Cool things stock Canadian/JDM S chassis have

[Def]

Came across this picture of a (weak) reinforcement bracket where the auto seat belt motors would mount in a Canuck car:



I'm not sure how much chassis stiffness these would provide, but that corner with a few spot welds would be a good place to look for more stiffness.


Any other cool brackets or reinforcements found on other S chassis?


And any NRR Canadians want to sell me some of those bracket fo' cheap?

[Sleepy_Steve]

Why not just do some seam welding?

[Def]

A few extra weld beads does not add near as much stiffness as a bracket that uses the material much more efficiently.

It's exactly how an I-beam is much stiffer than a flat plate that weighs as much. You get a much bigger moment of inertia from putting the material farther out from the plane of deflection like a bracket.

[Geno]

I think I have an extra frame rail section for being a 180SX. I'll have to check to see what other cool things are different.

[Def]

Pretty sure the USDM cars have full frame rails, while the JDM cars got a split frame rail.

[Geno]

I've never seen the underside of a US S13, both my S13's have been 180sx's. However I can say mine is split so you're right.

[Def]

US S13's have an "inner" piece of framerail joining the two, although it's retarded thin, like 18-20 Ga.

[KA240SX808]

I think everyone knows but the Factory Vert Fender Braces.

[James]

S15 have a bar between the 2 frame rails in the boot

James

[Def]

I think everyone knows but the Factory Vert Fender Braces.

There's a ton of convertible only reinforcements if you look in the parts catalog - too bad they're all NLA.

I don't think the S15 trunk bar will fit an S13/S14 will it? I also can see it helping chassis rigidity, but probably not near as much as stuff that's closer to the suspension pickup points.

[James]

There's a ton of convertible only reinforcements if you look in the parts catalog - too bad they're all NLA.

I don't think the S15 trunk bar will fit an S13/S14 will it? I also can see it helping chassis rigidity, but probably not near as much as stuff that's closer to the suspension pickup points.

Nope It won't fit. I'm making my own one soon that ties both the frame rails together and bars that extend from the strut towers down to the frame bar.

[cdlong]

Def, is there a reason you want to use this brace and not just fab up something that truly works? I didn't know the frame rails (or any part of the chassis for that matter) was different. Anyone have any details or pics of the difference? For my own curiosity?

There's a ton of convertible only reinforcements if you look in the parts catalog - too bad they're all NLA.

I think everyone knows but the Factory Vert Fender Braces.

Let's say, hypothetically, a friend of a friend doesn't know about said braces. Where would I... I mean "he"... find out about such braces? He's curious about which braces fit on an S14.

[Def]

Well, these just bolt-in. Fabbing something up would be at least a few hours. Could probably be stiffer at about the same strength, but a major PITA for two braces.

[Mr. J]

Def, do you know if that picture is of a coupe or hatch? I don't remember seeing those on my old hatch ('92). I'll check if my Silvia has them.

On the topic of neat things (albiet not at all performance related) my Silvia has a rear window heater/fan with the third brake like would be. I removed it last week and I think based on it's install it must have been a dealer installed option.

[Equinox]

S15's also come stock with a brace similar to that DoLuck brace you have Def.