Has anyone modded the 3rd gen frame rail? I had a GTA and I remember how much I hated running LT's and full 3 inch exhaust cause it scrapped everywhere. I also remember how tight it was with the exhaust, fuel lines and the t56 even with the hawks crossmember.

I just bought a 89 IROC that will get an lsx with long tubes. Im thinking about cutting the the frame rails where they start bend towards the trans tunnel. I would make them bend out (like a 4th gen) and tie them to the rear with custom sub frames. I would also build a custom crossmember.

This would free up so much room. Has anyone done anything like this?

 

Like this? I did this around 10yrs ago after my trans blew up and came thru the floorpan.

 

Thats pretty much what I want to do. Do you have any side shots?

 

I'm guessing in its current assembled state, sadly I don't!
I'll try next time I get a car out so I can take a pic of it.
Its dual 3" pipe off the headers on a lowered car with 17" wheels and I have very close to the same ground clearance as stock exhaust..

 

I did it too for my 521 BBF swap. Made my own headers 2" primaries 3.5" collectors reduced to true dual 3" with 3" Xpipe and It has dual SS 02 sensor bungs for wideband and if I ever convert to EFI, also has full SS Vbands for easy removal, no leaks ever and no gaskets. I just knotted the stock frame rails.

 

here is my frame mod. I actually made new frame rails and moved them outward away from the trans and made a dual hump crossmember. The passenger floor needed no modification and the driver's side floor needed to have the hump along side the trans tunnel raised and lengthened with a body hammer. I am doing some other mods to the car that required me to cut out the floor behind the driver but the my frame relocation does not require that.

 

what trans is that

 

700R4. I plan on using a tko600 but wanted the option of running a 4l60e later. This will fit both no problem.