Driveline support beam?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Lake Wylie SC
Driveline support beam?
While gazing under my Vette, I noticed that my driveline support beam looks like someone tried to jack the car up from the center of the beam. There are two familar teeth marks (from a jack) on the aluminum. :eek: The car runs good. Doesn't ride cocked, seems lined up okay. What do you think?
Strick :skep:
Strick :skep:
Team Owner
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: Driveline support beam? (Strick)
Can you show pics? My beam looks wierd too. But I'm not sure what its supposed to look like to begin with. :crazy:
Thread Starter
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From: Lake Wylie SC
Re: Driveline support beam? (CentralCoaster)
Can you show pics? My beam looks wierd too. But I'm not sure what its supposed to look like to begin with. :crazy:
Strick :chevy
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
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From: Green Bay WI
Re: Driveline support beam? (Strick)
Is it dented or disfigured? If it's just surface scratches, I wouldn't worry about it. However, if it's bent at all, it may be in your best interest to find a replacement as you can't be sure it's 100% structurally sound.
Team Owner
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From: Boston, MA
Re: Driveline support beam? (cprgmr)
FWIW I don't think any support beam I've seen has been perfectly straight. In fact we've been trying to figure out for a while if they allhave curves in them on purpose. When I had mine out the metal literally has a few waves in it. :)
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From: Lake Wylie SC
Re: Driveline support beam? (scorp508)
FWIW I don't think any support beam I've seen has been perfectly straight. In fact we've been trying to figure out for a while if they allhave curves in them on purpose. When I had mine out the metal literally has a few waves in it. :)
Strick :chevy
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
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From: Tucson Az
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Driveline support beam? (Strick)
I agree with all the above replies. Someone probably did try to raise the car from there, some "air-hammer jocky" maybe at Sears, but that's another story. What I would do in your situation is put the car up in the air on floor stands (4) just a few feet (so you could crawl under it and still reach in to turn it on) then first inspect the area for cracks and pay special attention to the clearence for the driveshaft. If that proves to be ok, turn the car on and check the clearence again. If there's no problems, I'd forget about it and just enjoy.
If you don't have a way to do it yourself, I'd take it to a shop that will let you inspect under the car yourself and perform the above.
:steering:
I forgot one other thing.
Check both ends of the "C" bar (torque bar for those who wish to correct me) to see that no deformaties have occured at the mounting points.
Good luck
[Modified by edsalinas, 5:21 PM 3/18/2003]
If you don't have a way to do it yourself, I'd take it to a shop that will let you inspect under the car yourself and perform the above.
:steering:
I forgot one other thing.
Check both ends of the "C" bar (torque bar for those who wish to correct me) to see that no deformaties have occured at the mounting points.
Good luck
[Modified by edsalinas, 5:21 PM 3/18/2003]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 2,710
Likes: 1
From: Green Bay WI
Re: Driveline support beam? (scorp508)
FWIW I don't think any support beam I've seen has been perfectly straight. In fact we've been trying to figure out for a while if they allhave curves in them on purpose. When I had mine out the metal literally has a few waves in it. :)
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 11,671
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From: Lake Wylie SC
Re: Driveline support beam? (edsalinas)
I agree with all the above replies. Someone probably did try to raise the car from there, some "air-hammer jocky" maybe at Sears, but that's another story. What I would do in your situation is put the car up in the air on floor stands (4) just a few feet (so you could crawl under it and still reach in to turn it on) then first inspect the area for cracks and pay special attention to the clearence for the driveshaft. If that proves to be ok, turn the car on and check the clearence again. If there's no problems, I'd forget about it and just enjoy.
If you don't have a way to do it yourself, I'd take it to a shop that will let you inspect under the car yourself and perform the above.
:steering:
I forgot one other thing.
Check both ends of the "C" bar (torque bar for those who wish to correct me) to see that no deformaties have occured at the mounting points.
Good luck
[Modified by edsalinas, 5:21 PM 3/18/2003]
If you don't have a way to do it yourself, I'd take it to a shop that will let you inspect under the car yourself and perform the above.
:steering:
I forgot one other thing.
Check both ends of the "C" bar (torque bar for those who wish to correct me) to see that no deformaties have occured at the mounting points.
Good luck
[Modified by edsalinas, 5:21 PM 3/18/2003]
Thanks again.
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From: Exit 89 GSP,Lakewood,NJ The Land Of Mojo
Cental/South NJ Events Coordinator
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Re: Driveline support beam? (cprgmr)
It kinda flares out where it meets the differential, other than that, mine is straight as an arrow.
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From: Lake Wylie SC
Re: Driveline support beam? (Mr Mojo)
It kinda flares out where it meets the differential, other than that, mine is straight as an arrow.
Team Owner
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From: San Diego , CA Double Yellow DirtBags 1985..Z51..6-speed
Re: Driveline support beam? (scorp508)
I don't see how GM would design waves into it. A pretzel shape isn't the best design for carrying torque.
Ok.. now lets all take pictures of our beams and compare to see who's is straight and who's is curvy. :bb :lol:
[Modified by CentralCoaster, 2:57 AM 3/19/2003]
Ok.. now lets all take pictures of our beams and compare to see who's is straight and who's is curvy. :bb :lol:
[Modified by CentralCoaster, 2:57 AM 3/19/2003]
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2002
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From: Tucson Az
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Driveline support beam? (Strick)
I'll try to take some pics of mine later today, it's just standing up in the corner of the garage. If your e-mail is in your profile, I'll send them to you.
Eddie
Eddie
Thread Starter
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From: Lake Wylie SC
Re: Driveline support beam? (edsalinas)
Thanks for the pics. Mine has a little wave in it that yours doesn't. I guess I"ll look around for another one. I wonder what the history is on this? Oh well. :rolleyes:
Maybe next year when I pull the engine and replace the clutch and exhaust system. Come on Lotto :lol:
Strick
Maybe next year when I pull the engine and replace the clutch and exhaust system. Come on Lotto :lol:
Strick
