What is the purpose of this brace?

[3drburb]

I noticed this the other day. It is between the motor mounts on the crossmember.
I will leave it there unless it gets in the way of the motor install.
So what is the purpose of it?
Thanks

[3drburb]

Btw its on a 78 SWB frame.
Thanks

[bbbc10]

never seen that before

[HunterRotten]

My 1978 GMC had this as well. We took it off as we decided it was for the original inline 6.

[3drburb]

Thanks guys, it is a 78 GMC, I was really stumped. This is my 5th Squarebody and I never noticed one.
It will stay if it works with the V8 but it makes me wonder if they thought it would hold up the motor if a mount broke.

[HunterRotten]

If I remember correctly ours interfered with the oil pan and the pan had been dimpled to accommodate it.

[lilpoindexter]

I have a 1978 short step 250 / 3 ott made in Fremont, and mine doesn't have that. Weird.

[100%Chevy]

I have them on my 77 and 78.
Both are 250 sixes.
I don't know what they're for either.
Mike.

[69heavychevy]

my 80 has it too. it was originally an inline six. when i swapped in my 350 i left there since it didnt interfere with anything.

[3drburb]

Thanks. It's good to know I may be able to leave it.

[demian5]

Special factory purpose build truck tie-down spot?

[johnthegreat508]

My v8 rig doesn't have it but my 81 with a 250 six did. Probably for the extra weight of the boat anchor six.

[83GMCK2500]

Weird, according to the parts catalogs it is p/n: 343181, it is 6-cyl only, 73-89 (on 250/292), and it is called: SPACER, engine to crossmembers

From GM Partswiki, 73-78: http://www.gmpartswiki.com/getpage?pageid=54702 (bottom of page)
79-84: http://www.gmpartswiki.com/getpage?pageid=100557 (middleish of page)
85-89: http://www.gmpartswiki.com/getpage?pageid=61374 (near bottom of page)

[3drburb]

Originally Posted by 83GMCK2500

Weird, according to the parts catalogs it is p/n: 343181, it is 6-cyl only, 73-89 (on 250/292), and it is called: SPACER, engine to crossmembers

From GM Partswiki, 73-78: http://www.gmpartswiki.com/getpage?pageid=54702 (bottom of page)
79-84: http://www.gmpartswiki.com/getpage?pageid=100557 (middleish of page)
85-89: http://www.gmpartswiki.com/getpage?pageid=61374 (near bottom of page)

Thanks, it's good to have the name of the odd part.
It must have been them overthinking it when they saw the space under the motor.
I had a Bonanza with a six for years and it didn't have one. It must have been remove before I got it.
Thanks

[Custom.Chevy]

you can barely remove the v8 oil pan with the engine still in and not removing anything else. i guess they wanted to make sure you definitely couldn't remove it with the straight 6 lol .