Aftermarket Product ReviewProvide questions and answers about aftermarket parts for the Third Generation F-Body.
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I want to get some weld in subframe connectors for my 1990 IROC-Z. I was wondering which brand is really good. I have been looking at a kit from Southside Machine that includes the connectors, lift bars and a driveshaft safety loop. Anybody running this setup?
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i can see you must be fairly new to the forum, either that or you just read and don't post much...
anyway, you really should do a search on this, there is TONS of infomation on subframe connectors.... all you have to do is search for subframe or sub frame or best prob. SFC and you will get alot of reading.....
ANY subframe connector would be the best. they all pretty much do the same thing, just dont get bolt in ones. i have the spohn tubular ones and i absolutely love them.
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Actually, I would perfer bolt-ins, you bolt them in place, then have them welded, easier to weld them once they are already bolted in where they belong.
I have the Jeg's subframe connectors in my car now.
They are bolt on. Since I'm only running a V6, I will
put some welds to them after the V8/T-56 swap,
if needed. Jeg's SFCs are thicker, longer, and stronger
than any other SFC on the market. But, they are bolt
in, maybe it makes up for it. They actually look like
a frame! Not just tubes running down the sides.
On another note: My friend had purchased the SLP
"double diamond" SFCs for his modded 1998 LS1 T/A.
They are also bolt in. He's running a dyno tested
348hp - 354ft. lbs. at the rear wheels. He hasn't had
any problems with them yet! And he beats the living
sh it out the car!!!
i have the SSM weld in there very nice but not very easy to weld in . they weld in at a few points under the car, but its hard to weld up the thin metal by the rocker panel to the thick metal on the subs.
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Bolts can be stronger than welds but either one will really help.
Id explore under the carpet before hand. If you really want to have a well stiffened car.
I had a perferct floor pan from under neith. Matter of fact the whole car looked factory new from the under side.
THen once the carpet was removed a whole ball of ear waz emerged.A weeks worth of cleaning, scrubin, grindin and welding.
It alone made the whole car stiff and better. i did also weld all the body seams along the rocker and everwhere I could see.
After that it really made a difference. Car was much stiffer and it rode better. It was kinda like after I added my strut tower brace. The car felt even more attached to rails.
I then boxed my LCA's and panhard bar. Didn't notice much.
Originally posted by 25THRSS Kenny Brown SFC's are by far the best design on the market. Once you do a lot of research you will find out why. The Spohn's are second.
i hate when people do this you cant say kenny brown's are better then spohns without giving a reason. As you seem to have a reason what is it? I'm not trying to be a jerk im just curious due to the fact that im going to be buying a set of sfc's soon.
Originally posted by 19doug90 i hate when people do this you cant say kenny brown's are better then spohns without giving a reason. As you seem to have a reason what is it? I'm not trying to be a jerk im just curious due to the fact that im going to be buying a set of sfc's soon.
I didn't really feel like going into full detail because usually nobody listens anyways, but since you asked I will be glad to answer. First let me say that the spohn sfc's are a great product. After that being said, the KB scf's are even better. Basically the spohn and KB's are both the same as far as the left side of the car is concerned. When you look at the passenger side though, the Spohn sfc's are not straight like the KB sfc's. They bend upward to give clearance for the exhaust, which is good, but instead of the KB sfc's not running the whole length of the chassi, they are straight, so you can use it as a jacking point, and I feel it is a little stronger that way as well. The KB brace is what is bent to clear the exhaust, which is a better design in IMO. I can't really explain it without giving detailed pics, but I don't have any right now. You will just have to search and you will get a better idea of what i mean. Sorry for not explaining further earlier. Hope I could help.
alston. for fit and finish they are the best i've seen. i have them and they are great. bolt and/or weld. they go in easy and work great. they don't weigh much and the car is stiff and quiet.
Originally posted by 25THRSS Kenny Brown SFC's are by far the best design on the market. Once you do a lot of research you will find out why. The Spohn's are second.
What makes either of those better than the Jegster ones?
Yes, they bolt on. You can weld them also (I haven't welded mine yet). Here's a picture. For our cars, the passenger side is not straight (like shown in the picture) - it fits snuggly to the floor pan.
Originally posted by 19doug90 i hate when people do this you cant say kenny brown's are better then spohns without giving a reason. As you seem to have a reason what is it? I'm not trying to be a jerk im just curious due to the fact that im going to be buying a set of sfc's soon.
I have the Kenny Brown SFC's.
These are my reasons why I bought them:
-They are light @ 15lbs for the pairs- SHIPPED!
-Zinc coating. I still painted them black, but atleast they will resist rusting if the paint chips.
-The rear LCA mount design. It boxes the LCA mount very nicely and even cups the part of the floor pan next to it creating a very beefy LCA section.
-They fit under my dual cat setup perfectly. I have since gone to a single cat setup and they still fit perfect.
I have Kenny Browns. They cost more than most but I am very happy with them. This is not the kind of upgrade you want to pinch pennys doing Get good ones whatever brand and have a pro do the install.
__________________ 1989 rs ragtop 2002 LS1, 6M and 3.73 posi by HAWKS ,KB subframes, edelbrock towerbrace , TDS wonder bar,and lots of Spohn stuff . So the front and back wheels don't touch each other.
Last edited by 89rsragtop; 11-09-2008 at 02:55 PM.
