Gen 2 chassis stiffening plate still available?

So I guess there was some performance-oriented Prius owners at one time that made some stiffening plates what have you you'll probably have to have your own made up I would think that would be pretty easy depending upon what the plates look like and where they went I would think stuff from a Yaris could be retrofitted I know they rally and race that car chassis a lot so I would think a good bit of that stuff might be adaptable to the generation to chassis I guess maybe look into it I never have I have no interest in any performance or any of that driving autocrossing or any of that or is this the cure rust problems?

 

Just about any big thick chunk of sheet metal will do the same thing... It's not much different than putting on a cat shield. I plan to do one on my Gen2 project Prius and perhaps this thread is an ideal place where all that can be documented? Are you a DIY type? Perhaps we can plan the effort around the resources you have available to get it done?

 

So you're talking about a brace that will bridge across if you will the transmission tunnel stiffeners like that? I was thinking in different locations but that would be pretty specific pieces that would have to be made stamped whatever I didn't realize the Prius was that week to begin with some people go off-roading with these things not like with big trucks but you know out setting fences living in the country whatever.

 

There's probably other parts for stiffening the back of the car, but this is what I'm familiar with... Toyota spent less than a dollar on a really cheap flimsy plate in that location and paying $300 for an upgrade is a rip off when All you need to do is bolt a thicker chunk of steal in place of that existing plate. And in general all high MPG economy cars are built as cheaply as possible and us DIY folks can upgrade all those cheap parts. From what I've read on here people who upgraded this brace had noticeable results going fast around corners...

 

Or even add one of those adjustable turnbuckle thingies you know it's made for stiffening up spaces like that You bolted up there and then you twist the heavy turnbuckle add a little preload lock it down Wella TRD used to sell some of those things used on the trucks back in the early days on the regular Toyota pickup before they were TRD logos and stickers. Back then the Honda guys were making lots of these fancy parts if you will All this was just starting in the early '80s

 

Interesting... Do you have any links to what the placement of them looks like? Obviously they're awesome for tension, but worthless for compression. So next question is how often will a hard high speed curve benefit from tension vs. compression? I bet @ChapmanF has an informed opinion on this idea?

 

I used to fit turbos and autocross cars in the early '80s I lived up near Callaway systems in Connecticut etc. There's been extensive testing done on all kinds of frames stiffening You see it done on NASCAR cars group series rally cars etc It's an art form unto itself they make whole stiffening plates custom formed to vehicles now that can be weld in even though you have to remove all the suspension and nonsense you well this stuff up in there You can't even tell it's there stiffening bolts are added It's a like I say it's a whole thing You wonder how some of these vehicles get to $300,000 values well here you go. You could spend good portions of your life researching this kind of stuff and never leave the garage.

 

You win some, you lose some.

 

kind of a waste of money, it's like buying a K&N air intake and my butt dyno tells me that it added 10hp.. that's how accurate my butt dyno is..

Prius plate

 

Hey
I'm frustrated because I just want the OEM part #.
because mine is in really bad shape rusting away. I don't want it touching the body anymore.

Has anyone ever figured out a part number, place to buy one or something that's under 20 bucks I don't feel like building one.

I didn't get to take a picture of mine but it is in terrible condition. I was able to free up two of the bolts but I had to put the car down because I was busy with something else.

Thanks
J

 

This post is in the Gen 2 forum, but your profile says Gen 1 (2002), can you clarify that you want the part number for a Gen 2?

 

It's Gen 2 I am looking for. My father old car was gen 1

 

I believe it is PNC 58251B - BRACE, FLOOR PANEL, FRONT, part number 58251-32010.

MSRP is $45.45 but Olathe Toyota has it on sale for $39.54 via their online store. (They have a slightly different name.)

I hope that helps.

PS, even though the part name says front, the actual placement of the part is just to the rear of the midsection.

 

Thanks so much. That opens up so much and allows me to find the best deal that I like.