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T 1 front frame reinforcing struts -- do you have them?

Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2019 6:36 pm
by Brett Johnson
T 1 356s originally did not have a box section frame reinforcing strut that extended from the torsion bar area to the front of the floor. It was added at some point prior to the T 2 body changes and I am attempting to find out the time that it happened. So it you have a 1956 or 1957 T 1 356A (any model) that has not had major structural repair in this area, can you let me know either here or directly at: 356drb@indy.net ? The attached photos show:

1) The photo from the 1957 356A driver's manual that shows a very early T 1 with no strut.
2) My 54205 356 with no strut
3) Similar angle of a T 5 356B with a strut

Note that the flexible brake line does not exit through the actual strut on later cars.

Re: T 1 front frame reinforcing struts -- do you have them?

Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2019 12:00 am
by Harlan Halsey
My "56 T1 58071 did not originally have the box section reinforcement along the lower edge of the panel.
It does now as we had the parts, and it seems like a good idea.

Re: T 1 front frame reinforcing struts -- do you have them?

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2019 10:29 pm
by Jim Karaba
Speedster 82871 late Dec 1956 did not have the strut reinforcements.

Re: T 1 front frame reinforcing struts -- do you have them?

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2019 11:51 pm
by Jim Clement
it the strut that you are referring to the boomerang looking component ?

Re: T 1 front frame reinforcing struts -- do you have them?

Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2019 11:55 pm
by Jim Clement
this is from T1 coup 59021
yieks.. the picture makes me cringe.. now I know why it costs so much to fix these cars..

Re: T 1 front frame reinforcing struts -- do you have them?

Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2019 12:03 am
by Jim Clement
oh.. this feels better..
still from 59021

Re: T 1 front frame reinforcing struts -- do you have them?

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 5:58 am
by Lutz Mueller
To my knowledge the reinforcement struts did not just appear. The change involved also another change to the chassis structure which is not visible from the outside.
Before this change the reinforcement struts where placed on the inside of the chassis.
Achassis315.jpg
Achassis315.jpg (40.66 KiB) Viewed 1686 times

With this change the inner reinforcement struts where removed and replaced by the outer reinforcement struts.
L512.jpg
L512.jpg (39.71 KiB) Viewed 1686 times

In combination of these changes also the front bumper bracket mounts changed. The bumper bracket mounts before this change where always directly attached to front axle.
Mount T1.JPG
Mount T1.JPG (87.75 KiB) Viewed 1686 times

After the change the bumper bracket mounts where shortened by approx. 2 inches.
Mount T2.JPG
Mount T2.JPG (36.89 KiB) Viewed 1686 times

Re: T 1 front frame reinforcing struts -- do you have them?

Posted: Fri Feb 15, 2019 7:20 am
by Brett Johnson
Information I have at this time indicates the bumper channel shortening occurred around March/April 1957. The outer box section strut in its final version was in place by May 1957. Justin Rio has shown photos of what appears to be a preliminary version of the outer box section, though the inner one illustrated above makes a good case for why the brake line was moved to the mounting tab from this chassis area earlier. I am interested in other cars with the "tweener" strut.

Re: T 1 front frame reinforcing struts -- do you have them?

Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2019 10:45 pm
by Jim Hardie
Hi, Brett, all.

My 57228 did not have the strut.

Jim