'X' Brace

9

93' Blue on blue

Registered
Hi guys! Quick question. 'X' brace behind rear seat is snapped in 2 places and is 'clanging and banging' around. Can i chop parts of it out? Does that flimsy thing have much affect on the integrity of the chassis, or is it purely a seat support? Thanks! Martin. (*patiently waits with jigsaw*) :)
 
I just cut some 1/4 aluminum plate and bolted a piece over the cracked area on my 95 that had the same problem.
 
Even if it isn't necessary I would keep it, any support is better than none in our unibody cars. I'm sure you could find some 1/4 aluminum plate at home depot, some stainless bolts and some drill bits. It's very easy to remove the seat, the lower part is a snap in and the rear backrest has literally two bolts and it's out. One the seat is out pull back the sound insulation and drill and bolt away, should take no more than an hour.
 
Thanks for the advice! Yeah, i guess i could patch it up with some plate. I have the rear seat and all insulation out already, so i could see the full extent of the job. Man, those braces are so flimsy! Lol.
 
They are flimsy when broken but an important integral part of keeping the body of the car aligned. Its basically keeping the roof from flopping side to side when the car is taking turns.(on a very small scale ofcourse)

Just imagine building a standing shelf with 1 2x4 on each corner, loading it with 100 pounds and then pushing it from the side....there are no cross braces to keep it from toppling over.
 
Yeah, true, i will tack it all back together. (i only wondered because cars with split / fold rear seats don't have anything like that in the way - but then, the Mark VIII chassis does flex more than most! Lol)
 
Ya, but the support on the entire rear deck lid around the seat is VERY thick on those cars.
 
Well, thanks for all the advice guys! With this new knowledge, i will go and see Jamie98lsc - see if he / we can patch repair and possibly weld in some extra reinforcement bars - make it real strong so that snappage will never again be an issue! :)
 
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i climbed right inside THUR and welder her up, i brought a water spray bottle inside too so i didnt set martin's car on fire! she's all fixed up ready to flex to the max!!
 
Yup, thanks for doing that! Since then, i have painted the affected area with dark blue rustoleum paint and have riveted some 1/8'' gauge aluminum plate to both sides of each brace and across at various sections. Now, they do not resonate, buzz or clang at all! The assembly is much more rigid now.

Im also making a shallow chin spoiler (air deflector) with an aluminum 'L' channel section and some rubber, to replace the factory one that went missing! Will rivet that to the bumper tomorrow. :)
 
Yup, i have took plenty of pics. (haven't finished the deflector yet so will post them when thats done)

Not sure how to post pics here, so i guess i will create a photobucket account and link them, once finished.

Had to do a little extra riveting on that brace - the passenger side lower mount wasn't even properly welded up from the factory!

The build quality of these cars leaves alot to be desired! You don't realize it until you take alot of the interior out and see the missing, uneven welds, uneven panel gaps, painted over tape and globs of sealant everywhere.

I have been hoping to find the illusive build sheet, but no luck as yet! Lol.
 
Yep....photobucket all the way. Make sure you use the bottom IMG link. Just click and it will say "copied" and then right click paste it into your post. Preview the post before hand so you can make sure it worked.

I never found my build sheet either....I'm sure Jamie knows where to find it.
 
yeah, nowhere, there is no build sheet in these cars. the only thing you will find scattered throughout the car are quality control pass papers. one spot for them is behind the glove box wrapped around a harness and stapled, another Q.C sheet can be found shoved between the abs pump and its bracket, and sometimes one will be shoved above the steering column too. but as far as a real build sheet like cars 30 years ago. i have yet in 7 years to see a real build sheet inside a mark VIII.
 
Well, thats an anti climax! Lol.

QC Report: ''She rattles abit and had a slight oil leak - gum fixed it''

Result: PASS. :D

I did find one of those, behind the glovebox. Just had a bunch of computer typed numbers on it - i tossed it out! (thought it was something a past owner had left)

I did find some pencils, golf tees and an engraved Cross pen under the carpet though, so its not all bad! Lol.

Anyway, pics will come when im finished - metal in eye slowed my progress. (i shouldn't have blown metal shavings out of the crevices without goggles - we live and learn)
 
Just nickels and dimes, J. Lol. Did find something bad though - 2 exploded ketchup sachets under the rear seat! Now, part of the foam looks like a crime scene! Lol.

I have taken things too far. Now, im doing some seam sealing and repainting the reinforced X brace and surrounding area. Brace is good though - strong and quiet. One of these days... i will be done!
 
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