Crossmember studs/frame reinforcement

Suspension related stuff goes in here.
Nut124
Posts: 748
Joined: Wed Oct 25, 2017 6:39 pm
Your car is a: 1978 124 Spider 1800

Re: Crossmember studs/frame reinforcement

Post by Nut124 »

wetminkey, nice work and nice report.

In the last picture, I'm having hard time spotting your repair. Maybe I do not understand where it is.
wetminkey
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 1199
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 4:57 pm
Your car is a: 1979 2000 Spider
Location: Ault, Colorado

Re: Crossmember studs/frame reinforcement

Post by wetminkey »

Nicely hidden, huh?!
Check the top of the framerails (either side) just above the crossmember attachment,...silver round-edged plates.
Vertical bolts are welded into each plate, in a "U" bolt fashion, and Brady ground the heads to hide the alteration. He primed them black, as I'd asked, but they disguise the plate and the tops of the ~5 1/2" bolts so well, that I felt I should hide things with the silver paint.
Upper plate is probably ~1/8" plate steel, lower plate (to repair the cutout bottom of the rail and old studs) may be the same thickness as the welded through-bolt pieces of pipe - 8 gauge steel. Bolts are grade 8, and I measured the crossmember holes at 7/16". All four bolts that hold the crossmember have 'Nyloc' locknuts in addition to regular nuts, flat washers, and a lock-washer.
I sure hope that this helps the next owner that has to fix their Spider's crossmember attachment to the unibody framerail!
Merry Christmas, all!
1988 Mazda RX-7
1979 Fiat Spider 2000
1978 3/4 ton Chev 4x4 P/U "FRANKENTRUCK"
1976 Camaro
1972 VW Superbeetle
1969 Ford F100
1968 Mustang coupe
wetminkey
Patron 2018
Patron 2018
Posts: 1199
Joined: Tue Jul 15, 2014 4:57 pm
Your car is a: 1979 2000 Spider
Location: Ault, Colorado

Re: Crossmember studs/frame reinforcement

Post by wetminkey »

This is the best pic that I could get from under the car - crossmember 'through bolts' that travel through the entire framerail and crossmember both. They are welded to their upper plate in a "U" bolt shaped assembly, one for each side.
Image
The "U" shaped plate + two bolt assembly can be unbolted and removed from each side,...they are not welded in.
Super strong.
Todd.
1988 Mazda RX-7
1979 Fiat Spider 2000
1978 3/4 ton Chev 4x4 P/U "FRANKENTRUCK"
1976 Camaro
1972 VW Superbeetle
1969 Ford F100
1968 Mustang coupe
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