered from the torsion bars through the front mounts, and the side loading from cornering is much smaller at the front than at the rear. |
Larry.Hubby |
Aug 18 2013, 06:01 PM
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#19
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Member who doesn't post much, but has a long time in 914s Group: Members Posts: 186 Joined: 24-November 04 From: Palo Alto, CA Member No.: 3,172 Region Association: Northern California |
If you've ever looked at the floor of the front trunk on a 911, you'd worry less. 911's have a hole, albeit with a flanged edge, that covers practically the entire area between the two A-arm mounts.
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sean_v8_914 |
Aug 18 2013, 07:58 PM
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#20
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Chingon 601 Group: Members Posts: 4,011 Joined: 1-February 05 From: San Diego Member No.: 3,541 |
if anyone has evidence of stresses in this area, please post pictures. i have not seen much movement up there. the rear is a different story. the
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