transaxle protective plate?

[murrayg]

Anyone know what the purpose of the protective plate is??

[universeman]

I'm going to go out on a limb here: protection of the transaxle?

Could be something like road-thrown debris hitting that seal? (#12?) Just spitballin'

[9FF]

It’s for crash protection according to the factory manuals rtfm

[murrayg]

Thanks 9FF...who knew??!!

[banana944]

Originally Posted by 9FF

It’s for crash protection according to the factory manuals rtfm

What manual is this from? Good info.

[9FF]

Originally Posted by banana944

What manual is this from? Good info.

[IdahoDoug]

Awesome! There is also a safety upgrade that newer 944's have on the torque tube in a structure that helps the body resist crushing as it hooks into the floorpan if the vehicle is compressed longitudinally. Mine doesn't have it and I saw it on a newer one. It's back under the rear seat floor pan area in the central tunnel.

[9FF]

Originally Posted by IdahoDoug

Awesome! There is also a safety upgrade that newer 944's have on the torque tube in a structure that helps the body resist crushing as it hooks into the floorpan if the vehicle is compressed longitudinally. Mine doesn't have it and I saw it on a newer one. It's back under the rear seat floor pan area in the central tunnel.

Yep...but it’s (2) “hooks” on the torsion bar carrier that clamp onto similar (4) “hooks” on the torque tube. Iirc it’s not to resist the body from crushing, it’s to prevent the engine being pushed into the firewall and crushing the driver and passenger.

[IdahoDoug]

Interesting. So those are two systems they put into use. I saw the lower one on a 944 and obviously that had to be integrated during the car's production. But that upper one is interesting in that if I found one in a junkyard I could install that on mine though it would be considerably weaker without those two tabs on the torque tube. Hmm - perhaps I have those on mine but never noticed as the others are so obvious as to prevent me thinking of it.

Thanks - cool information.