79 elcamino trans cross brach

[gmoneygautney]

I have been tearing my El Camino down to do some light resto work. When I pulled the dual exhaust off I noticed the someone has notched the trans cross brace to run one side. Will this compromise it strength of the cross brace. My current plan is to install a 383 Stroker hopefully pulling 400hp, building a street/track car trying to fix all the possible structural flaws the previous owner and age of the car has done so I don't break it. Any help would be great

 

[LS1GN]

How much meat did they cut out? I have seen people cut and then "box" the section that was cut out.

Mine is an engine swap with a setback motor and a turbo 400 so I needed a completely custom crossmember. I used square steel tubing and it is not very thick.

 

[gmoneygautney]

Cut out about 3" out of the channel part, I might be able to box it in. It's like a C channel type, should I completely box in the whole brace to make it stronger?

 

[LS1GN]

yours must be aftermarket - the factory ones were round and had sort of an "s" shape

 

[gmoneygautney]

I guess it might be aftermarket I will take a pic of what they did and post it

 

[gmoneygautney]

Went into the garage hooked up my light and took a pic it is a stock brace and they hacked a little more than I thought

 

[LS1GN]

probably wouldn't hurt to get it welded up - who knows, maybe it will last 20 years like it is now?

 

[Longroof79]

I cut mine out in a similar fashion. I formed a piece of steel to fit into the area that was cut out and welded it in it.
That would help restore the strength of it. I did mine over 20 yrs ago and it's still as strong as the day I welded it in.

I would suggest grinding all the jagged edges smooth before welding in a piece of steel.

 

[gmoneygautney]

thanks for the help guys

 

[thrasher]

While I'm all for the do it yourselfer this is one area where it's hard to beat the aftermarket.

The one I have for sale from Iceman is his original design and looks exactly like this