engine to tranny brace bars

[eran tomer]

hello
my truck is missing these bars. are they crucial?

 

[SUBURBAN5]

Without seeing a pic of what you mean ima lean towards yes.

 

[eran tomer]

one end is bolted to the torque cover and the other end to the engine mount bracket.

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[Schurkey]

They make for a more-rigid assembly. Helps eliminate breaking trans cases.

I'd say...Yes.

 

[RichLo]

braces yes

pictures of your legs no

 

[Erik the Awful]

SBCs ran for decades without them, so they're not necessary, but they seem like a really good idea.

 

[Schurkey]

SBCs ran for decades without them, so they're not necessary, but they seem like a really good idea.

"Most" SBCs weren't sold to be used in an off-road, bumpy-bouncy environment where extra support between engine and trans would be beneficial.

And it's not really the SBC that's at issue, it's the trans case.

For the record, as Rolls-Royce was developing their V-8 engine back in the Fifties, one of the problems they saw with "American" drivelines they examined, was a lack of rigidity between engine and trans, leading to NVH.

 

[stutaeng]

What was the difference between those bell housing covers. There's one that's just flimsy sheet metal cover (maybe on the 2wd?) and the other version was a cast aluminum cover with ribs (maybe on the 4x4?)

I think my K3500 with the 5.7 has those little rod braces, but I can't remember what kind of bellhousing cover it has?

 

[Schurkey]

What was the difference between those bell housing covers. There's one that's just flimsy sheet metal cover (maybe on the 2wd?) and the other version was a cast aluminum cover with ribs (maybe on the 4x4?)

I haven't been under a 2WD GMT400; I don't know how they're equipped. It wouldn't surprise me to see the sheetmetal torque converter shield with no braces, just like a "car" application. The sheetmetal shield is held on with tiny screws, maybe even self-tapping (self-stripping!)

I think my K3500 with the 5.7 has those little rod braces, but I can't remember what kind of bellhousing cover it has?

Every 4WD GMT400 I've looked at has the stabilizing struts bolted to the reinforced aluminum torque converter cover; attached to the trans case with real, live bolts.

I have an extra aluminum torque converter cover for 700/4L60/some 4L60E if anyone cares. No struts, though. I don't expect these covers would fit 400/3L80/4L80E but I could be wrong. Note that the trans case would have to have appropriate threaded holes to mount the aluminum cover. I don't know if 2WD trans cases can be drilled and tapped for the larger bolts.

 

[stutaeng]

There was a thread on the transmission subforum and the guy had issues with broken transmission case. He'd gone through 2 or 3. I don't know if that question about the braces had been asked.

IIRC, it turned out to be a drive line issue, maybe the driveshaft causing the trouble?