I disagree, Q. The brace helps the torsional stiffness by making the trans tunnel into a torque tube (completing the tube, so to speak). When the car tries to twist, three of the bolts try to move forward and three try to move backwards. The X portion is transmitting shear, not bending. The way I am visualizing the the function of the brace, this version would work. I think the Pypes spacers would also work. My $.02