Question on Trans. Brace install.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: port st. lucie Florida
Question on Trans. Brace install.
Started installing my ECS Transmission brace today. Yes as reported working on your back in the garage is a PITA but manageable untill I tried to install the lower passenger side rod . When trying to attach the rod to the differential end the rod would not clear the frame cradle . It needs about a 1/4 inch more clearance to align the mounting bolt. Checked everything else and the other 3 rods lign up with no problem. Had my air grinder out ready to notch the cradle for that 1/4 in clearance I need but thought I would ask if anyone else has had this problem before I cut. Any thoughts ?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
That doesnt sound right. Are you sure that the tranny/diff is properly seated in the mount? Is the mount damaged/compressed?
Call ECS and talk to chris or Doug and get the facts before you grind.
BC
Call ECS and talk to chris or Doug and get the facts before you grind.
BC
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I wouldn't grind a notch in the cradle. That could have disasterous consequences. There have been too many installed with no mention of this problem for it to be normal. I would contact ECS as Bill said and find the issue. You might want to shoot a couple of photos you can send to them if they need to see what is going on.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,599
Likes: 1,224
From: Providing the most proven supercharger kits for your C5/6/7 609-752-0321
If you check out the instructions you will see that the passanger side lower arm needs to go on the inside of the bracket that is attached to the rear, rather then the outside, which would cause exactly what is happening here. There is then no need to notch anything, if you have any questions feel free to call us at any time!
Thanks for purchasing our trans brace kit.
.
Thanks for purchasing our trans brace kit.
.
__________________
C5/C6 and C7 Supercharging Specialist
ECS Supercharger Kits / Mantic Clutches
www.EastCoastSupercharging.com
Facebook Page
ECS YouTube Channel
C5/C6 and C7 Supercharging Specialist
ECS Supercharger Kits / Mantic Clutches
www.EastCoastSupercharging.com
Facebook Page
ECS YouTube Channel
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: port st. lucie Florida
Good grief !!! got to check that tonite. Thanks Doug and Bill. Damn thats exactly what I did now that I think about. This can't be all my fault Doug......... you need more pictures , you know it gets hard to read instructions on your back under the car . Besides us guys are visually stimulated.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,599
Likes: 1,224
From: Providing the most proven supercharger kits for your C5/6/7 609-752-0321
Good grief !!! got to check that tonite. Thanks Doug and Bill. Damn thats exactly what I did now that I think about. This can't be all my fault Doug......... you need more pictures , you know it gets hard to read instructions on your back under the car . Besides us guys are visually stimulated.
Glad I could help. 
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
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
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: port st. lucie Florida
Thanks again Doug. Just seems like I need to be clear. I was not complaining about your directions . Plenty clear and easy to understand, you just have to read AND follow the directions. In my defense after 4 hours under the car on jack stands things tend to get a bit fuzzy. Anyway the trans brace and Mag tensioner I bought both from ECS are 1st class stuff with quick shipping........ and good directions , if you read them !!!
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,599
Likes: 1,224
From: Providing the most proven supercharger kits for your C5/6/7 609-752-0321
Thanks again Doug. Just seems like I need to be clear. I was not complaining about your directions . Plenty clear and easy to understand, you just have to read AND follow the directions. In my defense after 4 hours under the car on jack stands things tend to get a bit fuzzy. Anyway the trans brace and Mag tensioner I bought both from ECS are 1st class stuff with quick shipping........ and good directions , if you read them !!!
Didnt take it that way in the least!
Thanks!!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: port st. lucie Florida
The install is complete now, I have about 6.5 hours total. As most people have said the job is really very straightforward take bolts out, install brackets with new hardware install adjusting rods ....done.
If you read other post's it would certainly be easier on a lift but it just takes patience. Definetly lower the carriage , you gain about an inch or so which is critical to installing the top transmission bracket. I of course waited to drop the carriage untill I had worked for about 30 minutes on the bracket. (got pretty pissed at one point) dropped the carriage 15 minutes later bracket installed.Also I left my cat back exhaust in place that probably would have made the install a bit easier, but you can work around the pipes.
