Installing subframe connectors

ttocs · Jul 10, 2022

cobrajeff96 said:
I'd say remove your entire carpet from the car just to be safe. That's what me and some friends did way back when we did my car. This is the only good pic I have of the SFCs along with the previous rear suspension setup. But if you zoom in you can see it's a bit different than Stifflers or MM. These are square steel pieces with the jacking rails and the triangulations from outside to inside. Mine is a vert so the difference before and after was night and day.

I know some guys that set their interior on fire doing subframes.

cobrajeff96 · Jul 10, 2022

Yea, it's easy when you put that much heat into the sheet metal. I wouldn't risk it, myself. I'd just take the 30 extra minutes to get all carpet outta there. Good excuse to really clean the inside anyway during that time.

J_lope82 · Jul 10, 2022

Yeah I was keeping an eye on the interior the whole time.

ttocs · Jul 10, 2022

I would think if your putting enough heat into one section to put the interior at risk that you are just putting too much in one spot. But then it is not the best way to use to realize this, it would be a lot easier if they could make something like a turkey thermometer to pop up when the section is too hot. Ya know I mean for that to sound stupid but I have to wonder if something like that could work.....

J_lope82 · Jul 10, 2022

I just welded a spot to a certain point and jump on to another spot.

J_lope82 · Jul 12, 2022

My nose and cheeks are peeling from the burning lol

joe65 · Jul 12, 2022

I like the idea of the Stifflers set up, how much weight does that system add to the car? That's a lot of metal. Anyways, the MM full lengths are great jacking rails also. Just saying. Also after seeing that J_lope had that much fun burning himself, I'm really wanting a lift. I was thinking about learning to weld myself.

ttocs · Jul 12, 2022

I had a buddy that wanted me to "help" him install an exhaust system. Now I knew by "help" that there was only so much help that a 375(at least) lb guy can do to install an exhaust and that this was probably more than I wanted to tackle on my own.

FullstackViking · May 19, 2024

I found this thread from google, but what points did you support the suspension from jack stands on? I don't have access to a drive-on lift either.

cobrajeff96 · May 20, 2024

You can do it with a pit also, you don't always need a lift.

Absolutely remove the full interior (carpets, seats, center console).

If the welder can't seem to get good heat penetration, pause it, heat the intended weld spot on the chassis with a propane torch for about 15 seconds, then try again. We had this problem on my convertible 96 when SFCs were getting welded in. The frame rails are kind of thick beneath the car and may need a little persuasion to accept a weld. A strong weld that is. They may not be the cleanest welds, but they are strong AF booger welds.

FullstackViking · May 25, 2024

lol I don’t have a pit either. I planned on just lifting it and slowly building up wood blocking around the tires like how they lift up a house.

Should I remind my wife of my life insurance policy? Probably. But the shops I talked to here want $100+ an hour to install lol

NEW EDG · May 25, 2024

FullstackViking said:
lol I don’t have a pit either. I planned on just lifting it and slowly building up wood blocking around the tires like how they lift up a house.

Should I remind my wife of my life insurance policy? Probably. But the shops I talked to here want $100+ an hour to install lol

Lumber ain't cheap these days either.

Mustang5L5 · May 30, 2024

FullstackViking said:
I found this thread from google, but what points did you support the suspension from jack stands on? I don't have access to a drive-on lift either.

The max motorsports install directions have pretty good tips on where to set it up. They put two jackstands under the rear axle with the suspension loaded, and two under the front control arms. I removed the wheels and put the control arms out near the balljoints to load the front suspension as much as i could. Then I threw other stuff under the car for safety before I went under there. Open and close your doors and trunk to make sure they all still move as expected and nothing is in a twist.

I pulled my interior and put an ice bag on the floor in the car while welding. However while welding i was checking the floor and not much heat was getting up there. I could have left the carpet in. If you are getting that much heat in one spot you need to slow down and move around otherwise you will make the metal brittle and it may possibly crack. Do a stitch weld, and move to another location or let it cool down.

badass98svt · May 30, 2024

Mustang5L5 said:
The max motorsports install directions have pretty good tips on where to set it up. They put two jackstands under the rear axle with the suspension loaded, and two under the front control arms. I removed the wheels and put the control arms out near the balljoints to load the front suspension as much as i could. Then I threw other stuff under the car for safety before I went under there. Open and close your doors and trunk to make sure they all still move as expected and nothing is in a twist.

I pulled my interior and put an ice bag on the floor in the car while welding. However while welding i was checking the floor and not much heat was getting up there. I could have left the carpet in. If you are getting that much heat in one spot you need to slow down and move around otherwise you will make the metal brittle and it may possibly crack. Do a stitch weld, and move to another location or let it cool down.

Great advice right there. All of it. Especially throwing a couple other things under the car while the car is on 4 jack stands like that.