Sorry if this has been up before, but has anybody tried to fit the extra braces that's fitted to 156/147 GTA (and appearently GTV/Spider)..?

I was just this lunch under my mates 156GTA and saw this brace, connecting the subframe rigidly to the front floor beams:

http://www.alfaworkshop.co.uk/images/52-2-800.jpg

It looks exactly like a thing I've been contemplating to make the front just that little stiffer. 2 longitudal bars.

Am I right assuming the subframe should be very similar to our Coupe?

No-one.. Really..?

Where would the rear of the brace mount to on the coupe shell?

To me subframes on Coupe and Alfa 156's looks same.
Don't know if GTA's differs, but 2.5V6 and 2.0TS is same as Coupe.....

The subframes are the same but it's where this bracket would mount, it fastens to the front two wishbone mountings but where does it fasten at the rear on a coupe?



Clicky if the picture doesn't work

Why not just fit the whole 156 front suspension, I'm sure it could be done.

I suppose you would have to weld a plate/nuts to the floor?

Have 2 156's, and at least 2 in parts for spares......did some comparison of both suspensions sets cause had same idea - have service and equipment to do it by myself......it can be done, but is a lot of work involved.....i'd rather prefer to break my Coup into pieces and assemble it again, instead of did that conversion.....

The holes in the Coupe floor beams are there too, we just need those "thread-pipes" (english word..?) put in the holes, then its plug'n'play as far as I could see from my friends GTA.
Will definitely find a scrapyard GTA/GTV and pick them.

The 156 2.0ts don't have the braces, checked!

I can supply them, in fact, I will check with the coupe on the ramp this week.

It should be a case of welding a captive nut to allow Allow them to fit, should be an interesting mod!!

Yes, 2,5V6 too.....i mean that subframe is same.

Cool, how much are they?

I have been told the 156 /147 braces are different to the gtv braces, can anyone confirm this?

Also to add to the mix there are ones with bushes and solid ones,I am guessing the solid ones may be later as internet searches seem to show the bushes failing and people replacing them.

Right side : 60654608
Left side : 60654607

These are the part numbers for the gtv, seem to be about £50 each from alfa, or slightly cheaper from places like
this

Scrappy or ebay is going to be the cheapest bet!

give ebspares a try.

Part numbers for the GTA braces seem to be 46756286 & 60673019

..and they cost different, ca 45£ and 70£..? Hmm.
Anyway it'll be a scrappy job as you say, Jonone!

Ok I found a couple from a scrapped GTV 2.0...

Left:
http://sfk.ibk.se/forum/attachment.php?s=93cfb99b7edd0902c7d2c7ac992d9639&postid=122180

and right:
http://sfk.ibk.se/forum/attachment.php?s=93cfb99b7edd0902c7d2c7ac992d9639&postid=122181

Will do some refurbishing before mounting them, they look a bit scruffy now.

I still can't see what these plates achieve - surely there is little or no movement of the subframe back & forth. If they were to prevent sideways flex, the design would be very different

Yeah well me too. But hey - appearently there is!
(otherwise these would not exist)

I suppose I'll find out when they're on.
There "should" not be any flexing within the subframe nor between the struttowers..

As I've said many times before - just because no-one's done it before doesn't mean it doesn't work..

Alfa must think they work?

Alfa also seem to have different subframes.

Same subframe, but the coupe one is more 155 era then 156.

To use the plates they're bolted to the subframe and I'm unsure if the lugs are fitted into coupe one?

The GTA subframe and the floor is still very similar, but we need to drill a pair of extra holes.

Edit: Had another look at my mates 156 GTA and there are two types! The GTA ones are longer, have several mounting points and are possibly even stiffer. Will try to snap a picture..
The GTV ones I just bought are shorter and have just two bolts at each end.

Probably due to the Busso lump in the GTA adding more stress.

Whats the weight of these braces? just wondering how much weight will be added to the already nose heavy Coupe.

Not really the same then? Am I correct in thinking the 155 doesnt have these braces?

