Tranny to diff stiffener - help:)
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 12,772
Likes: 17
From: Indianapolis IN
Originally Posted by ski_dwn_it
I have had many engineering courses, one of which dealt with beams, and supports, and from an engineering standpoint, these thing have ZERO effect on how stiff the c-beam is. 
I did not know you were an Engineer, what type of degree do you have, ME, EE, PE, CMfgE?
Former Vendor
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 7,204
Likes: 6
From: St Marys PA
Originally Posted by LD85
Hey Ski, Congrats I did not know you were an Engineer, what type of degree do you have, ME, EE, PE, CMfgE?
I did not know you were an Engineer, what type of degree do you have, ME, EE, PE, CMfgE?I left GE - and am the engineering manager for a large Powdered Metal Corp that supplies GM with many internal engine components - among many other non-automotive customer such as Black & Decker, MTD...etc.
Get to put a thought into many new application they are designing and see some pretty neat stuff - both automotive and non.
Enough about that though.
Steve, I think your really taking my thoughts personal - when you shouldn't be. If you think my attitude is showing through - that is your take on it and don't read into my posts in that way. I see many posts about these beam adapters, and if you read what I wrote I think they are a good idea for installation - but serve very little other purpose - once you put the proper washers on, there is not much more surface to cover on the beam itself. And I can't see there being much deflection in the area of the actual bolts.
If there is enough tortional force to deflect the area immedately around the bolts, then the middle of the beam, which would be most succeptable to deflection, would be twisted in two.
Looking at it in reverse, you would need a TON of deflection in the middle of the beam, which is most succeptable to tortional deflection to get any deflection at the area most support, which happens to be the area right around the bolts.
Since I know in your engineer classes you know the weakest part (near the middle of the beam/unsupported part) is going to give first.
In either case, what you can conclude is the beam is not going to be any more rigid, and there is not enough loading anywhere on the beam to deflect the areas around the bolts on the beam - hence no need from a structural standpoint for the plates.
Installation ease - yes they serve a very nice function.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Southern CA
I'm wondering if I just tighten the existing fasteners then the clearance measurements should be good right? I have no noises or problems shifting now, just one (I think) out of torque spec fastener. It's more than finger tight. I'm guessing if it's nylock then I'm probably turning the whole thing.
How far out of alignment can that beam get anyway? You have engine mounts & rear suspension locators & a driveshaft.
It doesn't seem you have a lot of slack to play with anyway, or are the holes in the beam slotted??
How far out of alignment can that beam get anyway? You have engine mounts & rear suspension locators & a driveshaft.
It doesn't seem you have a lot of slack to play with anyway, or are the holes in the beam slotted??
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 10,864
Likes: 196
From: Southern CA
ttt
I'm wondering if I just tighten the existing fasteners then the clearance measurements should be good right? I have no noises or problems shifting now, just one (I think) out of torque spec fastener. It's more than finger tight. I'm guessing if it's nylock then I'm probably turning the whole thing.
How far out of alignment can that beam get anyway? You have engine mounts & rear suspension locators & a driveshaft.
It doesn't seem you have a lot of slack to play with anyway, or are the holes in the beam slotted??
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I'm wondering if I just tighten the existing fasteners then the clearance measurements should be good right? I have no noises or problems shifting now, just one (I think) out of torque spec fastener. It's more than finger tight. I'm guessing if it's nylock then I'm probably turning the whole thing.
How far out of alignment can that beam get anyway? You have engine mounts & rear suspension locators & a driveshaft.
It doesn't seem you have a lot of slack to play with anyway, or are the holes in the beam slotted??
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 8,838
Likes: 31
From: Australia
"How far out of alignment can that beam get anyway? You have engine mounts & rear suspension locators & a driveshaft"
In my stock '87 4 +3 , the holes in the beam were severly elongated despite the through-bolts being tight. None of the diff/engine mounts showed any significant wear . Worse at gearbox end than rearend.
In my stock '87 4 +3 , the holes in the beam were severly elongated despite the through-bolts being tight. None of the diff/engine mounts showed any significant wear . Worse at gearbox end than rearend.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 10,864
Likes: 196
From: Southern CA
Originally Posted by rodj
"How far out of alignment can that beam get anyway? You have engine mounts & rear suspension locators & a driveshaft"
In my stock '87 4 +3 , the holes in the beam were severly elongated despite the through-bolts being tight. None of the diff/engine mounts showed any significant wear . Worse at gearbox end than rearend.
In my stock '87 4 +3 , the holes in the beam were severly elongated despite the through-bolts being tight. None of the diff/engine mounts showed any significant wear . Worse at gearbox end than rearend.
Was the car driven/shifted at redline a lot?
