How far can I shim out the X brace on my convertable and still have it do its job? I have a Flowmaster 2.5" system that wont fit. Once my GW subframe connectors come can I remove it or does it need to stay?
Thanks,
Mike

As you probably know - the Flowmaster 2.5" and larger systems will not fit converts due to the X-brace clearance problem, per 'Flows' advise. The system on Flugers car was custom made.
The X-brace needed about 3/4" more clearance on the one I did. I made up spacers out of 1" SS bar stock that were @ 1" long and drilled the centers out for new grade 8 SS socket head cap bolts. This car did not have sub-frame connectors, as they do little to stop Torsional twist in convertibles.
I would not recommend spacing the X-brace down a whole lot more than an inch or so - IMHO - as the ground clearance lost (lowered car?) and flex will cause problems later.
But, then again - I'm the Dumass that recommended leaving in the 'shakers' - so what do I know, just thought I would give the courtesy of an answer to this post.
Out.

With a lot of massaging my mechanic was able to make my Flowmaster American Thunder 2.5 inch system fit nicely under my x-brace. Here is a pic. I am not sure exactly what he did but it worked.

http://homepage.mac.com/bspears/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2003-01-14%2016.11.30%20-0800/ImageDSCF0194.jpg

Good luck with your project

bob spears

Bob;

Very nice job! graemlins/thumbsup.gif
He must have worked his rear off to get the pipes up that high! Your crossmemeber is the smaller tube type and I bet that helped him some - but it's still high-n-tight compared to the way the normal system would install.
The guys at Flowmaster flat recommended not to use any of their bigger kits on the convertibles last time I spoke to them.
Gives me hope I can upgrade my stock type dual system to something like that in the near future!
Thanks for the info.

Hey, I'm leaving the cocktail shakers and going to try to work the Flowmaster without Shimming but if I have too I will only go a inch.
Thanks a million
Mike

I just put the 2.5" system on my convertible. I had to have the shop install it twice to get it right. I wound up with .5" gap for the X brace in the front and 1.25" gap on the rear. To be honest I think that the shop could have altered the back of the exhaust and got the pipes closer so I would only have .5' gap all the way around.

If you take it to a shop give them specific instructions and provide them the X brace.

I have the GW sub frame connectors so it is no big deal to keep the X brace but I wanted the exhaust installed right the first time.

You should be fine with out without it.

Vintage 68--why are you a "dumass" for leaving in the shakers?

Put a roll bar in the car and remove the X brace altogether.

i think someone should take some initiative and tool up an X brace that will clear bigger exhaust- Flowmaster could sell it along with their kits for convertables, for example. i bet there's a market for this part...

Does anyone know where I could get an X-Brace...aftermarket or otherwise? Not the plate itself, but the molded piece that get welded to the floor.

Thanks!

[ 06-23-2003, 01:03 PM: Message edited by: 69-Z11Pacer ]

For my car, I had one of my friends who works at a metal fab shop make me a steel plate that had the same angle of the bolt holes as on a normal x brace, but was spaced so that my 2.5 inch flowmaster system fit nicely above it.