i was think of making mine own sub frames, and Strut Tower Brace,
then droping it 1.75" what do you guys think?
what will this do for me?

 

Stiffen up the car, lower the center of gravity, and make it corner like mad.


Ed

 

:werd:

I have all of the above, and i corner like a mad man..............

 

OK now we're talking. This is some homebrew stuff people with some welding capability can pull off. I have put in some sub frame connector parts already - just to tie the LCA connection points more solidly to the body. I like the idea of doing this on the interior. There is access to all the tie points and its easier to weld from the top. Of course you have to gut the interior - but that was one of the first things I did when I started working on the car.
As for the STB I have a carberator. No vendor is advertising that their STB works with a carbed engine. It doesn't mean it is not possible to do - just not a strong business case to develop and market one. I've looked at the Edelbrock STB and from what I have heard it is the most likly to work with my carbed engine. But it is still a good project for the do it yourselfer. I won't do this until winter. But I can work on a design till then.
On a similar homebrew theme I have also beefed up the stock track bar/panhard bar. The stock is a stamped U shape. I welded a 1/8 by 2 inch strap the whole length of the bar to make it a box beam. I installed polyurethane bushings.
Back to the SFC topic, I would like some further discussion here. Some of my thoughts include a honey comb floor and a rollcage designed more for stiffening the frame than for frequent rolling!
Any design collaboration or ideas you all want to toss around is great. I have pictures of everything I've done so far and would be happy to post.

 

ya, that would be great lets see them!

 

Here's my start at strengthening the LCA mount points in the interior of the car. I welded 2 by 1 inch channel iron to the top of the mount points. The two lengths of tubing are welded to the 2 inch channel and go the the stamped brace that the seat is mounted on. Not the strongest point in the car, but a start. I did the same thing on the other side of the car. I'll sent the track bar picture later...

 

This picture shows both sides. I welded tubing to 1/8 by 3 then welded the the assemblies in place. That is what you see here. I added the 2 by 1 channel after this step.

 

Here is a top view. Ugly isn't it?

 

Here is the track bar set up for welding. These pictures don't show much detail so I'll only include this one. I welded 2 inch by 1/8 to open side of U to make a box beam. In this picture C clamps are holding the strap in place ready to weld...

 

zhgrou6, me interior is entirely out right now and I'm a decsent welder. Your LCA strengthener things, are they worth it? What differences will i feel in the car? ect...

 

I'm happy with results so far. Building up the LCA mount points was required because the original sheet metal was giving away due to rust. So it was worth it to me! You can see in the above pictures that I replaced parts of the floor too. A simple body repair project turned into a body strengthening project.
I don't know how this car compares to one with a full set of SFC's but it is alot better than it was - with rotting sheet metal etc. I can't claim this configuration is as strong as SFC's - yet. I can still tie more of the body together under the seat and up to the fire wall. Also, I could have used heavier gauge tubing.
I think I would like to try running some square or rectangular tubing along the floor inside the rocker panels and square tubing along the inside corner of the transmission hump. Then tie these to the firewall.
I am also thinking of building a cargo area where the back seats were. The front wall of this cargo area will be an X of tubing with each piece running from the rear of a rocker panel to the opposite wall about 12 inches from the floor. This would strengthen the body against twist.
How for how the car feels when taking curves - I am not satisfied yet. I still have not strengthened the front end - I need a strut tower brace and a wonder bar... But launches are ok. The rear end seems solid right now, but my front end isn't always sure where it wants to go!

 

what about beefing up the LCA's

and makeing some
Adjustable Pan hard rod
Adjustable LCAs
LCAs relocation Brackets


hum

 

Buying tubular aftermarket pieces will be much stronger and better looking when it is said and done. Boxing the stock stuff is helpfull but no where near on the level as tubular parts. Not worth the effort when such parts go for only a $100 a pop.

 

so when do we get to see the photochop of your new subframe, ect ect

 

STFU!!!

 

well, i got some fixing to do,

 

 

might want to start with some poly bushings before you get ahead of yourself

 

And some new shocks. It looks rough back there. i would fix anyhting that is shot or worn out. Adding better suspension stuff will only make those "bad" areas stand out more and potentially make your car even more unstable.

 

Check

 

I agree, before putting money into adding stuff, I would update the essentials you already have. Shocks, struts, springs, bushings. Then go to sfcs and tubular chassis parts.

 

i was planing on doing that anyways, well everythings removed, that whould just make more since...

 

check this out, not the way im going but, what do you think...

 

im thinking of doing this, 2 square tubing, then weld them to a plate...
for the SFCs, like this

 

anyone esle got ideas?

 

What else do you want to know? Try a few searches to see other peoples boxed parts and custom SFC. I would only make your own if you actually know how the part will be loaded. That will determine how you make it.