Bicycle Mechanics - Cutting off rear brake mount to put 26" inch wheel on

Is it safe to cut off the rear brake mount bar that goes across the top stays. I'm trying to avoid having to custom order hard to find 24" inch wheels for this junior 10 speed frame. The front wheel fits perfect, will I cause severe structural damage if I cut off the rear cross bar mount section to accomadate the 26" wheel??

Is it safe to cut off the rear brake mount bar that goes across the top stays. I'm trying to avoid having to custom order hard to find 24" inch wheels for this junior 10 speed frame. The front wheel fits perfect, will I cause severe structural damage if I cut off the rear cross bar mount section to accomadate the 26" wheel??

Where are you going to mount the rear brake? That brace also serves an important function so it's probably not a good idea to remove it. The long stays to the seat tube could become too flexible for safe riding if you remove that brace...even on a small wheeled bike. Removal would make the bike very 'whippy' to ride and harder to control. If the bike is for a child, making it harder to control isn't a good idea.

The brake bridge looks like it adds to the structural integrity of the seat stays and rear triangle in most cases.
Severe structural damage? dunno.

Since you posted this question in SS & FG also, check there for a link to a shop that sells 24" road wheel sets.