Date:         Sat, 5 Jan 2008 15:58:48 -0800
Reply-To:     "dhanson@gorge.net" <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "dhanson@gorge.net" <dhanson@GORGE.NET>
Subject:      More on the cross-pan brace in the Diesel...
Content-type: text/plain; charset=utf-8

   ...Or Gasoline inline four installation in a vanagon.  I posted recently that my motor had almost
dropped onto the highway when a motor mount came free from the block in my inline four...same as a
diesel..
  Well, we got all the bolts drilled and easy-outed from the block and re-attached the side motor
mount that failed.  Then I had my guys fabricate a brace, using the illustration in the Bently,
section 10.7, figure 10-571.  They did OK, but ended up hanging it too low to avoid having to move
the exhaust header pipe that's in my van, so my ground clearance is not really acceptable now...I
will "re-vise" their fabrication to closer resemble the one in the pic in a few days...
  But after laying under there and giving it my full attention for some time, I can see the main
function of the one installed by VW as from the factory, the one many say is usually missing on most
diesels, the function is to limit flex in the motor mounts by cross-tying them together.  Looking at
the mounts and the bars that carry them and the length of the "lever' created by these mounts being
so long to span from the frame rails to that narrow inline four block, I can see how the mounts
would flex as the motor torques, creating quite a load on the mount/block interface...I am glad I
picked up on the real function and with some revision to my exhaust pipe, I'll soon be able to have
a very thin brace under there that doesn't diminish the ground clearance, and yet still enhances the
strength of all the motormounts as a whole...
  Thanks all..
  Don Hanson