What are Sub Frame Connectors? Do I need them? Who sells them? What benifit are they. I hear everyone talking about SFC but I just bought this GTA two months ago and I am a little new to 3rd F-bodies...

 

Sub frame connectors do exactly as their name states. They connect the front and rear sub frames together. Our cars are unibody cars and are without the benefit of a full frame. The connectors give something close to a full frame rigidity, and prevent body flex under loads and the twisting that normally occurs during power transfer. They can be bolted on or welded on, depends on the style you get. Many companies make them in just about any type you could want.....boxed, tube, bolt-on, weld on, etc. Just about any third gen could benefit from a set of thses.

Hope this helps,
Brian

 

Cool thanks for all the info. Sounds like I need some. Next question is which type do I want and where do I find them at.

Brian what do you recommend????
Thanks...

 

I've got Alston tubular sfc's on my Formula. They make some great products IMO, and I preferred the tubular over the boxed, but both are strong. Just depends on your personal preference. Mine are welded in, but you can bolt them in also. Again, depends what you want to do.


Brian

 

Can you tell where I can find these Alstons? I have searched and can't find em...

 

Their phone number is 847-395-3500 and they located in Antioch, IL. Ask for Mike and he'll give you a good deal.

Brian

 

They used to have a website, but it seems to be down. So all I can say is give them a call and they will have all the info you need.

Brian

 

I would NOT have them bolted in. Get it done the right way.

 

While bolt in SFCs are certainly better than no SFCs, properly welded in SFCs are much more effetive. Check out spohns SFCs too and BMRs.

 

Subframes when correctly welded onto your car can also serve as lifting points. You can then jack the car up anywhere along the SFC. You might want to consider box frame SFC's for this purpose, although I don't know if you could use tubular ones the same way.

 

tubulars have better torsional resistance than square. also they are more expensive, but lighter.
I would get spohn's.

 

Is that the kind you have?

Do these weld on?

Can you jack the car up with them if they are tublular?
I was told I could lift on some.

Who do I get to put them on?

Thanks for your advice!

 

ok,
I don't have SFC's, (like you, I bought this car recently) but I'm gonna install spohn's welded sfc's first thing. I'm sure that on these I can jack up the car.
Kenny brown makes a nice set of tubular ones (also welded)- i believe a little lighter- but they are 100 usd more. Since I'm not racing the car, few pounds more won't make no difference. Plus, I did investigate other sfc's and Spohn's really are a very good product-and fairly cheap-.

The welded ones are the best. The install is 3 hours long. The body shops specialized in hevy damaged cars could have a good welder. Just phone there and ask "how much is the installing of sub frame connectors?" if they ask "what's that" go on and try in other places. Make sure they installed before. Also, the sfc's came with instructions. If they keep asking stupid questions keep looking until you find the right place.

Me, for instance I plan to go 1000 miles to have them installed by Spohn... I don't trust anyone to touch my car....

Make sure to treat with POR15 the areas who are gonna be hidden by the new sfc's. Before welding the sfc's paint them too. Only where you weld you need to grind the paint and get to bare metal so you can weld.

Good luck with that and keep reading the technical articles ad older posts here. You'll find very usefull info.

Also, along with the sfc's I plan to cet a STB (strut tower brace) and a steering brace (wonder bar).

 

I did investigate other sfc's and Spohn's really are a very good product-and fairly cheap-.

I mean compared with the price of others
Hope Steve is gona keep his prices even after he reads this

 

This is an exerpt from BMRs web site on their SFC page. You can use either square or round tube SFCs as jacking rails. It makes no difference.

You can get them welded on at most body shops, especially chassis alignment/body shops, exhaust shops, hot rod shops, custom welding/fabrication shops, etc.

You should read this post before getting them welded on.

 

Thanks so much for the informative post! Have anouther ?

What is POR 15?

Will my ground affects be in the way? I don't see how all this is going to fit under there..

Thanks again.

 

I just list a previous big post... f*cking SOB...
Anyways,
round tube (for sfc'c) is available in stronger steel;
the torsional resistance is bigger for the round tube;
under vertical loads, the square tube is stronger, but because the round one is available in stronger steel, it dosen't make any differences.
a round tube structure is more expensive because of the material and manufacturing process; yet is lighter and stronger.

the spohn sfc's dosen't lower the ground clareance at all.

I'm gonna get Spohn's because in my oppinion fit very well in place and there seems really strong.

as a conclusion, any welded sfc's would do the job, yet I prefer Spohn.

POR15 is a painting kit (go to por15.com) who seems to be the best for inhibiting rust. Once the sfc's are in place, you cannot paint no more some areas.

the gfx's (ground effects) won't be in the way. Take a good look at the pics from Spohn's site(and under your car) to figure how they will fit.

Good luck!!

 

bmr said that square are better than round in torsion because it seems that the square section for their particular sfc's is bigger.
yet, I didn't saw there sfc's for thirdgens...

 

Given the same wall thickness and size, the square tubing is always stronger. ALWAYS!!! The only reason to ever use round tubing on a car is the roll cage. When round tubing starts to bend it still has much of its strength. When square tubing starts to bend, it loses all its strength. Always get square ( or rectangular) SFC's. I made my own STB out of rectangular tubing for that reason. I don't understand why all the ones I see are round with a BEND in them. They're almost useless!!!!

 

I get your point and I said me too I'm gonna use square. Still, if you build a race car the frame must be made from round tube. Is lighter and stronger. Go to factory five site (the cobra 427 replica builders) and there you can read more on this subject.
Again, for this particular application sfc's like Spohn's are the best IMHO.
Are we cool?