convertible cowl braces

[topless82vette]

Do these things really make a difference in a convertible? who has run without them and is it noticeable when they are not in place .... I have given up looking for these things and have been pondering with fabricating my own if they really do make a difference in support of the cowl.

 

[6880 Mike]

...Do these things really make a difference in a convertible?...

Probably. The convertible bodies do not have the additional stiffness of the coupes because of the lack of the t-top bar tying things together. The GM engineers felt they were needed and that's why they were added.

 

[BBShark]

The braces were added to the 68 to reduce "cowl shake". This is a picture of the braces and their placement. The baraces and the saddle bracket are fairly difficult to find.

 

[topless82vette]

The braces were added to the 68 to reduce "cowl shake". This is a picture of the braces and their placement. The baraces and the saddle bracket are fairly difficult to find.

Thanks thats what I was looking for. So all 68-75's had these braces??? I think I can fabricate some rods like those, they dont appear to have any strange bends in them. Is the saddle bracket the huge thing outlined in yellow that covers the transmission tunnel??

 

[BBShark]

Thanks thats what I was looking for. So all 68-75's had these braces??? I think I can fabricate some rods like those, they dont appear to have any strange bends in them. Is the saddle bracket the huge thing outlined in yellow that covers the transmission tunnel??

Early 68's did not have these braces and AC cars did not have the braces on the passenger side (AC plenum was in the way). Yeah, the saddle bracket is the thing outlined in yellow. It is a formed steel plate that is riveted to the trans tunnel. That bracket may be easier to find than the braces but like you said, they could probably be fabricated.

 

[fine69]

You shoud be fine with fabricating your own.