I feel if I am going to permanantly weld pieces to the frame of my beloved car, I am going to do my research and get the BEST ones I can find and buy. Not necessarliy the most expensive ones, but the best quality and design.
Originally posted by Morley Someone here said that they had to "modify" their passenger side floor pan to get the Jegs SFC's to fit. Anyone else have that problem with them?
I have the Jeg's SFCs. I didn't have to modify my P/S floor
pan. I did have to get it around the exhaust. I didn't want
to take down my exhaust, so I had someone pry down
on it while I threw it in there. The SFC on the P/S is contoured
to fit that floor pan. If you have to modify it, then the floor
pan was either hit underneath from something, or the car
was in an accident, and maybe tweaked the floor boards.
You do have to drill 4 holes through the floor boards for
each connector. I don't care. They are not going to be
coming out anytime! I would recommend some thread
locker on the bolts and nuts before you install them.
These were not that bad to do. I chose Jeg's SFCs cause
they don't require welding, and are a LOT thicker than most SFCs
on the market (over 2" square diameter, as opposed to only
1- 3/4" round diameter like Spohn's). And I don't have any
welding places nearby. However, these are not for an amateur
to install them! It takes time, some modifiying, drilling,
and patience to install these. It's WAY better to install
them on a lift!
Last edited by Camaro_nut; 09-26-2003 at 06:40 PM.
Southside Machine works. The Kit. It's $500.00, but worth it.
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another thumbs up for spohn sfc's...just welded mine in today...car feels more solid over bumpy roads and alot more stable at high speeds. as of right now i have a torquelss 305 tbi so i cant say much for keeping the chassis stiff on a hard launch
quote:
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Originally posted by soulbounder
Can you use the KB SFCs with relocation brackets for the LCAs?
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yes, the relocation brackets weld to the rear end, not the subframe
not sure how to do quotes but oh well, for somereason I just always figured they attached to the body, but now that I think about it if they attached to the body they wouldnt help at all would they.
I have SSM's and they work well. I had an especially flexy car because the t tops are not factory they are cut in. made my car the best handling car I have ever driven after welding them in.
I havent really gotten into the sub frame connectors yet. My budget is alittle low with school and all. But I heard from someone that you can have the sphon connectors on...and use the alstons along with them. SO you have the two sphon side pieces, and the alstons to go in the middle. Anyone else hear this? I could be mistaken. All the long nights of working and then doing homework have made my brain alittle weary. Let me know... Justin
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I used the Alston "bolt-on" SFCs and then had them welded. The fitment was very good and I liked the fact that the Alston "bolt-on" bars actually tied together the front and rear sub-frames - as opposed to bolting to the floor plan. I had to borrow a 90 degree air drill for drilling on the front sub-frame area,,, no way could I drill the bolt holes at the right angle (to fit tight to the subframe and line up with the brackets) with a regular drill. Also,, the differences in the thickness of the SFC brackets and subframe's "sheet metal" makes it tough for a newbie to weld. I'd suggest taking the car to someone that has welded in more than a few roll bars and sub frame connectors.
you know what guys, after spending all day undeneath my car today I think I've changed my mind. I like the spohn design better. It hugs the floor plan on the right side unlike the KB sfc's. I think this allows for a better way to weld them in thus making them stronger. Go Spohn, you can't go wrong. Just wish they sold the prothane bushings in black.
I like the design of the spohn or KB sfcs way more than the alstons for 2 main reasons. First, you can use the spohn/KB design not only to strengthen the chassi and help prevent flex, but the also serve as awesome jacking points. Second, the alstons only give sufficient support to front and rear stiffness, but suck for lateral stiffness, where as spohn/KB design offers much better lateral support as well as front to rear support.
Originally posted by 25THRSS I like the design of the spohn or KB sfcs way more than the alstons for 2 main reasons. First, you can use the spohn/KB design not only to strengthen the chassi and help prevent flex, but the also serve as awesome jacking points. Second, the alstons only give sufficient support to front and rear stiffness, but suck for lateral stiffness, where as spohn/KB design offers much better lateral support as well as front to rear support.
Could you post a pic that show what you think is better?
Originally posted by Gumby That pic doesnt really show what you said, how it is better for jacking and the other stuff.
GOt any installed pics???
Here you go. If you have ever had to work underneath one of these cars you know how much of a pain it is to jack them up. The unibody isn't strong enough to jack on and I usually jack on the a arms and the rear, but with these you can jack directly on the subframe connectors. It's just a nice feature to these. Hopefully the pics will help you out. I like the way they weld the whole way down the body instead of just the front and rear subframe. I think they tie the whole car together very well. Much better than the alstons or similarly designed subframe connectors.
Originally posted by Camaro_nut I chose Jeg's SFCs cause
they don't require welding, and are a LOT thicker than most SFCs
on the market (over 2" square diameter, as opposed to only
1- 3/4" round diameter like Spohn's).
round tubing is actually stronger than square tubing. ever notice nobody makes a quare tube LCA or TA? there's a reason for that.
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Originally posted by BackInBlack86 round tubing is actually stronger than square tubing. ever notice nobody makes a quare tube LCA or TA? there's a reason for that.
Why is that?
What would be stonger, a .5 inch round bar, or a 1 inch square bar?
1989 rs ragtop 2002 LS1, 6M and 3.73 posi by HAWKS ,KB subframes, edelbrock towerbrace , TDS wonder bar,and lots of Spohn stuff . So the front and back wheels don't touch each other. 
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