Exhaust brace??

[Craig B]

What's the brace that the exhaust runs above? My exhaust is starting to rub against it @ a certain RPM. Can it be removed or maybe spaced down some? Thanks

[nyrfan]

Originally Posted by Criag B

What's the brace that the exhaust runs above? My exhaust is starting to rub against it @ a certain RPM. Can it be removed or maybe spaced down some? Thanks

Do you have an aftermarket exhaust? I would not remove the brace, its there for a reason. Some people add washers to drop it a bit or buy a new one (tunnel brace) that has more room.


Sent from my 2SS/RS

[Craig B]

I have LT headers and axle back exhaust. Washers it is, thanks.

[csjcsj]

Or this!

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewi...d=270941262316

[litle88]

I got rid of mine in 2010 it's been in my garage ever since. After the Chokemaster 3" catback I bought though. It's really useless.

[Mr_Draco]

Originally Posted by litle88

I got rid of mine in 2010 it's been in my garage ever since. After the Chokemaster 3" catback I bought though. It's really useless.

Tunnel braces aren't useless, they are there for a reason or else they wouldn't be required on any vehicles that have a specific channel for the exhaust. They are there specifically for side impact collisions as tunnel braces help distribute the forces and can be the difference between a minor collision and a major one. The bends for the channel inadvertently creates a crumple zone that in side impact collisions will give way.

As for the OP, a properly installed 3" exhaust will not contact the tunnel brace. If the exhaust is rubbing then there is a droop in the exhaust that should not be there. Loosen the connections and push up on the exhaust to straighten it out. If done correctly there will be plenty of room between the exhaust and the factory tunnel brace.

[thahemp]

Originally Posted by Mr_Draco

Tunnel braces aren't useless, they are there for a reason or else they wouldn't be required on any vehicles that have a specific channel for the exhaust. They are there specifically for side impact collisions as tunnel braces help distribute the forces and can be the difference between a minor collision and a major one. The bends for the channel inadvertently creates a crumple zone that in side impact collisions will give way.

As for the OP, a properly installed 3" exhaust will not contact the tunnel brace. If the exhaust is rubbing then there is a droop in the exhaust that should not be there. Loosen the connections and push up on the exhaust to straighten it out. If done correctly there will be plenty of room between the exhaust and the factory tunnel brace.

Ain't gonna happen on my JBA system. Plenty of other people have properly installed exhausts that contact the tunnel brace. How hard would you have to squeeze that tunnel brace to get it to fold up? Not that hard. I'm thinking a little shop press would do the trick. Where is the proof that it does something in side-impact collisions? I have never seen it, but I don't dispute that it is out there. I'll be on your side as soon as I see the data.

[The Stig]

Originally Posted by thahemp

Ain't gonna happen on my JBA system. Plenty of other people have properly installed exhausts that contact the tunnel brace. How hard would you have to squeeze that tunnel brace to get it to fold up? Not that hard. I'm thinking a little shop press would do the trick. Where is the proof that it does something in side-impact collisions? I have never seen it, but I don't dispute that it is out there. I'll be on your side as soon as I see the data.

Don't have crash data to prove it does something, but I will argue that you keep it through another avenue. How much material do you think the tunnel brace is made out of? $10? $20? What about the four bolts that hold it in place? $5?

Why would Chevrolet spend the money to put one on every single Camaro if it didn't do anything? They are literally spending, what's probably, millions of dollars per model year to put them on our cars. There has to be a reason that the engineers needed to have when they pitched the idea of a "tunnel brace" to the finance guys.

See what I'm saying?

[thahemp]

Originally Posted by The Stig

Don't have crash data to prove it does something, but I will argue that you keep it through another avenue. How much material do you think the tunnel brace is made out of? $10? $20? What about the four bolts that hold it in place? $5?

Why would Chevrolet spend the money to put one on every single Camaro if it didn't do anything? They are literally spending, what's probably, millions of dollars per model year to put them on our cars. There has to be a reason that the engineers needed to have when they pitched the idea of a "tunnel brace" to the finance guys.

See what I'm saying?

Yep. That's a good point. I have known engineering departments to waste money before though. Whether it be carry-overs from copy/pasted engineering, or just oversights in general.

What if it was copied over from a previous body design and it actually inhibits a crumple zone in this particular cabin? I know that is probably just BS, but there is a good reason data should be provided for stuff like this.

[62nalide]

Originally Posted by csjcsj

Or this!

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewi...d=270941262316

cool man, thanks for the link

[litle88]

Originally Posted by Mr_Draco

Tunnel braces aren't useless, they are there for a reason or else they wouldn't be required on any vehicles that have a specific channel for the exhaust. They are there specifically for side impact collisions as tunnel braces help distribute the forces and can be the difference between a minor collision and a major one. The bends for the channel inadvertently creates a crumple zone that in side impact collisions will give way.

As for the OP, a properly installed 3" exhaust will not contact the tunnel brace. If the exhaust is rubbing then there is a droop in the exhaust that should not be there. Loosen the connections and push up on the exhaust to straighten it out. If done correctly there will be plenty of room between the exhaust and the factory tunnel brace.

Have you seen how flimsy these "braces" are? Do you really think they will absord or withstand an impact? Hell NO lol.

[axis]

Originally Posted by litle88

Have you seen how flimsy these "braces" are? Do you really think they will absord or withstand an impact? Hell NO lol.

I'd have to disagree with ya deputy dog. It's for lateral stability across the tunnel. Those ridges pressed into the brace make it exponentially stronger for side to side strength. Once bolted in place, you can literally hang from it and it won't bend. I will say that once you put washers on it, you'll lose a lot of it's efficacy.

[LSX Camaro]

Elite Engineering makes a nice billet aluminum replacement for this brace. It also adds additional clearance for aftermarket exhaust.

[black79ta]

The brace doesn't interfere with my kooks cats and Blowmasters