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Suspension / Chassis Questions about your suspension? Need chassis advice?

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Old 06-02-2009, 10:22 AM   #1
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f-body to full frame?

converting the stock chassis to full frame using channel steel, tricky? how much trouble am i looking at? and how much work for that matter? lol
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Old 06-02-2009, 12:39 PM   #2
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Re: f-body to full frame?

you mean kinda like sub frame connectors? what do you need a full frame for?
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Old 06-02-2009, 03:53 PM   #3
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Re: f-body to full frame?

I know that there are some guys that have done it on the vega and monza bodies but I don't know of many people doing it with the f-body cars since they are alot stronger.

They would use 2x4 steel and cut the floor boards to let it go straight through and then weld it into the subframes and the floor board then attaching a rollcage to the beams. That type of reinforcement is needed in the old H body cars because they would twist the body with as little as 500hp and break the windsheild. I guess you could consider that like a full frame because it connects the front and rear frame and everything inbetween but that is alot of work and the prep is extensive and you have to get the body checked at a body shop to make sure its not already crooked.
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Old 06-02-2009, 08:52 PM   #4
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Re: f-body to full frame?

my dad had an f-body trans am and the frame couldnt hold up to 300 horses. almost twisted the car in half. broke it pretty much.
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Old 06-02-2009, 08:59 PM   #5
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Re: f-body to full frame?

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my dad had an f-body trans am and the frame couldnt hold up to 300 horses. almost twisted the car in half. broke it pretty much.
What year? Musta been rusty. The stock TTAs came stock with 301 horses, on the dyno.
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Old 06-02-2009, 09:11 PM   #6
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Re: f-body to full frame?

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Originally Posted by crytical point View Post
it connects the front and rear frame and everything inbetween
sounds like subframe connectors to me. get a set, and save yourself ALOT of trouble
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Old 06-02-2009, 09:42 PM   #7
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Re: f-body to full frame?

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my dad had an f-body trans am and the frame couldnt hold up to 300 horses. almost twisted the car in half. broke it pretty much.
the car must have had some sever structural damage beforehand. I ran my car without subframe connectors for a while with a little over 500 horsepower and torque with no issues, and the car has t-tops.

Buy a good set of weld in subframe connectors and you will be good. No need to overbuild something with channel iron of all things, just adding weight for no reason.
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Old 06-02-2009, 09:49 PM   #8
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Re: f-body to full frame?

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sounds like subframe connectors to me. get a set, and save yourself ALOT of trouble


I installed SFC the first week I owned the car and before I took it to the track. A year later I put in a 6 point roll bar. I now have a full cage and still have the original SFC installed.
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Old 06-02-2009, 10:21 PM   #9
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Re: f-body to full frame?

alright these guys beat me to my suggestion. buy or build yourself subframe connectors. if you want to build them, run the tubing behind the rocker panel like the ones you can buy do. check out the link, there are tons of pictures of them installed to give you an idea of what we're all talking about. http://www.spohn.net/shop/1982-1992-...-Top-Cars.html
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Old 06-02-2009, 10:38 PM   #10
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Re: f-body to full frame?

yea, thanks guys, subframe connectors is what i meant, oh well. im more into engines than anything else, but i guess i gotta learn sometime right? guess im gonna be on the forums for awhile, lol
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Old 06-07-2009, 01:10 AM   #11
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Re: f-body to full frame?

Don't ever feel embarrassed,...that's why we join these forums,..to share ideas, watch,read, and learn what we don't know so we CAN! build our dream cars. Keep reading and posting, and have fun. good luck on your project.
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Old 06-07-2009, 01:20 AM   #12
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Re: f-body to full frame?

There's no such thing as a stupid question but there can always be stupid answers.

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Old 06-07-2009, 01:23 AM   #13
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Re: f-body to full frame?

You said it boss!...LOL...here's a stupid question,..i'm working on my signature,..how /where do i go to edit the fonts?
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Old 06-07-2009, 01:33 AM   #14
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Re: f-body to full frame?

I was just kidding. What is your opinion of installing frame connectors to a 24 year old street machine? I'm planning a complete tear down/rebuild. I figure I'll install them, i've just noticed the same problem over and over again with people, is the catalytic convertor bypass issue/connector assembly strength on that end if you modify???
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Last edited by Dodgeismo; 06-07-2009 at 01:38 AM. Reason: too short..no guts in question.
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Old 06-07-2009, 07:54 AM   #15
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Re: f-body to full frame?

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Don't ever feel embarrassed,...that's why we join these forums,..to share ideas, watch,read, and learn what we don't know so we CAN! build our dream cars. Keep reading and posting, and have fun. good luck on your project.
+1 I couldn't agree more.
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Old 06-07-2009, 07:54 AM
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