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Bracing Framehorns

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Smiley Veteran Volks Folk

2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#847063
Hi all.

I'm looking to strengthen up the rear end of my car. As some of you will know I had my LHS framehorn crack at the start of the year. I repaired that and now it seems the RHS one is starting to go too.

How have people braced their framehorns? Pictures ideas etc would be great. I know I could buy a K-bar kit but I am exploring all ideas first.
Car is Superbug rear end, currently swingaxle but soon to be IRS.


Smiley 😎
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#847067
Into the internal roll cage is my answer for the best results

If you look closely you'll see the struts that support the frame horns from the firewall attachment points



Like this

Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

Smiley Veteran Volks Folk

2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#847069
And if I have no internal cage? 😀


Smiley 😎
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#847072
For the less extreme, you can do a version of a Kafer bar but using your rear cage at the upper bars that go to the shock mounts. You need a tie bar that connects both sides, where they attach is where you want anothe tube fitted that connects to the frame horns. All could be welded if double jointed, open drive shaft commonly refered to as IRS rear end is used, or for your swinger, the drop bar can be removable. The more bolted joints, the less strength.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#847073
Smiley wrote:And if I have no internal cage? 😀


Smiley 😎
Yeah, I was getting to that
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

Smiley Veteran Volks Folk

2,125 posts · joined Oct 2008 ·

#847075
matberry wrote:For the less extreme, you can do a version of a Kafer bar but using your rear cage at the upper bars that go to the shock mounts. You need a tie bar that connects both sides, where they attach is where you want anothe tube fitted that connects to the frame horns. All could be welded if double jointed, open drive shaft commonly refered to as IRS rear end is used, or for your swinger, the drop bar can be removable. The more bolted joints, the less strength.
I think I understand what you're saying. I also want to tie the ends of the frame horns into the bottom bars of my rear cage that run forward to the torsion housing.


Smiley 😎
If you said I was a Volkswagen man, you'd be right.

matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#847100
Smiley wrote:I also want to tie the ends of the frame horns into the bottom bars of my rear cage that run forward to the torsion housing.


Smiley 😎
The lower bars normally have RHS joining them that ties to the forks near the stock cradle. It's the angled tie rod from there to the top shock mount area that triangulates the bars into a truss.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 ·

#847102
My rotary bug was converted back in the 80s before Kafer bars and Berg mid mounts were common on the market here so the the bloke that built it came up with his own versions.

The mid mount is basically exactly the same as Bergs but to beef up the forks he used box section with the top cut out welded the bottom of the forks and did pie cuts at front to follow the contour of the forks at the front.

Sorry these are the best pics I've got of it.



matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 ·

#847105
Yeah Joel, you'd call that a home made Berg style intermediate mount. Definately a recommended addition to anything over stock performance.
Matt Berry Motorsports...air cooled advice, repairs and mods Ph 0408 704 662
OFF-ROAD,CIRCUIT,DRAG,STREET,ENDURANCE