last time i was home for break, i did a bunch of measuring on my car.

i also stripped the interior and inspected for rust. and to my dismay i found a bunch. and much of it is where the subframes were connected to the body, yipee.

anyway, looking at my car long enough, i was thinking of framing my car. seeing on how it is a t-top car, it can use more stiffness for a big motor i eventually want to drop in.

so, the idea comes down to getting a bunch of 2x4 steel tubing and cutting it and joining it so that it resembles what the stock subframes look like. but to join them i was thinking of modifying the transmission tunnel and running two 2x4 pieces from the tranny subframe all the way back to the rear subframe, and join them up somehow.

i believe there were some cars that had frames like this.

this frame would then be welded into the car and joined in spots where the subframes were, to be able to use the uni-body for added strength.

the rearend would then be tubbed so i can fit some nice sized tires in the back. and from the measurements, i believe i can fit 10.5" tires in the front. because the front frame is 3" wide not 2"

has anybody framed in their car? if so, in the way i just described? and if you did frame in your car, can you post some pics?

thanks

andrew

 

It's been done...

Most of us buy subframe connectors though, that do exactly that, except they run down the outer edge of the car, right under the doors. 2x4 is kind of massive for the application at hand though; that's the size they build NASCAR frames out of, that don't bend when you hit walls at 200 MPH with a 3400 lb car. Build a street car out of that, you'll end up with a 5000 pound car that is slow as a slug from the weight and handles like a shopping cart. 1½" square or 2" square in a few places is more appropriate.

 

i would just install subframe connectors, but i have to take off alot of the subframe material to be able to weld in new steel where the car rusted through. kinda sucks livin in the rust belt. even some of the subframe is pretty iffy in the back. but the overall body of the car is in really good shape. most of the rust is taking place where a repair wont be seen.

i also want to tub the rear end of the car so i can fit much larger tires in the fenderwells.

so how do the pros do it when they frame in their camaro?

much of the subframe is already 3"x4" or very near that. if i just get 2x4 tubing of the same thickness, if not a bit thicker, the weight should remain about the same. and that is if i use mild steel, like the car is already made of.

 

Take a look at this site, if you look through it you can see pics of the tubeing the guy did, just like your talking about. http://www.trans-am.de/e201.html K here found it for you http://www.trans-am.de/e5613.html

 

Holy crap! What is that, a 12,000 point roll cage in that link?
I'm not too sure about welding pipe to the floorpan. I think the floorpan will just flex. I'm also leery about using the shock towers as places to weld 3 rollbars on.

 

read that site over he has one serious car there.

 

I applaud anybody brave enough to design and build their own suspension systems - but this person has done a lot more creative fabrication work to get everything to fit where he wants it to go - including the K-mbr, cross member, steering - highly commendable I think

but (theres always a but) some of the designs look over engineered in the interest of strength but seems to only add extra weight - but then he does have a 435

and the panhard rod extending from the frame to the opposite lca mount off sets it to the drivers side also moving the roll center that way

I'm a fan of the work nonetheless- personally i've only made a tube double hump cross mbr to clear duals and a my rear suspension - a ladder bar three link hybrid (the center link is telescoping with poly dampers)- and some other stuff - just to see where I 'm coming from

Looking at his pics seems like a double A arm conversion is definetly doable with custom arms and a small coil over

I can't add to the topic
Good Luck Ace

 

the way he did it looks pretty cool.

i know what you are saying about "over engineering" the frame and it becoming too heavy.

hmmm..... i need to do more research.

 

Where is from? I think Germany. To think he did all that somewhere else. Some of it is extreme but could you imagine the ride in the Knight Rider. Insane.