Rag Top

Has anyone come up with a substitute for the factory cross brace? (Besides R-D, which is expensive and heavier[?])

home made?

Does the brace control compression?

Just extension?

Thoughts? Ideas?

Mine met an untimely demise, and I am cosidering alternatives. I have access to a welder, and could use some creative ideas.

Thanks-
'92, convertible, and sees regular autox and track days

lbs90ZR

Vette2vette has a frame stiffener bar system. But I haven't heard any reviews. Says it weighs 25 lbs.

Rag Top

Any idea where/how it installs? The website seems to skip over that.

Oh, and I do race NCCC. Since the factory parts are not available, I can try and make/substitute with a like product. The Vette2vette system look interesting though.

jaa1992

I think the vette2vette system will be a problem for NCCC
I'd either source a stock replacement or use some flat stock and make one that mounts in the same places - don't forget to clearance for the exhaust.

Rag Top

I tried to find a used one, and when it arrived it was bent too. I guess it is time to get creative. Know anyone that has built one?

c4cruiser

The R-D brace does not attach to the body pan like the factory C4 convertible brace does. So that alone won't be a big help on 'verts.

IIRC, the factory brace metal is not that thick. The strength comes from the stamping that creates the ribs and valleys.

Can you bend the brace you found back to the original shape? The factory brace is two-piece so maybe you can find one more that has a straight piece to replace the one that is bent. If the bend is bad enough, do the rules allow you to cut the bend out and weld in the same piece from another factory brace??

Rag Top

It was pretty badly bent. If I bend it back, I think it will lose whatever strength it had to begin with. (yes, thin stamped metal) I can replace it with something of similar design/function since it is no longer available.

No one has built their own?

jaa1992

Thought about it for my coupe - but after the roll bar was installed the thought went away. The rest of the cage will make it a forgotten memory.

Rag Top

I am not ready to cut up the car, or pay for a custom roll bar yet. (Have not found one that will fit under the hard top.)