Author Topic: What is this curved bar for on the front driver's side? (Read 9435 times)

kennysabarese · « **on:** July 31, 2011, 03:55:00 PM »

I've seen this thing many times and it always gets in my way.

Now it's really in my way, and it doesn't seem to serve any purpose to me. So I want to remove it

It's bolted to the frame and then has something welded to it that runs somewhere I can't see.

WTF IS IT!?!?!?

[attachment=1]

DeepBlueGXP · « **Reply #1 on:** July 31, 2011, 03:59:43 PM »

Perhaps you backup a bit and take another photo or tell us what part of the car you're looking at. I can't tell from the pic

Uranium-238 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 31, 2011, 04:07:31 PM »

Just checked my car, it reconnects to the frame right in front of the aluminum "bumper" inside the from bumper. No ideas what it does.

Sol Asylum · « **Reply #3 on:** July 31, 2011, 04:59:29 PM »

It's got to serve some purpose or else GM wouldn't have paid to have it installed on the car.

snaponbob · « **Reply #4 on:** July 31, 2011, 05:03:20 PM »

About 40 years ago an engineer at Nash invented this thing. They usually come in pairs. The guys name was Alphonse Knibble. It is known as Knibbulator bar. The K bar is usually used to support the front cross member that holds the radiator and other such stuff, and uses threaded Hassleflam pins (known as bolts) to hold them in place. Corvairs (for obvious reasons) did not have K bars.

Seriously, there are braces.

Sol Asylum · « **Reply #5 on:** July 31, 2011, 05:05:57 PM »

Don't the Marines use K bars too?

snaponbob · « **Reply #6 on:** July 31, 2011, 05:08:32 PM »

Quote from: Sol Asylum on July 31, 2011, 05:05:57 PM

Don't the Marines use K bars too?

And large caliber rifles.

Uranium-238 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 31, 2011, 05:38:47 PM »

I don't get it though. If it's a brace, why doesn't the passenger side have it? My first thought was that it attaches to the radiator or the IC but it doesn't. It curves down under the front suspension then straight back to the frame. Nothing is mounted on it. I don't get it.

DeepBlueGXP · « **Reply #8 on:** July 31, 2011, 05:49:01 PM »

Where does the other end connect?

snaponbob · « **Reply #9 on:** July 31, 2011, 06:05:13 PM »

A bit more seriously ....

Looking at the picture, it sweeps forward and back up, where it bolts to the frame again. Having spent more than a little time in, around, and under all sorts of cars, and having seen some real strange things hung in odd places on a lot of cars, I think it is a "patch" for a problem. My guess is that it is there to augment the "crush zone" on the left side to help control penetration back towards the steering column.

snaponbob · « **Reply #10 on:** July 31, 2011, 06:07:23 PM »

I wonder if Alex Jones removed his to save weight !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2kwk4u · « **Reply #11 on:** July 31, 2011, 07:14:05 PM »

Doesn't it make more sense that it's a tie-down loop?

snaponbob · « **Reply #12 on:** July 31, 2011, 07:16:47 PM »

N

Quote from: 2kwk4u on July 31, 2011, 07:14:05 PM

Doesn't it make more sense that it's a tie-down loop?

Actually .......... no. A tow strap attached there would destroy the front facial.

Sol Asylum · « **Reply #13 on:** July 31, 2011, 07:32:43 PM »

What does the parts catalog call the part?

Critterman · « **Reply #14 on:** July 31, 2011, 08:50:27 PM »

Doesn't it support the front facia on that side?

kennysabarese · « **Reply #15 on:** July 31, 2011, 09:01:38 PM »

My current thought is that it's to protect the IC and radiator from an extreme bottoming out event.

I ended up using it to my advantage (another topic) now I wish there was one on the other side. Maybe I'll buy one and drill some holes in the frame.

Uranium-238 · « **Reply #16 on:** July 31, 2011, 09:40:38 PM »

Quote from: Kenny on July 31, 2011, 09:01:38 PM

My current thought is that it's to protect the IC and radiator from an extreme bottoming out event.

I thought that too but again why only one side? In a situation that drastic all it'll do is guarantee that that passenger side radiator/IC is what will hit the deck first.

kennysabarese · « **Reply #17 on:** July 31, 2011, 10:05:59 PM »

I don't think anything flexes enough that the other side would hit if unless you were on an extremely uneven surface.

Chemist · « **Reply #18 on:** July 31, 2011, 10:14:00 PM »

It holds my one-off license plate bracket.

I asked the same question on the "big board" a while back.

http://www.solsticeforum.com/forum/f12/what-_is_-thing-pipe-drivers-side-front-engine-bay-57310/

tazz · « **Reply #19 on:** July 31, 2011, 10:14:36 PM »

#23 or #24 in pic?
If it's #24 the listing is SUPPORT FRT BPR FASCIA OTR
#23 listing is BRACE FRT BPR FASCIA
http://www.genmotorinfo.com/FullImage.aspx?ccId=195823802&ppId=484242216&ppInfo=2007-2009+M%2cBumper%2fFront%2c(GTA)+-+2M07004

kennysabarese · « **Reply #20 on:** July 31, 2011, 10:40:30 PM »

Quote from: tazz on July 31, 2011, 10:14:36 PM

#23 or #24 in pic?
If it's #24 the listing is SUPPORT FRT BPR FASCIA OTR
http://www.genmotorinfo.com/FullImage.aspx?ccId=195823802&ppId=484242216&ppInfo=2007-2009+M%2cBumper%2fFront%2c(GTA)+-+2M07004

Neither

snaponbob · « **Reply #21 on:** July 31, 2011, 10:40:43 PM »

Tazz, neither. It is #40 in this shot from a recently listed web site. Item is called "Brace, radiator front end tie". I think I may have gotten close !!! Take a look.

http://parts.nalleygmc.com/showAssembly.aspx?ukey_assembly=389861&ukey_make=1031&ukey_model=14670&modelYear=2007&ukey_category=19521&ukey_driveLine=0&ukey_TrimLevel=15564&ukey_modelRange=0&searchString=

tazz · « **Reply #22 on:** July 31, 2011, 10:41:17 PM »

Is it listed in the pic?

tazz · « **Reply #23 on:** July 31, 2011, 10:42:11 PM »

I was looking at that but wasn't sure.
Like your exploded pic better.
Thanks Bob.

snaponbob · « **Reply #24 on:** July 31, 2011, 10:43:07 PM »

Quote from: tazz on July 31, 2011, 10:41:17 PM

Is it listed in the pic?

It IS in the link I posted above. BTW, this is the single best parts reference I have found so far for our cars.

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Author Topic: What is this curved bar for on the front driver's side? (Read 9435 times)