chassis/subframe project - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

churchofruss · 10-19-2009, 05:37 AM

i just picked up a welder so now i have the modify everything bug.a few things i'm looking into doing are making additional braces,etc.
so that leads to my questions......
any suggestions on where adding some bracing?
anyone have any experience custom building l.c.a's, torque arms,subframe connectors & the like?
i figure it will be cheaper to make the stuff & possibly just as good as ones i would buy.i have plenty of time on my hands so i'm not concerned about that.my main concern is building parts that are safe,it would really suck if a lca let loose on the highway.
is there any source for diagrams/blueprints for any of these?
i'd really like to avoid the error side of trial & error,so any advice esp. from those who have tried would help alot.
i'm goin for the tube style rather than square or boxed designs

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Twin_Turbo · 10-19-2009, 06:24 AM

Don't want to sound patronizing...but LEARN how to weld first. Practice practice practice until you are confident you can at least make a half decent weld every time in any position.

ghettocruiser · 10-19-2009, 08:01 AM

Thats not patronizing. Thats sound advice for everyone's sake. Thats assuming that you are new to welding...?

What kind of welder did you get? MIG? Using flux core wire or are you on the gas? How many amps? These questions will determine what you will and wont be able to build.

For instance...if you are decent at welding, have a 130amp 120v welder, you can build SFCs and braces and things like that. But...I would be careful with parts that will cause you to loose control if they fail. Or leave you stranded. If you blast a set of SFCs together, they arent going to cause catastrophic failure if they break. LCAs...it'll get a little ugly.

Weld on some spare pieces of metal, that are similar to what you want to build. Then beat the ever living crap out of them with the biggest hammer you have. If you can weld that stuff together good enough to withstand the hammer test, Ide say you're set to make some parts.

More to your actual question though. As for bracing, Im not sure where you'd want to add any. SFCs, wonderbar, and STB would be a good start if you want to tinker. None of those things will screw with safety too bad. You can stitch weld the seams of the car, which people have said will help stiffen it up. Id'e probably stray away from torque arms and LCAs though. Honestly, you wont really save that much money vs. just buying a good set. Unless you have access to GOOD free steel. By the time you buy the steel, ship it, buy supplies to cut it and weld it and paint it...you are usually pretty close to what a good set costs.

Good luck!! Welding is really fun and makes just about anything possible.

J.

P.S...if you are already a good welder, and just happened to get one of your own...then you knew all that stuff above and I apologize for babbling

churchofruss · 10-19-2009, 10:29 AM

i'm a ok welder,just havent done it in a couple years.i picked up a 120v fluxcore mig.as far as fabrication goes i'm pretty good making custom stuff.
one thing i'm gonna give a try is some firewall mods..i.e. the a/c delete.
naturally i'm not gonna hop into lca's & the like right away,but i'm looking for ideas on em so i can bang out a few & try to destroy em every which way possible before going to the final product.
i can get many different types of metal for dirt cheap if not free.i have a buddy at a scrap metal yard who can get stuff for me.that & there are a few huge metal wholesalers in the area.
i just like the idea of making stuff myself.ya know the look at it & thinking ,damn i did good.

Twin_Turbo · 10-19-2009, 10:37 AM

please get a shielding gas setup if you can. You'll thank yourself in the end.

churchofruss · 10-19-2009, 11:50 AM

ive been thinking about that,just doing some research to find the most cost effective set up.

customblackbird · 10-19-2009, 02:03 PM

flux core will spatter and spit and do all kinds of stuff except weld. if your building anything structual u should use sheilding gas... i have a 120v 105amp mig that is flux/shielding gas compatable. i use flux on cr@p stuff like exhaust tacking to keep the shape i want and switch to MIG gas for things like roll bar mounting plates etc. most use ARGON for gas but i like the cheaper Carbon Dioxide... will give u best penatration and is extremely cheap compared to argon.

get your welding back in order then u can start. taught myself how to MIG very quick and it only took me 2 week to learn how to TIG weld pretty good. i just TIG welded my STB and Roll bar. Oh i wouldnt use flux on anything thicker than 1/8".... the welder might say good for 3/16" or watever but u will notice that flux doesnt like thicker material, its fine for sheet metal etc. I made my own LCA too. but i was using a monster MIG with argon and tubing that was .134" or alittle thicker for it. LCA are extremely important and have to be STRONG! if your not confident and wouldnt trust your life on it then dont bother.

otherwise GOOD LUCK!

churchofruss · 10-20-2009, 06:20 AM

the spatter on this thing is horrible....its the 1st flux core ive ever used,i always had access to serious argon ones,but i wanted a cheapie for quick home fixes.i'm definitly geting the gas kit for it,exhaust & stuff that is ok being ugly is about all it will handle right now.i wouldnt dare do a body panel with this one,i'd spend more time fixing the spatter bs than anything else..once i get a apartment with a garage,then i'll be getting something brutal.right now my kitchen doubles as a toolbox

ghettocruiser · 10-20-2009, 07:28 AM

I know you already got your welder...but just wanted to say a good budget rig is a Clarke 130en. Thats what I have, and it came as a kit. Has a stand, came with different tips, flux or gas weld, and some odds and ends. Crappy mask etc. All I did was got the gas bottle and a nice miller autodarkening mask...which makes ALL the difference in my opinion.

I started with flux, and I was so discouraged because it was the first time I welded. Then I switched to gas on the advice of a buddy and WOW. Instant good welds almost.

But I digress... Go get your gas system set up and see how the welder does. I will say certain budget welders will do better than others. For instance...I was helping a friend weld some spring perches on a Jeep axle. He has a 120v 130amp lincoln MIG, from home depot. It wouldnt penetrate the axle tubes to save its life. Was able to knock em off. Loaded it up, took it to my garage, and my 120v 130amp welder blasted them right on with no problem. So just experiment!

J.