What is the purpose of this brace? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

3drburb · 01-28-2017, 02:51 PM

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 · 01-28-2017, 04:21 PM

Btw its on a 78 SWB frame.
Thanks

bbbc10 · 01-28-2017, 04:24 PM

never seen that before

HunterRotten · 01-28-2017, 05:49 PM

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

3drburb · 01-28-2017, 09:26 PM

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 · 01-28-2017, 10:14 PM

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

lilpoindexter · 01-29-2017, 12:34 AM

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

100%Chevy · 01-29-2017, 12:45 AM

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

69heavychevy · 01-29-2017, 10:19 PM

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 · 01-30-2017, 01:54 AM

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

demian5 · 01-30-2017, 07:54 PM

Special factory purpose build truck tie-down spot?

johnthegreat508 · 01-30-2017, 08:12 PM

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 · 01-31-2017, 03:03 PM

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 · 01-31-2017, 03:46 PM

Quote:

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 · 01-31-2017, 06:10 PM

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 .

01-28-2017, 02:51 PM	#1
3drburb Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Kent, WA. Posts: 852	What is the purpose of this brace? 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 Attached Images

01-28-2017, 04:21 PM	#2
3drburb Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Kent, WA. Posts: 852	Re: What is the purpose of this brace? Btw its on a 78 SWB frame. Thanks

01-28-2017, 04:24 PM	#3
bbbc10 Diggin The SquareLife Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: garland,tx Posts: 1,933	Re: What is the purpose of this brace? never seen that before

01-28-2017, 05:49 PM	#4
HunterRotten Registered User Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Kentucky Posts: 385	Re: What is the purpose of this brace? My 1978 GMC had this as well. We took it off as we decided it was for the original inline 6. __________________ 1978 Hawaiian Blue GMC 454/Tremec TKO 500 BUILD THREAD

01-28-2017, 09:26 PM	#5
3drburb Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Kent, WA. Posts: 852	Re: What is the purpose of this brace? 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.

01-28-2017, 10:14 PM	#6
HunterRotten Registered User Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Kentucky Posts: 385	Re: What is the purpose of this brace? If I remember correctly ours interfered with the oil pan and the pan had been dimpled to accommodate it. __________________ 1978 Hawaiian Blue GMC 454/Tremec TKO 500 BUILD THREAD

01-29-2017, 12:34 AM	#7
lilpoindexter Registered User Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: los angeles Posts: 1,134	Re: What is the purpose of this brace? I have a 1978 short step 250 / 3 ott made in Fremont, and mine doesn't have that. Weird.

01-29-2017, 12:45 AM	#8
100%Chevy Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Moss Point,Ms. Posts: 1,439	Re: What is the purpose of this brace? I have them on my 77 and 78. Both are 250 sixes. I don't know what they're for either. Mike.

01-29-2017, 10:19 PM	#9
69heavychevy Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Garland,TX Posts: 431	Re: What is the purpose of this brace? 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. __________________ 80 C10 SWB Step Side - 350 w/ vortec heads, TH350, 12-bolt 3.73

01-30-2017, 01:54 AM	#10
3drburb Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Kent, WA. Posts: 852	Re: What is the purpose of this brace? Thanks. It's good to know I may be able to leave it.

01-30-2017, 07:54 PM	#11
demian5 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Lake Forest, CA Posts: 2,177	Re: What is the purpose of this brace? Special factory purpose build truck tie-down spot? __________________ "Work hard, use your vacation days." 1970 C15 GMC Long Bed 1986 C20 Scottsdale 1983 K2500 Sierra Classic Suburban 6.2 Instagram: C10sofOC

01-30-2017, 08:12 PM	#12
johnthegreat508 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Humboldt County, CA Posts: 19	Re: What is the purpose of this brace? 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. __________________ 1973 Chevrolet C10 Stepside 454

01-31-2017, 03:03 PM	#13
83GMCK2500 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Beaverton, OR from WA State Posts: 1,515	Re: What is the purpose of this brace? 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) __________________ Devin 1983 GMC High Sierra 2500, 4x4, RC/LB, 400 S.B., SM-465, NP-208, Corporate 10 bolt & 9.5" 14 bolt 1996 GMC Sierra SLE 3500 DRW, 4x4, EC/LB, Vortec 454, NV-4500, BW-4401, AAM 925 & AAM 1050 1997 GMC Sierra SLT 1500 4x4, Z71/F44, EC/SB, Vortec 350 My Introduction with my '83s History New Daily, the '96

01-31-2017, 06:10 PM	#15
Custom.Chevy Registered User Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Klamath Falls Oregon Posts: 135	Re: What is the purpose of this brace? 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 . __________________ instagram - @custom.chevy



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