DOHCtR-V

I'm hung up on the last bolt(bottom 14mm) which is placed somewhere impossible for me to access. Looks like it's behind some sort of factory bracing
Any suggestions?

*Trying to attach pics, but it's not allowing me.
Really laggy.

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

Have you removed the plastics covering it, and the seat?

Upload pictures to imgur.com, then just post the bbcode here.

DOHCtR-V

Partially, enough for me to access the bolts.
The bracing is held on by 3 bolts which I removed, & looks to be welded too.

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

Exactly what year is your car? My '98 has no such bracing.

DOHCtR-V

97
My Snap on pick is where the bolt resides.

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

That's uh...huh. Coupe or hatchback maybe? Mine is a sedan, which would explain our differences. Try removing your seat fully, then peel the carpet back. Maybe there's a hole in there for a socket and extension to fit through.

DOHCtR-V

Sorry EK hatch. Forgot EK were sedans too.
I've done many coupes & sedans, never ran into this before.

*Edited with pics.

I can't even reach up under that bracing (not sure what it is), or around the side behind the panel to access the bolt.

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

Yeah, I don't know about that. Pull the seat fully, pull that carpet, see what you can get at from that direction.

DOHCtR-V

I'll do that tomorrow, planning on doing a carpet swap, but left it @ home.
Updates to follow
Thanks again NR!

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

No problem, wish I could have been more helpful. This really is an oddity to me. Looking forward to more pictures, so I can see what you're working with, for future memory.

scottcraft

I did both in my em1 recently. The driver side took a long time because of that bracing but the passenger side was much quicker. I ended up using some large vise grips to bend the upper part of the brace back so I could get a wrench on it better. Putting the new one in is really more difficult because you have to line the bolt up with the hole and use the wrench to start it. Make sure you use a mallet or hammer to straighten up the part you bend on the brace. Good luck!

DOHCtR-V

I was thinking of bending it back too.
Not sure if the warranty thing applies here. Lol

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

If they're the original seat belts, in the USA, it should apply. It's a legal safety thing. Granted, they'll probably make you jump through hoops for it, but still.

DOHCtR-V

I'm up north of the boarder...

NotARaCist

iTrader: (1)

In that case, I have no idea. Y'all have your trims all fucked up already, I haven't even bothered trying to understand your car laws

DOHCtR-V

My EK would be classified as an EX then... (*conversion)
Sunroof,4 wheel disc,A/C.

scottcraft

I wasn't making much progress on mine until I bent the top of the brace. I don't know if there is a special tool for this job, but that's a pretty poorly designed setup when it comes to working on it.

DOHCtR-V

Think I might just drill an access point of a deep socket.
I pulled enough stuff off to see there's no way around it.
Not sure what Honda was thinking when they designed that 1...

oneheadlight

sounds like it might be a canadian thing, meaning I remember that after 97 they began adding more bracket/bracing in those areas. Canada probably had their own requirements. I know that Canada was (not sure today) mandating 5mph bumpers, where the US let it slide down to 2.5mph! But the bracket/bracing.. It was about the crash tests. You could probably get away with drilling an access point for a deep socket and keep most of the structural integrity..

DOHCtR-V

That's what I thought.
People drill holes to cut weight...
My last resort I guess.

spAdam

iTrader: (1)

I *think* I'm looking at the floor brace that runs across the car from pillar to pillar in front of the rear seats. I can't remember what years it came on, but it's just a bolt in once you get the carpet back.

DOHCtR-V

I did remove 3 bolts from 1 side, it didn't seem to budge much.
I'll try with the carpet pulled back, & rear seat bottom removed either today or this weekend.

scottcraft

I didn't take all of my carpet back, but it would have been nice if I could have unbolted and removed that brace. If I ever have to do it again that's what I'll try to do.

DWP_Racing

Take it to your Honda dealership!!!

kab00m

I happen to own a Canadian built hatchback with no carpet in it at the moment. From when I had the side panels off and from what I can see, the bracing has more than just three bolts holding it on per side. There are bolts directly under the seat/carpet.

UPDATE: OP, I just looked in my manual. A gusset was added in 1997. You are on the right path to removing the gusset, but as I already said, there is more than three bolts. I count eight per the manual, per side. I'm trying to upload the picture if Ron doesn't beat me to it.

2nd UPDATE: Lunch time! Hope this helps you OP.