[MStennes]

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

[Vintage 68]

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.

[bspears]

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.



Good luck with your project

bob spears

[Vintage 68]

Bob;

Very nice job! [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img]
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.

[MStennes]

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

[jrager]

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.

[ckaram]

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

[1967 Panther]

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

[novaderrik]

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...

[69-Z11Pacer]

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 ]

[bigal698177]

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.