PorKen

I've been meaning to do these projects for a while - it was a nice day today, and I finally had some time!
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Here is a brace connecting the rear shoulder seat belt holes, made from 1" aluminum tube, 44-1/2" long, squashed 2" at the ends, with 1/2" holes drilled. The bolts are reused from the rear seat lap belt tensioner, because they are an odd size, 11mm.


It's a bit hard to photograph because it's silver.

It does reduce the squeaking of the hatch as I enter/exit our driveway, so it does something, and looks cool. It will work even better when I paint it black.
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This next one actually came from something heinrich mentioned! It's good either for weight savings, or say if you're using your larger reservoir for intercooler fluid.

The pictures show how the intensive washer components are installed, if you don't have them factory installed. I had the darnest time trying to figure out where the pump was mounted, but it was easy once I saw one.

The pump mounts under the tank, but instead of rubber mounts, push on speed nuts are used. So all I needed, besides my eBay parts, was (2) #8 x 3/8", and (2) #8 x 1/2" stainless screws. The holes are predrilled (pump holes are marked P in picture), and the wiring is already there!

To run the intensive washer pump when the windshield washer stalk is pulled requires a jumper in place of one relay. You will lose the after-squirt-3-wipe feature without the relay (just one wipe), but all other functionality is retained.



Remove the intensive (auxillary) pump relay ('81 is XV), and put a jumper between {T} and {87}. I looked at the wiring diagrams for '81, and '85-'87 and they appear to be wired the same.

PorKen

Here's a slightly better view of the brace:



It's below the rear view mirror view, at least for me.

Scott M.

Ken;

I like the brace idea...wouldn't be hard to mark it out or chromoly, add some gusseting and harness loops and use it as a 5 point harness bar.

We did the intensive washer setup on an 84 lightweight project I have in the shop now. Planned on just lenghtening the wiring from the old tank pump to the new intensive pump. Thus retaining the squirt-3 wipe feature.

What is the cars weight down to now??

Scott

Bill Ball

PorKen:

I like the rear brace. Maybe a couple of these would stiffen up the rear on my track car. I want to get rid of the rear hatch as it weighs a ton. Even with plastic in place of hatch glass, it weights a lot, due to the heavy hatch frame, so I'm getting rid of the whole thing and bolting in a plastic sheet.

PorKen

Scott,

CrMo, with X pieces to a bracket where the rear outside seat hinge mounted would be cool. I think if the tube was welded to a piece of flat metal at the ends, it would slide under the stock interior quarter panels, and there's already is a hole for the rear seat belt in the interior panel, under the leather/vinyl.

I may wire an extension for the squirter, like you say. It is a bit annoying without the multi-wipe.

I keep meaning to go weigh it, it's getting lighter though. On the flip side, I can really tell if I have a 200lb passenger, she turns into a relative slug again!
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Bill,

I can't say for certain that handling has improved, but I did do a perfect 90 degree corner drift, yesterday, on dry pavement, after coming off the freeway to a green light, followed by a punk Honda = owned!

I will leave it on for a few days, then take it off for a comparison.

I reckon a brace like this would help to mount a plastic hatch, too.