I am by no means an ace mechanic I just have basic skills, allow yourself plenty of time and don't rush. Do it and remember to have ECS phone number handy........ or post up on the forum, plenty of help here.
If you read other post's it would certainly be easier on a lift but it just takes patience. Definetly lower the carriage , you gain about an inch or so which is critical to installing the top transmission bracket. I of course waited to drop the carriage untill I had worked for about 30 minutes on the bracket. (got pretty pissed at one point) dropped the carriage 15 minutes later bracket installed.Also I left my cat back exhaust in place that probably would have made the install a bit easier, but you can work around the pipes.
I am by no means an ace mechanic I just have basic skills, allow yourself plenty of time and don't rush. Do it and remember to have ECS phone number handy........ or post up on the forum, plenty of help here.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
The install is complete now, I have about 6.5 hours total. As most people have said the job is really very straightforward take bolts out, install brackets with new hardware install adjusting rods ....done.
If you read other post's it would certainly be easier on a lift but it just takes patience. Definetly lower the carriage , you gain about an inch or so which is critical to installing the top transmission bracket. I of course waited to drop the carriage untill I had worked for about 30 minutes on the bracket. (got pretty pissed at one point) dropped the carriage 15 minutes later bracket installed.Also I left my cat back exhaust in place that probably would have made the install a bit easier, but you can work around the pipes.
I am by no means an ace mechanic I just have basic skills, allow yourself plenty of time and don't rush. Do it and remember to have ECS phone number handy........ or post up on the forum, plenty of help here.
If you read other post's it would certainly be easier on a lift but it just takes patience. Definetly lower the carriage , you gain about an inch or so which is critical to installing the top transmission bracket. I of course waited to drop the carriage untill I had worked for about 30 minutes on the bracket. (got pretty pissed at one point) dropped the carriage 15 minutes later bracket installed.Also I left my cat back exhaust in place that probably would have made the install a bit easier, but you can work around the pipes.
I am by no means an ace mechanic I just have basic skills, allow yourself plenty of time and don't rush. Do it and remember to have ECS phone number handy........ or post up on the forum, plenty of help here.
Did you only lower the cradle and inch or was it necessary to disconnect half shafts, shocks, etc.
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,599
Likes: 1,224
From: Providing the most proven supercharger kits for your C5/6/7 609-752-0321
The install is complete now, I have about 6.5 hours total. As most people have said the job is really very straightforward take bolts out, install brackets with new hardware install adjusting rods ....done.
If you read other post's it would certainly be easier on a lift but it just takes patience. Definetly lower the carriage , you gain about an inch or so which is critical to installing the top transmission bracket. I of course waited to drop the carriage untill I had worked for about 30 minutes on the bracket. (got pretty pissed at one point) dropped the carriage 15 minutes later bracket installed.Also I left my cat back exhaust in place that probably would have made the install a bit easier, but you can work around the pipes.
I am by no means an ace mechanic I just have basic skills, allow yourself plenty of time and don't rush. Do it and remember to have ECS phone number handy........ or post up on the forum, plenty of help here.
If you read other post's it would certainly be easier on a lift but it just takes patience. Definetly lower the carriage , you gain about an inch or so which is critical to installing the top transmission bracket. I of course waited to drop the carriage untill I had worked for about 30 minutes on the bracket. (got pretty pissed at one point) dropped the carriage 15 minutes later bracket installed.Also I left my cat back exhaust in place that probably would have made the install a bit easier, but you can work around the pipes.
I am by no means an ace mechanic I just have basic skills, allow yourself plenty of time and don't rush. Do it and remember to have ECS phone number handy........ or post up on the forum, plenty of help here.
Wow, working on the ground is tough! We charge two hours labor for that install.
(less if the trans/rear is out for any other reason)
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 224
Likes: 0
From: port st. lucie Florida
I just lowered the cradle. As I said only did that because I couldn't get one of the top trans bolts in and then torqued. If I was to do it again I would probably drop the cat back also. Looking back it would have given me one less thing to work around.
BTW carpet on the garage floor is for sissy's. I figure by Thursday I should be able to stand stand upright again !!!
BTW carpet on the garage floor is for sissy's. I figure by Thursday I should be able to stand stand upright again !!!