I guess around 0.5kg each. I'll drill some well placed holes in them too.
(My FMIC added a LOT more weight.. )

I think they were added to the Alfa because they set the goals higher - hence the all-round multilinks. Both 2.0 and 3.0 had these braces.

155 don't have these, nor 156 2.0/2.5.

Here's the 156GTA; much longer + probably stiffer braces:

(left side front)
http://sfk.ibk.se/forum/attachment.php?s=d554d08f446e8da0d2c7cfdbac3d8fa8&postid=122305

(right side rear)
http://sfk.ibk.se/forum/attachment.php?s=d554d08f446e8da0d2c7cfdbac3d8fa8&postid=122306

Another from right side:
http://sfk.ibk.se/depa/showfile.php?carpic_no=2471&type=picture

No it doesn't, but you could just weld 2 nuts to your original since you going to have to drill the floor to mount it anyway.

But apart from the nuts welded in the subframe is exactly the same.

fresh lick of hammerite

Sweet! Gta's.
Get back with your results!

I'm just about to mount mine:
http://sfk.ibk.se/forum/showthread.php?s...p;pagenumber=27

nice, i like the blue theme under your car.....but should it not be blue and yellow?

I have buggered around with my car so much that changes like this get lost with me. when they get put on they will be part of a suspension change so it will be hard to judge.

Please post your reports as they will make a clearer difference to you.

It'll be the same for me..
I'll take them off/on to see any difference.

Slight difference in rigidity, yes!

And here's some pics of these GTV/Spider-braces:

Left
http://sfk.ibk.se/depa/showfile.php?carpic_no=2520&type=picture

Left & right
http://sfk.ibk.se/depa/showfile.php?carpic_no=2521&type=picture

All braces..
http://sfk.ibk.se/depa/showfile.php?carpic_no=2518&type=picture

All braces incl. undershield
http://sfk.ibk.se/depa/showfile.php?carpic_no=2522&type=picture

All mounting points had to be drilled, then with nuts welded on the inside.

Looking good per!
I still haven't got mine mounted yet, so you reckon you can feel the added stiffness?
The box section is very thin where they mount, did you have any concerns? i suppose that's where there mounted on the gtv etc.

thanks! Yes I did feel a small difference, not as big as I hoped for though. I'd say the difference was like with/without strutbrace, not fenomenal but noticable.

I did have concerns about the floor box sections, since Alfa did make the braces longer (with added mounts) for the GTA. I tried to go half-way with my added bits at the back there. Have'nt seen any bucklings yet!

Yeah should be fine.

every little helps i guess. wonder how much these are to pick up new?

PER- have you tried A welded subframe yet? i got mine from Countrycruising and it made a big difference i thought in flex.

il look into these aswell

No I actually don't believe a welded frame helps as much as the lower brace, but I did think of it once. The lower brace (modded OMP here) did make a huge difference!

Have picture of it?????

i tried a few different braces and so far the welded subframe has made the most difference

look at some of the past feed back threads to do with the subframes

at the moment i have the welded subframe, LE top brace and a nigels lower and the front end feels very tight.

as for pics i think there was some floating about on here but cant seem to find them

here a few pics when i did mine

OT.. But very nice!

thanks i think.... assuming OT is over the the top? or OTT here in NZ.

Aahh, no Off Topic since these braces does a completely different job.

Cool. Just posting pics for those asking. Cheers

Hi Per!
In Italy my friends are interested to your solution!

Can we copy it?

Of course! After all it's not mine; it's Alfa's!

Part number found!
We are quick

But.. how do you fix it under the chassis?
Thanks, and welcome back to Sweden!

I drilled holes and put nuts on the inside, bolts from the outside. Check for some pics here:

http://sfk.ibk.se/forum/showthread.php?9299-Turbobyte-m-m/page31

Ok, under the carpet, exact?
In Italy me and other 2 coopers want to try!

Hehe, no in the subframe and the beam from underneath! Careful with the drill!