Okay, here's the situation, I'm needing to replace the starter in my '79 and it's kicking my butt. The cross member that runs directly underneath the starter will not come out. There are three bolts that hold it in place, one at either end and one in the middle. I got the nut off of the one in the middle and I'm not trying to get the nut off of the end towards the front of the car. Problem is that the nut is on the outside of the frame and the head of the bolt is on the inside and I can't get anything besides one finger into the frame to hold the bolt in place while I turn the nut.

My only other option I can think of is to take off the section of exhaust pipe that runs from the manifolds to the cat because that runs directly under the starter as well and that would give me as much room to drop the starter as taking out the cross member will.

Any thoughts and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!!!

When i replaced mine i did not have to do any of that, but the exaust will probley be ALOT easyer

Crossmemember?????? Is this a Sec Gen? There no way in hell you should have any interference with that cross member. Just loosen the bolts on the header or manifold enough to give you that extra inch and drop it straight down

The way I figure it is it must be something that is Berlinetta specific. My buddy has an 80 Z and he just came over to look at it and sure enough his doesn't have the crossmembers and he had never seen them before either. I looked at his and it's got the slots for the bolts to go in to put the crossmember in.

Reference the following pictures:

Looking up at the middle bolt going into part of the front suspension.
http://portfolio.iu.edu/mabsimmo/pic35.jpg

Looking towards the front of the car to the front bolt and nut.
http://portfolio.iu.edu/mabsimmo/pic36.jpg

Looking up at the back bolt going into the frame. (Also the exhaust pipe coming off of the passenger side manifold.)
http://portfolio.iu.edu/mabsimmo/pic37.jpg

Looking at the starter with the crossmember and exhaust pipe in the way.
http://portfolio.iu.edu/mabsimmo/pic38.jpg

Looking inside the frame at the head of the front bolt. The opening is big enough to get my hand in and was just big enough to get my phone in there to take the picture.
http://portfolio.iu.edu/mabsimmo/pic39.jpg

Aforementioned opening where I stuck the phone into to take the picture.
http://portfolio.iu.edu/mabsimmo/pic40.jpg

The front bolt and nut again.
http://portfolio.iu.edu/mabsimmo/pic41.jpg

Small slot on the opposite side of the frame as the back bolt. Not big enough to get a socket through, and not at a good spot to get a view into it to see if there's a nut that the bolt is going into.
http://portfolio.iu.edu/mabsimmo/pic42.jpg

Back bolt looking from the middle of the car to the passenger side.
http://portfolio.iu.edu/mabsimmo/pic43.jpg

I think those braces are V-6 specific, not Berlinetta. Am I correct on thinking you have a V-6 car?? I had an 81 V-6 car that I removed the starter on, but I dont recall having a problem taking off the brace. Unfortunetly, none of this helps you out with your present situation. Tom

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by Plater Tom:
I think those braces are V-6 specific, not Berlinetta. Am I correct on thinking you have a V-6 car?? I had an 81 V-6 car that I removed the starter on, but I dont recall having a problem taking off the brace. Unfortunetly, none of this helps you out with your present situation. Tom</font>


Nope, I've got the 305 and it's got the same brace on both sides of the car.

all2nd gens if not every 78-81 has those braces there just taken off because they get in the way of taking out the starter and when you install headers they dont fit with the brace.to get it off the bolt in the rear is threaded into the frame the center bolt on the lower a arm can be taken off with a socket and wrench and the front bolt can be taken off with a wrench and socket just put a wrench in the frame then push it foward with your 1 finger open end toward the nut when you get it on there hold it and turn the nut side with the socket easy as that.the bolt in the frame is sholdered so the wrench wont slip off.9/16 by the way.

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by 3SLO5:
all2nd gens if not every 78-81 has those braces there just taken off because they get in the way of taking out the starter and when you install headers they dont fit with the brace.to get it off the bolt in the rear is threaded into the frame the center bolt on the lower a arm can be taken off with a socket and wrench and the front bolt can be taken off with a wrench and socket just put a wrench in the frame then push it foward with your 1 finger open end toward the nut when you get it on there hold it and turn the nut side with the socket easy as that.the bolt in the frame is sholdered so the wrench wont slip off.9/16 by the way.</font>

This would be much more helpful with punctuation..

But seriously.. don't those brackets serve a purpose? Is there any problem with taking them off?

Would the braces be indicative of a T-top car?

i had an 81 V-6 solid roof car.. i think all of the fbodys had them... v-6/v-8 solid roof or t-top.. anyways they serve no purpose hell they aint that sturdy.. just unbolt them and toss them.. if you ever put on headers you'll need to get rid of them anyways

Hey, this is the friend that 79_Berlinetta_guy was refereing to. That brace looks like a PITA. I tried myself to get just an open ended wrench on the front bolt and its almost impossible to get it on there. Even with a fairly short wrench.

For those of you that do not know where exactly we are talking about, look at the frame piece the Engine is resting on, you'll see a slot that opens up to the inside of this frame piece and there will be a hole not too far from that. That is where the bolt is.

Matt, if you can't seem to get it you can try what I said about heating a wrench and bending it to get it to fit. My dad said that it takes a Setaline (spelling) torch to heat it up enough to bend a wrench. But if you don't wanna try any of that and you don't mind not putting that piece back on. You can bring your car over to my house sometime and i'll take it off with my impact wrench. But like I said, I can get it off, but probly not back on.

g/l and lemme know how it goes

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Cars, Computers, and Women, my 3 favorite things. All nothing but trouble

Pretty much worked the way REDNBlack mentioned for removal. I did not have too difficult of a time. I have seen these on every original 78-81 regardless of T-top or not.

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Ryan

Like RRD and some others said, all 78-81 Camaros had that brace. I replaced my started about a month or two ago and had no problem. I got the middle and rear bolts off, then broke the front one free enough so that I could rotate the brace down giving me enough room to drop the starter and swap it. From those pictures, it seems like your exhaust is gonna be in the way regardless.

I just removed that brace yesterday! I have an 81 Sport Coupe with a V8. All stock.

Mine came out no problem, 3SLO5 said it exactly. Rear bolt is threaded into the frame the center and front can be removed easily using a 9/16 wrench and socket. It really is easy.

I had the car up on jackstands maybe this made it a little easier.

Hope this helps

RickM

while on the subject of starters has anyone had to put a different one (smaller high torque whatever)to clear headers or does the big ass bulky stock one work?

Finally got it off tonight!!!! Hadn't had a chance to work on it since two saturday's ago and finally had some time tonight. I had to end up taking the front screw and nut out to get the brace to drop down to get the starter out.