I'm going to be purchasing a 89 rex w/ ls/vtec swap very shortlly. One of the issues with the car is that the xmember is hacked to make clearance for the header. Is this going to be an issue as far as performance/safety goes? I know it will to some extent, but I'm just wondering how much?

IF it is a problem, I am toying with this idea to save some cash. If any of you guys are into fabrication, give me some feedback.

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=1000104

 

i would think soo why the hell did he do this? for a header damn that kid is a dumb ***

 

jim fab will drop ground clearance but it wont be hacked up

 

I beat the **** out of my crossmember. My homeboy saw it and recommended that i do it right.
So we found another crossmember at the junkyard. Removed the section to clear header from new x-member using a grinder. Used metal from old x-member to fill in the gaps. Welded it back together. As strong as stock imo.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rostr02 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i would think soo why the hell did he do this? for a header damn that kid is a dumb ***</TD></TR></TABLE>

It was used with totem motor mounts which place the motor pretty far forward in the engine bay...there wouldn't even be room for a stock manifold. I'm just wondering how badly it would affect performance/reliablity.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rostr02 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">i would think soo why the hell did he do this? for a header damn that kid is a dumb ***</TD></TR></TABLE>

Believe it or not, sometimes it needs to happen. Otherwise the header wouldn't have an ice creams chance in hell of fitting.

 

As riceburner and eda6 said, there are times its necessary to notch the crossmember. eda6, that looks like a great job. And of course not being able to see the one you are talking about, we have no idea if the one you are talking about is safe or not. As long as the notch does not degrade the integrity of the structural purpose of the cross member its safe.

 

you will have to weld up the hole.

I jack the front end of my car up by the crossmember and it dosent even flex. and to the smart *** who said go jimfab, jimfab bars done make much more clearance in some area's they even loose them.

Full race would be the best way.

-Eric

 

i dont think its going to mess up ur ride that bad, i had to run my car with out a front cross memeber for a few days while i sold my crossmember and i was waiting for my traction bars...but the car still handled alright due to my suspension...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by HamiltonRex &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

you will have to weld up the hole.

I jack the front end of my car up by the crossmember and it dosent even flex. and to the smart *** who said go jimfab, jimfab bars done make much more clearance in some area's they even loose them.

Full race would be the best way.

-Eric</TD></TR></TABLE>

I like this, it looks very well done. I guess I'll see how the hacked one handles up, or: My father is a machine toolist and we ahve CNC machines and tig welders...I might try to get a hold of a Full Race xmember and see if he can make an exact compy of it and save me some moolah!