Hawk

Hmmm. Let me just think what i am going to say about this.....ill come back to this later.

Welcome
 

I was wondering what the use is as well.  I'm wondering if the courses of block and brick under those bearing points have cells grouted solid or not...  It also looks like there is some minor water damage in that area as well.  Do you plan on turning that into a closet or something useful?

What is the abandoned joist hanger for?  Why does it look like the first joist to the right of the opening isn't attached to the floor beam (no hanger, can't see any toenailed framing nails)?

Looking at this, the 2x4 isn't doing anything.  It literally isn't supporting the load of the floor above.  The floor beam spanning that opening is doing all the work.  You can cut that out and it won't affect anything.  HOWEVER, based on the fact that it's bowing, there may be more of an issue than that sill plate.  The floor beam spanning that opening is being overloaded and thus probably also bowing.  

There are a few options you can do. 

OPTION #1 - if you don't care about losing some of that space, or having access to the full 40" opening, you can get an adjustable steel column to and place it mid-span, to shore up and straighten the bow in the 2x4 sill.  Then, add another 2x6 (or whatever the floor joist structure is) to span the opening, strengthening that area.  Make sure you have a minimum of 6" of bearing on each end of that opening.  If it doesn't bother you, leave the column in there.  On the right side, take a 6x4 member, cut to the height of that brick wall, and place it at the right end, under the sill plate to allow for 5.25"(+/-) more of bearing at that end.  Make sure the 6x4 is anchored to the wall, the floor and the sill, using steel straps.

OPTION #2 (better option) - Purchase two 4x6 to use for columns at each end of the opening.  Build a header to span over the two columns using (2) 2x8.  Attach the columns to the wall and floor and the header. (See attached sketch)

With either option, I would still attach another floor beam over that opening with a minimum 6" bearing each end.

As for bearing at an opening, typically, for a 40" opening, you need a minimum 6" bearing on each end of the opening .  

Just FYI, I work in the structural engineering field.  Currently employed in a full architecture/engineering firm in the structural engineering department.

Welcome @Hawk I baked a pie for you, I hope you like cherries.
 

Welcome to XI 

Welcome to XI Hawk.  Cheers

Welcome to XI
 

Welcome in the Xi Family

WELCOME to the >IDIOT< house!!!!

Welcome in the Xi Family

Welcome to the XI family

Welcome to the Greatest show of idiots on earth WICH YOU ARE ONE OF 

Welcome 

WELCOMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! finally!!!!

Please Welcome Hawk To Our clan

Screw you all!!  My Nintendo NES is still the best system out there!!  (Next to my Commadore 64 of course ;-) )

I have decided to play for my home country in this competition so I will be taking my skills to Team Nederland!
Here is my proof of residency
 
DUTCH MAFIA & FUNky!!!!
 

I can be whored out to the highest bidder outside of the US.....

It’s your day Wardogs, put your Pussy Hat on and strut around. 

Happy Womans Day Wardogs.  

@Wardogs411 Hope you have a wonderful day with some wine, chocolate, ben and jerries, pillow fights and ovulations for everyone!
 
And ofcourse, a big FU to end it properly! 
 

You just had to schedule this at the same time as the New England Cannabis Convention, didn't you?!
I would like to play for the United States of America.  I'll just go to the convention on the 24th.

I’m in. I guess I have to say USA but I identify as Dutch Mafia.
I’m also Muskogee Creek so there is that issue to deal with and while I am a man I do enjoy the company of women and have spent copious amounts of time “in” a woman’s body.  I was also engaged to a Jewish girl and attended a couple of Seder’s. Come to think of it I feel like most of you aren’t Americans at all just interlopers from other continents that came here and stole our land.
With all of that in mind it will be not only insensitive but also racist, anti-Semitic and misogynistic to exclude me and restrict my ability to pick my own team.
To summarize I am FUNky, one of the only true Americans and I choose to play all maps and I will switch teams depending on what I identify as each round.  I appreciate your compliance without the need to involve the ACLU, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League.

Just in case I forget............. FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU FU