Missing engine bay brace

Can anyone confirm my suspicion that there is a diagonal brace missing from the engine bay of my T540.

In the photo it can be seen that the right side of the bay has a 2" x 1" diagonal brace, but there is nothing on the left side.

There is a patch on the foreward crossbrace but this does nor correspond with the position of the missing brace and looks like it has been replaced anyway, along with approximately the last third of the left side lower stringer.

I would greatly appreciate it if there are any 540 owners out there who can look under their cars and tell me if they have one or two diagonal braces under the engine.

Many thanks.

My Crossle has a similar setup, not sure about the Lola, but it may be normal.

It was likely done that way to clear dry-sump oil pans with their lower channel on one side to collect oil so that it can be pumped out to the dry-sump tank. Making a one-side brace was far better than none. Two braces would raise the bottom of the pan or the whole engine too high.

http://i851.photobucket.com/albums/a...7-20-09022.jpg

Not that good of a photo but this one here has round tubes on either side. Maybe they replaced the two round tubes with the rectangle tube on yours.

Craig,
My T540 engine bay is just like yours, with one rectangular diagonal tube.

Graham,
In addition to the diagonal tube, mine has a removable "X" shaped rear main roll hoop support that bolts to the hoop and rear bulkhead.

The water system in the parts drawing shows one rectangular tube in outline if you look hard!
I have quite a lot of documentation on the 440 including the original RAC roll hoop certification document and some Haas stuff from the period.
phil

Many thanks.

One diagonal it seems to be.

2 braces as standard

Not to second guess Jack knowledge of Lola's, but I just looked at my T540 and it also has one rectangular diagonal tube as well!
I'd say that's original:checkered:

Jeff

I double checked the other cars and they all have the 2 braces.

HU 01
HU 08 (the one in the background in Gulf Trim)
HU 15 (the one in the photo being rebuilt)
HU 20

there is another 4 cars that I know will be at the next race 14-15 October, will have a quick look at them and report back as I am curious now.

Cheers Gary

I wonder if there were some changes as Lola made these cars. Gary's cars all have rather low "HU" numbers. Mine is HU77.

My chassis is HU69, Jack maybe onto something in that perhaps there was a design change later in the T540 series run?

looking at my car, it appears that the second brace would clear the oil pan, its the transaxle adapter that would get pretty close but it is very close on the right side of the car

Jeff

The car in question is HU50

Just a random note here looking at the photo of your frame
while you have it stripped, now would be a good time to update the shoulder harness mounts
Most sanctioning groups in the US now require Head and Neck restraints
for the HANS device they recommend a maximum spacing of 6" for the shoulder harness mounts

Jeff

the cars referred to in my earlier post are all T540 E, not sure if they are much different to the US models but will be able to check as two of the cars over here were imported from the US.

another small thing worth considering, before you paint, is the removal of the last diagonal brace on the right hand side, or making it removable, it is not technically original, but makes access to the starter motor much easier, and so far has not caused any other problems.

cheers GaryAttachment 48284