Shell Reinforcement

[Motorhole]

Hi all,

I've just been searching the internet for reinforcement kits for an E30 without too much luck. What I had in mind was a sets of steel straps/boxes to weld to key areas such as the strut towers, strengthening the chassis, to increase rigidity. Didn't find anything at all, would I have to draw up what I need and get it custom made? or has someone on here done it before? Cheers!

[Fushion_Julz]

Never seen any weld-in strut braces...Weld-in at the front would make getting engine access a bit of a nightmare...

However, it's easy to find bolt-on strut braces for both front and rear...

The other common modification is to weld an extra brace, front to rear, in the rear lower wishbones...
Other than that, a weld-in cage is going to be the best strengthening mod...especially if it is one that extends the bracing to the strut towers...

[Avtovaz]

I think he means like on escorts where you weld little towers onto the strut tops and there is a bar bolted between the two...


I dont know where to get one of those but i got this one from a place near south mims services just outside london, cant remember the name of the place, or how much it was £40-60 i got it with a load of other bits you see...



bolts on!

[Motorhole]

Yep, a weld-in cage is on my list, as is stitch welding most of the seams.

In terms of reinforcement around the struts etc, a strut bar wasn't quite what I meant, but thanks for the advice! I think this video shows the idea...



See the extra plates being welded into key load-bearing sections of the monocoque from 3:30 onwards, I'm sure I've seen kits of such stuff for other cars, just couldn't find any for the E30.

[rix313]

bolts on!

How will that brace ever work that way around? The struts push in and backwards not forwards?


You can make the car stiff enough with a well designed multi-point cage.

[Jhonno]

A decent weld in cage is all that is needed.. Tied into the struts. Can also fit Cab front strut reinforcements if you get particularly excited..

[Kos]

heres what i did







these are cabrio parts which Jhonno mentioned fitted to help stop suspension turret flex

[Kos]

all built on a Jig, stich welded etc re enforced in the key areas

[Motorhole]

Awesome car Kos! Thanks for the hints on the cabrio parts chaps, that's most useful - can you pick these plates up from a dealer?

Kos - did you stitch weld the seams across the whole monocoque or just around the suspension turrets and firewalls front and back?

[Kos]

they are still available from the dealer

re the stitch welding. its done on all the front ends and sections of the tranny tunnel, and rear suspension areas. its having a 6 point safety devices bolt in cage fitted, well thats the plan but it may be modified and welded in with a few extras, but ultimately its a road car i'm building but could evolve into an out and out track car so keeping that in mind i'm aiming to do as much as possible to save work later down th line

[Motorhole]

Kinda likewise actually, building a track-day car that can be driven to/from events on the road, and perhaps be used for roadtrips if I fancy doing something a bit crazy. But I do want to build it to last! As you say, more work now saves any re-work down the line. Thanks for your help!

[handpaper]

bolts on!

How will that brace ever work that way around? The struts push in and backwards not forwards?


You can make the car stiff enough with a well designed multi-point cage.

Strut braces mainly prevent the strut towers from moving apart under cornering loads, maintaining -ve camber. They also reinforce the shell under bump loads, stopping the strut towers from moving closer together.

The brace in the pic above will be fine, as long as the bonnet will shut over it

As you say though, a cage is a much better bet.

[Kos]

Kinda likewise actually, building a track-day car that can be driven to/from events on the road, and perhaps be used for roadtrips if I fancy doing something a bit crazy. But I do want to build it to last! As you say, more work now saves any re-work down the line. Thanks for your help!

you're welcome

[Tofu_86]

Sorry to dig this up, but i believe this is what you're looking for!


http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html/su ... bcat_id=92



Btw, i'm new here, cheers!



Cumps!

[Motorhole]

Thanks Tofu, I have have come across that before though - it doesn't look anywhere near as extensive as what is done in the way of shell reinforcement in the video and for a lot of race cars, but I guess it goes some way towards solving some problems.

[Tofu_86]

Well, considering the AE86 has tons of chassis flex it makes sense you need more reinforcement than it would be needed for the e30! But that could be easily done by just making you own cardboard templates!

Btw, the biggest reinforcements on that AE86 are for the 4-Link Suspension upgrade/modification!


Cumps!