Words of wisdom, for sure. I have a strong muffler bracket, holds everything nice and tight tight under there. A few years ago I purchased a stock turbo bracket, at the time not realizing that it won't fit my K27-7600 and is only good for a stock 3LDZ. No problem, I'll just do the cut and weld thing when I get off my lazy ass. Meanwhile, all looks cool under there. If I crack my stock exhaust, guess I'll just have to buy a set of headers (I need an excuse!).

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1375031652.jpg[/QUOTE]

That's one good looking mount.

!

I went the rough way, keep only one connection (the lowest) to the three bolts, after my 3LDZ gave up and I exchanged for a K27, cutting and then welding the original bracket.

I drove the car for about 700 miles without a bracket because it wouldnt fit after installing the K27 (everyone here told me to mount the bracket, and of course, they were right and I was just lazy!), and everything started getting less tight over time. You could feel it by putting your foot on the muffler, and pressing down. The failure component in the end was the clean air turbine intake side clamp on the turbo: It went to pieces, literally.

You cant run the car without that bracket. Period. I tried.
(And I run a 3.0 with no intercooler, so I am sure things are worse without a bracket on a 3.3 with an intercooler...!)

But it feels like there is no real solution to this overall problem, every car has a different setup after a few heat cycles - getting a stock part from Porsche doesnt work for the first time!!! :)

...damn roland, thats a sweeeet bracket...and i just forked out 150 bucks for the stock mount from the motherland, and another 3-4 hours cutting it up, fitting it to my rig, and welding it back together to serve its purpose...oh well, purpose served, weight supported, time to find the next project that will keep her off the road...went for a 75 dollar drive this morning - 91 octane was $4.40 a gallon last night...so its looking like its cheaper to modify/upgrade/maintain these cars than it is to drive them - at least out here in CA...thanks guys and gals for all the input and advice and inspiration...and thanks roland, for the buyers remorse!!!

Thanks guys. I already posted the pics a few years ago, but maybe not all of you have seen...
It's not that difficult to make this. A sheet of 0.5mm aluminum to make a dummy, can be bent by hand but will stay in form to adapt the angles and distances to the finally used 4mm stainless steel sheet;)

Thanks and sorry for that...

At least you have cheaper fuel than me!

BTW you better don't watch my rust combat thread, could be more remorse there:D

I remember you posting a picture of it before. It's a beautiful job you did on it. To have a metal fabricator around here make that would cost a small fortune... For most average people with nothing more than a bench vice, hammer, air saw, and die grinder it would be almost impossible, take a long time, and turn out ugly compared to yours if they ever finished it.

The one on my car was already resectioned and welded back together to fit the k27 7006 that was on the car when I got it.

Then when I bought and put on a K27 7200 HFS (that was a brain washed mistake) that has a stock 7200 hot side and turbine wheel I had to reshape it to fit and bolt up again.
The k27 7006 has a bigger diameter and thicker hot side than the 7200 so you have to modify the bracket when switching between them every time.
The 7006 also has a bigger diameter turbine wheel and exhaust exit hole so you have to grind the hole in the bracket about 1/8" bigger all the way around to keep from choking down a 7006 and acting like an exhaust restricter.