Hey guys,

My winter projects abound! I've got a set of Spohn subframe connectors on order and after looking at how I need to install them, the shop says I need to pull the carpet...only I have no idea where to start. I've never done any interior work aside from pulling the door panels. How hard is pulling it up? Do I need any special tools? Will it be glued down and need to be replaced after pulling it up? How hard is it to remove the seats? Anything I should be aware of before I start? Thanks again!

 

There are a ton of posts about removing the interior which I must say has to come out. Just take your time, label all the screws in bags, don't get frustrated and have fun. It is a great learning experience, I would help you if you wanna come to Santa Fe.

 

You know, I might just take you up on that. I'm down here in Clovis...only about 4 hours from you...but the car would have to be drivable for the return trip.

 

We can have that car stripped in about an hour or less, install the SFC's and put it back together in the same amount of time. Just remember to bring the cold ones

 

I sent a PM. I might just drag my Wife along and we'll go see Santa Fe when it's all said and done. I'll have to do some convincing though. She hates my car... "All you do is spend money on that stupid thing...why don't you buy a new one?".. LOL

 

Bring her along, my wife hated my car with a passion, they should get along great

 

LOL Women..sheesh! Good thing she's in the other room or

 

It really is not that hard. Make sure you got that special tool for the seat belts. The seats are easy and so is the center console. Make sure you can (know how to) remove the shifter ball. Back seats are easy too.

Since you are in Cali. weather is never a probem. Here in Illinois you would need a garage this time of year. I did a complete interior swap in 4-5 hours, so carpet pull back is about a hour.

 

Oh oh...special tool?

 

It looks like the biggest star tool in the world. Go to your car and look down when you open the door where the seatbelt comes across your waist. There is a plastic thingy with a little door on it. Open it with a screw driver and you will see what I mean. Now you might be able to work around it since you are doing a pullback of the carpet.

 

It's called a torx bit. I believe the right size is T-47 but I would use a T-50 to make sure it seats tight enough to where it won't strip. Bring ya muscles too cause those buggers are in there right.

 

I had my Alston Subframe Connectors welded in and didn't have to remove the carpet. A So Cal. guy "Dyno Don" did it for me at his shop. He told that they say to remove your carpet, but he used a Mig welder and kept a spray bottle of water near by and he would weld a little and spray it with the water and weld a little more and so on.
Nothing happened to the carpet at all.

I think they tell you that to cover their butts just in case who ever does your welding doesn't take proper precautions

 

Anyone got pics of the install steps?

 

where do these subframe connectors get bolted or welded to and what are they for?

 

Subframe connectors bolt or weld to the floor along the front and rear frame rails. They tie the front and rear of the car together allowing for less body torque and roll. Basically they stiffen the chassis. Helps with cornering, and when you've got lots of HP and torque, helps keep the frame from twisting.

 

ok but do these just run along underneath the rocker panels just in more only front to back, or are they running from left to right also?

 

im a lucky man. my wife loves ridding in my car. i drive it everywhere all summer long. she has never critized my car and she knows i could care less about new cars. i like taking care of my car, my very clean but old 89 RS 305 camaro. every weekend all summer i find new projects to work on. as time progresses it slowly becomes nicer, almost a rebirth, slowly make it new again. a new headliner and visors, and it was a "wow this is so much nicer". anyways i spend alot of my income on my car and my wife has never said anything, and she understands that my car is permant just as much as she is. its not just another car, its my thirdgen Fbody. i grew up with a 84 Z28 so i take a ton of pride in my car.

 

If you look under your car, find your sub frame. They weld from the front sub frame to the rear subframe. They also weld to the transmission cross-member to give the car a little more side-to-side stability.