Anyone know if the rear K-member brace from a second gen Z24 can fit on 4 cylinder cars?
It looks like it won't clear my factory exhaust.
I pulled one today at the yard after looking for one forever, and I paid nothing for it. I'm slowly adding suspension pieces to 'stiffen' my convertible. Any advice? Big Hammer?
Thanks.
-Daryl Scott
<a href="http://www.geocities.com/doctorsvt/newcavpage.html">*1986 Cavalier RS convertible
<img src="http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/7373/imag00220fx.jpg"></a>
I'm not sure what you're talking about..... maybe the lower subframe brace?
Do you have a pic?
No, I need to get some batteries for my digi cam...I'll try and post a pic later.
But yes, I believe its called the lower or rear subframe brace. It spans the rear part of the subframe nearest the firewall. Held by 4 bolts.
Does it look like the bar on the right hand side of this pic?-
I don't know if that will work. The subframe changed in 89, but the bolt pattern may still be the same. If its only the exhaust thats in the way, just get a new section made.
Thanks James-
It is the same as that brace in your picture. The bolt holes line up, but its the exhaust that's in the way. I just had it made up last spring, too. Its too nice to cut up!
Oh well. Thanks again!
Daryl - brace is the same for all 1st & second gens. I ordered one last year when I re-did the suspension on my 87. It was pretty cheap from lake chevy (about $12). It won't clear on the I4's because of the exhaust like James stated, but you could fab up your own brace.
-Tom
Tom & James- Did you guys notice a big difference with the brace?
I might have my machinist friend try and fab me up one
Thanks again.
It was hard to tell because I re-did the entire suspension as well as adding the strut brace I bought from you. With 17's the car handles pretty well. Although, I can still tell it flexes from front to back.
-Tom
that brace does make a noticible difference: but only if you have a strut tower brace as well. It sort of boxes the front suspension with both of them installed.
you can really feel a difference when going over railroad tracks for instance, the front end is a lot stiffer.
Many people put on strut tower braces without the lower brace and i personally think thats a waste of time, all you are doing is moving the flex point to the K frame instead of the strut towers.
Tom wrote:It won't clear on the I4's because of the exhaust like James stated, but you could fab up your own brace.
It does clear any exhaust system on the 2nd gens. I wasn't sure if it would clear it on a 1st gen.
It does have a noticable difference and what pezed mentioned is exactly true. It works in conjunction with the strut tower brace and vice versa.
You can probably modify the factory piece to work with your exhaust, just cut a section out and weld a piece across that clears the exhaust.
You could just get a downpipe off a 2nd gen from the junkyard also.
