Do you really NEED the tunnel brace?
 

Installing my flowmaster outlaw kit and can't get enough clearance on the tunnel brace to put it on. I was using 1/2" bolts as spacers when I had my AMT on but I guess flowmaster can't seem to get a consistent production line going. So....do I even need the brace, and if so, anybody know what size bolts it uses so I can get some longer ones.....not enough thread left to add more spacing on current bolts

I'd stop by ace hardware and find some longer bolts/bigger spacers. Better to have something then nothing. You can also look into a Stainless Works or ARH tunnel brace that add more room for bigger exhaust systems.

Yes. Can't help you with the bolt size though. Why not just take one to home depot. They usually have those things that let you check what size bolt you have.

Elite Engineering's tunnel brace. Problem solved.......:thumbsup:

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...2/DSC00541.jpg

http://i195.photobucket.com/albums/z...2/DSC00543.jpg

"Don't leave home without it".....:facepalm:

Yea eventually I'd like to get a nice one. So if answer is yes I need it, then is it ok to drive it to the hardware store to get longer bolts?

Oh....also, any suggestions on some heat resistant tape or padding I can put on a small section that is about 1/16" away from part of the car? It would be easier to put something to absorb vibration when it touches on a sharp turn than to readjust the whole exhaust (which wouldn't do much anyways)

yes. Just don't get side swiped - seriously. the tunnel brace protects the frame during side impacts.

to your second question, I don't know of anything that's that heat resistant and can muffle vibrations.

The tunnel brace does not affect normal operation of the car...has no bearing on it. It's a side impact thing. If you're hit broadside, it is there to help keep the structure of the car together around you.

Thanks for the help and info guys. Bolts are 10MM-1.5 so I got some 50MM length and 1/2" nylon spacers and as for the tape stuff, I'm thinking a few layers of that muffler patching stuff should help for now

you can drive it no worries...just dont get broadsided

If I get broadsided I think I got more problems than my exhaust rattling lol. But it's all fixed. Got the brace spaced away from the exhaust and metal zip-tied the slack out of the exhaust hangar to pull it away from the car. Sounds awesome. Don't know why I didn't just go with the Outlaw in the first place

I beg to differ. The brace offers stability/rigidity across the tunnel, which is a weak point in the undercarriage. Yes it helps in side impact but it also keeps the undercarriage from flexing during normal cornering. There are several people that run without it so there's no worries in damaging anything from driving without it but if you're in tune with your car, you can feel the difference between having one or not.

I actually put another hangar on the drivers side pipe that pulled up both sides enough to not hit.