Center Support Beam
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 28,422
Likes: 3,275
From: Hartford WI
Center Support Beam
I need to take the beam off to drill a couple of holes to mount an exhaust hanger. Is this going to be a problem? Can I just remove the Driveshaft and then remove the 4 bolts or is there something else to do. Seems like I can easily do it and replace it. Thanx for any hints.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,204
Likes: 6
From: St Marys PA
YOu will need to support the trans or it will tip down and possibly damage your distributor or oil sensor. Just block it up with a piece of wood and floor jack.
Can you drill the holes you need to without removing it. I would try that before removing the entire thing. It is just aluminum and drills pretty easily. I would be careful not to weaken it any more than it already is.
Can you drill the holes you need to without removing it. I would try that before removing the entire thing. It is just aluminum and drills pretty easily. I would be careful not to weaken it any more than it already is.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,834
Likes: 2
From: Doylestown PA
You will need to get the clearance specs when you put the beam back in. I changed my rear three times (long story) and there is a clearance measurement from the top of the beam and the bottom of the tunnel, and also from the side of the beam and the side of the tunnel. Unfortunately I can't remember what the specs are.
If you can't find the specs, shoot me a PM and I'll get them for you.
If you can't find the specs, shoot me a PM and I'll get them for you.
Last edited by Doug 87L98; May 17, 2008 at 08:04 PM.
Former Vendor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,204
Likes: 6
From: St Marys PA
It will pull itself to where it needs to be when you tighten everything down. I used to have mine apart several dozen times and never had an issue.
Do not worry about it. Like I said when you tighten it down it pulls itself to the level position.
Do not worry about it. Like I said when you tighten it down it pulls itself to the level position.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,834
Likes: 2
From: Doylestown PA
When I changed my rear, I had a fellow C-4 owner with a lift help me. When we reattached the C-beam he pulled out his Service Shop Manual. That is were I got the info for the clearances. The clearances are as follows.
1 3/4" between the top of the C-beam and the bottom of the tunnel housing
1 1/8" between the right side of the C-beam and the side of the tunnel housing
We had the back bolts on the diff. housing tight, and by adjusting the engine up or down is how we achieved the proper clearance.
I don't know. I am just stating what I did when I changed my rear the three times that I previously mentioned.
But after reading ski_dwn_it's post it doesn't sound like you will have any issues.
1 3/4" between the top of the C-beam and the bottom of the tunnel housing
1 1/8" between the right side of the C-beam and the side of the tunnel housing
We had the back bolts on the diff. housing tight, and by adjusting the engine up or down is how we achieved the proper clearance.
But after reading ski_dwn_it's post it doesn't sound like you will have any issues.
Last edited by Doug 87L98; May 19, 2008 at 08:18 PM.