Unbaked X-member reinforcement ideas

[zeroid@hotmail.com (Ben Channard)]

Disclaimer 1:  I'm not an engineer nor do I play one on TV.

Disclaimer 2:  I haven't done any measuring nor pondered feasibility beyond 
opening my hood and peeking for 5 seconds.

Disclaimer 3:  I'm not disputing that scrupulously aligned side motor mounts 
or avoiding Mk.2s with inferior metallurgy or the sacrifice of young'uns is 
the key to crossmember immortality


     Seems that as Dan Bubb(?) implied, the design of our front motor mount 
is akin to a rubber mallet banging away at the metal cup attached to the 
car's X-member.  Perhaps a more gradual application of force via the use of 
a modern hydraulic motor mount would lessen the fatiguing (am I using this 
in the correct context?) of the metal of the X-member.  No idea how hard it 
would be to fab this.  Was it on this list that there was some talk of an 
engine torque reducing device?  Was this scrapped due to its fatal 
dependence on a firewall anchor?  I noticed that Alan Stamper's recent FS 
post for his Scirocco mentions an engine anti-rocking device:
<http://www.parts4vws.com/registry/registry_detail.asp?MemberCarID=3945>

     In regards to the various designs for X-member reinforcement bars, 
instead of attaching the flat plate behind the front motor mount cup to a 
bar which goes laterally, how about attaching it to a bar which goes 
vertically to the top X-member?  My reasoning is that this would spread the 
force to the less stressed top X-member.  Moreover, since the bar is 
stronger with respect to compression than to lateral deflection, a smaller 
and lighter device could be used.  I leave it to the more creative out there 
to figure out how to thread one's way around the radiator and whatever else 
may be in the way.

Anyway, benton----






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