Mk1 front bumpermounts crossbracing

Anyone used / see the value in this, is supposed to improve support for engine upgrades ?

Installation shot could have done with using a `live` example !

Reference post in Quality Suppliers - http://www.blackforestindustries.com/

 

with an uprated front mount i can't see there being much engine movement.

i can see the idea in bracing against the front chassis legs. not sure if it's really needed. i think it's trying to do the same job as the front crossmember?

 

... and spreading the additional weight of a larger engine thus reducing stress on the crossmember.

I`m using Volksport fixed, HD bushed mountings for front engine and rear gearbox so tranferring more stress into the shell ... going to raise this with a friend who fabricates parts to seek his opinion.

 

Paul Haslam has one a bit like that on his cab only it goes lower down & i'm not sure if it also braces by the engine mount?.

Thanks for this thread as i have been looking for this type to put on my mk1.

Any idea of the cost as i cannot find the part on that website?

Edit: i have sent them an email.

 

http://store.blackforestindustries.com/mkicrrebar.html

$195 but currently out of stock, not sure what shipping & tax would be ?

RobT reckons their service can be `lacking`....

Will discuss with my contact fabricator to see what`s viable.

Cheers

 

im running the same front mount.

i can see the application being of use on heavier engines, g60 and 20vt but not sure it's worth the outlay if your running an 8v or 16v. i suspect cab's have a use for this no matter what engine they have due to the shell.

if you get one made up let me know if it improves anything.

 

I want one if you can get one made, i'm hoping Chris Eyre will put some pics up of Paul's for you to see as i suspect it's slightly different to this one.

pol i ripped my engine mount off my panel (bloody 8v's ).

I don't think the mk1's are brilliant up front & there must be a degree of flex due to not having a seperate sub frame like the mk2 (then again some flex is needed but not sure when you have stiffened the rest of the car with say a cage).

 

OK will keep you posted on any developments.

I`ve seen some pics of Paul`s `bits` ... were they not lower brace related ?

Have also got a sketch from Jon Olds on the VW Motorsport forum that shows a tie-in to the front mount, will go dig it out ..

 

I would go for one. I have managed to rip the front crossmember with the engine mount on my old shell. Required a new front slam panel to sort it out.

gurds

 

how the hell did you manage that?

same wih you vw_singh.


was it on std rubbers or poly ones? were you running an uprated front mount like the one on the left of this pic?


i find it a bit crazy that you managed to pull the front cross memeber apart. surely there must have been failure of a mount somewhere thats led to excessive movement.


would be intereting to hear others thoughts on the brace bar. what was jon olds diagram like? knowing him it's a proper solution.

 

the front cross member on a mk1 is not all that strong ,and ther are lots of people had problems with the front mount ripping out, and apparently if you run constant big power the chassie legs them selves are proune to cracking on the welds , if a test bar is fitted this is suppose to help , the one i got on my cab is similer to the one pictured ,but not the same,I actually made mine so it forms part of thr front cross member , and when all bolted up it definatly help strengthen the front cross member, it took me ages to make mine but my honest opinion the end result was worth the effort, chris took a few pics of it at donny , perhaps he can stick a few up .

 

I contacted them & i got this reply:

"Sorry, we do not ship outside North America. Thanks".

So if anyone is up for making any i would be interested.


James the one your thinking of on Paul's was the drop link one that is further back in the bay:
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i273/Chris_Eyre/Forum%20attachments%20-%20misc/Porn%20thread/HH1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v90/fthaimike/General%20Stuff/Haslamvw4.jpg
http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i273/Chris_Eyre/Forum%20attachments%20-%20misc/Porn%20thread/HH2.jpg

pol it was just pure 8v power.....honest.

Nah i had the standard front bracket with uprated bush but the panel had started to go brittle (that's why i have a new front & rear now fitted in my track car thread).

Broke it here:

 

Mike... yep, that`s the one.

OK, I`ll investigate possible fabrication and advise later.

WRT the info I received from Jon Olds, it shows fabrication details of a lower front brace between the wishbones / what areas require seam welding on wishbones & chassis legs / sump guard & mounting fabrication utilising front engine mount. Can email the scanned document if you wish ?

BTW - Jon rallied a Mk1 ....

 

i have a funny feeling i have the doc already. was it the one with the vw motorsport mk1 with the black white zebra pattern decals?

mike looks like your problem was down to knackerd mounts and rusty front crossmember. i can only see problems in this area being created on rally cars that take large impacts and cars with high power/torque engines that literally try to rip the mounts off.

best front lower brace design i have seen was one produced by auto-tech.

 

Was white, didn`t see any Zebras though ...

 

Hmmm where's Chris Eyre when you need him?

 

Pol,

If it will break, then i will break it! lol!

I have also managed to rip the spot welds off the steering rack mounting points before.

Lots of 1/4 mile hard starts and not lifting on gear change caused the front panel failure along with some rust.

I use a mix of poly and rubber mounts where appropriate.

Tyre testing at inters a few years back broke the spot welds on the mounts. Got best time of the day though, so worth it. lol

Gurds

 

sorry it's not quite zebra pattern but it's what i refer to it as.





there was a document an american guy got hold of on vwvortex which was an old magazine article. it ran through about 10pages of detail on the prep of one of the above cars and the parts suppliers. i posted it up on the vwmotorsport site ages ago and chris asked for permission to use it on the site. of course i now can't find the bloody thing!


with regards lower stress bars this is the bad boy you want to get hold of...


autotech 4 point lower stress bar. it's got the proper triangulation needed and is adjustable. not sure if the triangulation bar is adjustable or not but i would hope it was! $300. autotech stress bar

 

got something similar to that on mine just a home made jobbie, my old friend used the tubeing for beansticks , when i showed a intrest in them his wife kindly donated them to myself , . its quit tricky bending and shaping them , big hammer, blow lamp, big vice , we all had a bit of a laugh lookin at them on the last track day ,chris defiinatly took a few shots of them

 

pol

The Jon Olds rally Mk1 is not that `works` car, it`s one he built himself and what he sent me is a hand drawing, primarily showing how the sumpguard is located using the front engine mount and a lower brace.

I have that article on the `works` car , send me your email and I`ll forward it on.

Yep, have seen that autotech brace ... a favourite site of mine. The company that make the bumper location brace make a similar item, no adjustment though.

mike

I do know that Chris is VERY busy right now.

cab

Nowt wrong with homemade, good to see you having a go !

fyi...

Have spoken with the fabricator and although he is very busy for the next few months he is seriously interested in this type of project. I`m happy to use my car as a template as there are a few other items I`m interested in producing; that goes for the Mk2 also.

Once I`ve discussed this further I`ll come back to the Forum with a proposal, along the lines of a Group Buy I would think.

Cheers