My Subframe Connector Project. (56K Beware!!!)

[Mustang68]

Yes lots and lots of pictures....

I decided a few weeks ago to take on the project of making some "Subframe Connectors" for my stang.. After reading thread after thread of people saying how well they helped the stangs out i decided to see if it was really true..

I have to say i was surprised myself when i found what people had said to be was true.. just getting into it i noticed a big difference from before putting them in... I included the seat bracing with mine, along with cross brace with an integrated driveshaft loop. since practically every track requires one, and is added safety even if that universal joint breaks..

but enough bantering.. heres the pics from the project from start to fin... starting with the day i picked up the steel...

longer bolts and washers & nuts for the seat bracing

since im new here i dont really know how many pictures can go in per post so it might take me a couple posts to get them all in...

 

[Mustang68]

the enjoyment of using a school project to make the the driveshaft loop... glad i kept it...

why hot steel is bad for your skin..

 

[Mustang68]

these were when i capped the ends of the pipes...

rust prevention 101... figured id get it primer painted cuz once i welded it in i wouldnt be able to hit the top.. and this way i got most of it done too.. i taped off the area where i planned to be welding too...

yeah im not happy with how the welds here look.. but theyll hold.. eventually when i get a mig ill go back and re-do them...

 

[AaRoN]

SFC's are such a great mod. I can't wait till I get mine.

Nice work :thumb: :thumb:

 

[Mustang68]

Enjoy... i know im enjoying them...

 

[Mustang68]

SFC's are such a great mod. I can't wait till I get mine.

Nice work :thumb: :thumb:

they sure are i noticed the difference the second i got in it. the floor didnt give like it use to when i sat down in it.. and noticed it even more when i got out on the road for the test drive it didnt roll like it use to...

 

[Steve-Oh]

Thats pretty sweet!!! I was gonna make my own but I'm lazy and just bought them! Stick welding FTMFL lol, def time for a MIG! gun!

 

[Mustang68]

Thats pretty sweet!!! I was gonna make my own but I'm lazy and just bought them! Stick welding FTMFL lol, def time for a MIG! gun!

stick wasnt bad for most of it... just welding it to the body would have been better to have had a mig with shielding gas.. i have a wirefeed in the garage but its for LD stuff so didnt really work well for what i wanted to do but did great for tacking..

it took me all in all 3 weeks to make mine.. partially cuz our weather here sucks.. but the ones im making for xplode. time wise its been mostly 2 days fab work.. but actual time its closer to a week..

 

[Steve-Oh]

I just don't like stick welding i guess. I just started practicing for my D.1.1. test. It's LOADS of fun (sarcasm)

 

[Mustang68]

I just don't like stick welding i guess. I just started practicing for my D.1.1. test. It's LOADS of fun (sarcasm)

most dont after they play with tig and mig... its not as efficient as mig.. and doesnt look as nice as tig or mig.. personally i liked oxyacetylene and tig the most... most so oxy than tig.. i guess i just like the old school way the most.. probably cuz it doesnt matter how shakey my hands are the welds still look perfect.. and my hands arent very steady so i guess its just perfect for me..

 

[SRT Handz]

I give you Props.....MAJOR props.

Good job and Great Thinking :thumb:

 

[Mustang68]

I give you Props.....MAJOR props.

Good job and Great Thinking :thumb:

thanks..now if only the weather would play nice, gas prices drop, and set of free tires to roast off, i could enjoy myself...

 

[vermilion]

good ole grinder and tlc to smooth out the welds. it can and will be done :thumb: good ole base hobby shop :dancing6: .. too bad they dont allow welding. :rant2: but itll be good.

 

[Mustang68]

good ole grinder and tlc to smooth out the welds. it can and will be done :thumb: good ole base hobby shop :dancing6: .. too bad they dont allow welding. :rant2: but itll be good.

yup but that particular spot where its welded to the body i wouldnt smooth out till i could do it with mig.. mainly cuz the more reinforcement there it has the better itd hold for now...

may not always look pretty but definitely will hold..

yeah i been into that place couple times... drop off waste oil and when i mounted the new tires on the stangs rims.. was better paying them for the use of the machines than shelling $60 for someone else to do it for me.. only thing they dont let you do yourself is the balancer.. they gotta do it.. forget how much they charged to do it.. but remember it was cheaper than other places..

 

[Jrgunn5150]

Awesome :thumb: you get 400 cool point's. Seriously, excellent work.

A couple of tips for you though.

1. They make a weldthrough primer, for future reference
2. If you are so inclined, you can make them even stronger by welding another connector to the rocker, and tying that into your main connector.
3. I, personally, never grind welds down

 

[Mustang68]

Awesome :thumb: you get 400 cool point's. Seriously, excellent work.

A couple of tips for you though.

1. They make a weldthrough primer, for future reference
2. If you are so inclined, you can make them even stronger by welding another connector to the rocker, and tying that into your main connector.
3. I, personally, never grind welds down

never knew they make weld through primer... i know theres rods out there that will weld through paint.. (have a few in the garage)

could you explain #2 though.. cuz when i think rockers i think rocker panels which are the out side trim just under the door.. which mine looks to be hardened rubber/plastic..

i feel the same on #3 depending on what im doing.. there are times its necessary to do so and times that its not needed.. most the reason when grinding is necessary is when there are close clearance tolerances that have to be met..

 

[Jrgunn5150]

You are thinking of the outer rocker and/or ground effects, which is merely cosmetic. I am talking about the inner rocker, which provides the support for the floor of the car. I can't see it in any of your pics, you took them all from the wrong side, lol. but if you lay down under the car, and scoot under headfirst, feet out, and look down at your toes, you will see it.

The bottom of the ground effect's actually clip to it on the bottom.

 

[Mustang68]

You are thinking of the outer rocker and/or ground effects, which is merely cosmetic. I am talking about the inner rocker, which provides the support for the floor of the car. I can't see it in any of your pics, you took them all from the wrong side, lol. but if you lay down under the car, and scoot under headfirst, feet out, and look down at your toes, you will see it.

The bottom of the ground effect's actually clip to it on the bottom.

ahh..

 

[Mustang68]

feel bad right now cuz when xplode was here we got it on the ramps and jacked up the rear end & suppoorted with jackstands to give me a little more room to work under there.. but the car rolled back and one of the mufflers landed on the jackstand and dented it pretty good .. when i looked at the one jackstand the pin that holds the locking tab in place seemed to have sheered in 2..cuz half of it was still stuck in the handle..

 

[vermilion]

as long as you werent under it. it wasnt on purpose. im not mad. the mufflers are replaceable. shyt happens.