engine and drivetrain 5 Speed transmission to tunnel connection

[rapandi]

Hi

The PO converted it to a 5 speed 245 CR and fabricated a pair of brackets. The brackets themselves are heavy duty however they were just connected to the car using a pair of bolts on both sides. My question is - is there any risk of the bolts shearing through the metal? I am thinking may be I should reinforce that area around the holes? The body is being worked upon as we speak so best to do it now before paint. 

 

The 2002 shop manual seems to show that BMW did the same thing with bolting brackets straight to the tunnel and not reinforcing the tunnel around the bolts. I am guessing that the tunnel is stiff enough then to handle the stress. 

 

Any assistance is very much appreciated.

 

Raj

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[arminyack]

ok wait...what are those sheetmetal screws I see in the second picture?! The first pic looks nice and beefy...you are good there. 

[rapandi]

Yeah I don't know what PO was thinking with the screws. They are in the bin. 

[Simeon]

A couple of decent sized washers on the bolts for the inside of the car and you are golden. 

[rapandi]

Thanks Simeon 

[Mike Self]

Use "fender washers"--those are washers whose center hole is much smaller than the OD and are meant for just these situations.

 

mike

[Roundeie]

Might want to check the Link for Giubo bolt orientation info

http://www.bmw2002faq.com/forums/topic/92791-conflicting-guibo-bolting/#comment-319628

[TobyB]

Quote

A couple of decent sized fender washers 

 

Yeah, that'll be just fine- even overkill.  That bracket doesn't take much weight, and is designed to give way anyway

in the event of a frontal collision, allowing the engine to submarine under the car...

 

t

 

Edited November 12, 2016 by TobyB

[Son of Marty]

Yeah, what Toby said just use regular size flat washers under the bolt head to prevent the sharp edges of the bolt head digging into tunnel and lock washers on the bracket side and your golden.