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Floor Crossmember


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#1 Arwel1986

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Posted 12 May 2020 - 07:49 PM

This may be a daft question but, I’m going to fit new flor sections which means taking out the crossmember.

The car is going to be a rally car so will be having proper seat rail tubes welded in. Since the rails will be going in, would I still need the crossmember and have to fit the rails behind it or can I ditch it completely?

#2 Cooperman

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Posted 12 May 2020 - 08:34 PM

The crossmember is a very important structural component. Do not remove it.

In fact, in the 1960's for rough events the 'works' used to fit two crossmembers by welding a second one over the first one.



#3 Tupers

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Posted 12 May 2020 - 08:43 PM

It’s quite easy to bow the floor pan without a crossmember or some sort of reinforcement in place.

#4 nicklouse

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Posted 12 May 2020 - 08:51 PM

some people add a second one further back.



#5 Arwel1986

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Posted 12 May 2020 - 08:54 PM

Super dooper, thanks guys, just what I was after.

Strangely, there is a second one welded in behind the original. I assume it was for a base mounted bucket seat. Useless for me as it positions the seat far too high so that will have to be removed and then use a seat rail kit from Owens who are conveniently based up the road from me.

Edited by Arwel1986, 12 May 2020 - 08:56 PM.


#6 Curley

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Posted 31 May 2020 - 08:31 PM

A lot of the circuit racing rules require the original crossmember. Adding a 2nd, double, crossmember is quite common as it's supposed to make the shell a little stiffer.

 

You're lucky to have Endaf so close - feels like driving to the end of the earth from me - I could spend hours just taking it all the cool cars he has.

 

Depending how tall you are, we ended up putting the seat mounts behind the crossmember. Do you plan on keeping the set on the rails?



#7 Arwel1986

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Posted 03 June 2020 - 06:32 AM

I’m 6ft so the rails will have to go behind the crossmember. I’ve cut the second one out as it would have been in the way.
As it’ll be a stage rally car, the seats can’t be on rails and have to be mounted using the new Motorsport UK type weld in mounts. Apparently the seat mounting kits Endaf sells at the moment will not comply for rallying but he’s apparently coming up with a new design. I haven’t had the chance to pop up there yet with all this corona virus going on but I look forward to it... I think it’ll be an expensive visit too haha

Edited by Arwel1986, 03 June 2020 - 06:44 AM.


#8 VLChurchill

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Posted 03 November 2020 - 06:43 PM

I’m 6ft so the rails will have to go behind the crossmember. I’ve cut the second one out as it would have been in the way.
As it’ll be a stage rally car, the seats can’t be on rails and have to be mounted using the new Motorsport UK type weld in mounts. Apparently the seat mounting kits Endaf sells at the moment will not comply for rallying but he’s apparently coming up with a new design. I haven’t had the chance to pop up there yet with all this corona virus going on but I look forward to it... I think it’ll be an expensive visit too haha

 

A long time ago I tried this and it really makes the Mini, or at least feels like it makes it handle differently and not in a good way either, I found these amazing mechanical type devices called knees :)


Edited by VLChurchill, 03 November 2020 - 06:47 PM.





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