Not your average Subframe Connector Question

[bullitt 5561]

I called a local Mustang specific shop today. They are advertising Subframe Connectors, Installed for $125. I though I would give them a call to see exactly what they were offering. (This is a very well recommended/liked shop by the way.) After telling him what kind of car I had and all, he said that they make their own subframe connectors and weld them in. He assured me that they were as good as anything on the market. They would use undercoat after the install and they are 43" or so. He said he would make them any length around that.

I just wanted to hear your opinions on this type of subframe connector. Do you think that is a resonable thing to do. Is there any disadvantage to this over the steedas and MM's? I feel like they will do a good job but...you know how I feel about my Bullitt. Thanks for the help.

 

[Rickey_Bobby]

Well, material costs for him are only about $25-$50. And the welding is a 30 minute job at most. So he's making $75 in say, an hour or so, good easy money. Seems very possible. Just make sure he pulls up the carpet before welding, OR does it in spots so the metal isn't given the chance to get too hot.

As long at the guy can lay a good weld you should be fine.

Oh, one more thing and VERY IMPORTANT!!!!

Make sure the lift he puts your car on is lifting it by the wheels (drive on lift) not the type you see at tire kingdom that lifts by the chassis. The chassis flexes when lifted like this and welding in braces while in this position will cause a lot of stress when the car is put back down and may leave you with your doors not shutting, or a car that looks like a bannana.

 

[d98gt]

I wouldn't think that it'd be too difficult of a job for him to do. There are a few local guys that make their own SFCs and install them, though im not quite sure how they compare to MM and so on. They'll stiffen the car up if thats what you are wondering---there isn't much "design" to SFCs.

 

[bullitt 5561]

dang :SNSign: almost 2 hours to get a response on a subframe question. I guess that is ok though, i got the answers i needed. glad to hear other stang shops do that too. I think i will be getting them next week.

CAN I USE THEM AS JACKING RAILS?

 

[forum155pl]

there is a few guys in my city who have had them made... they seem to think that they are just as good as MM or anything else you can buy.. i'm a little leary to have someone make my connectors, but i'm a freak like that... i'm sure if something went wrong they would help ya out

 

[mrvax]

Rickey_Bobby makes some good points. SFC's are very basic pieces of metal. I'd have 'em do it. I paid the same price 3 years ago for the Griggs SFCs installed. What a difference.

 

[bullitt 5561]

can i use them as jacking rails

 

[san~man]

I personally would spend the little extra money and get the MM full lengths.

Although they make look the same, they aren't the same.

 

[san~man]

can i use them as jacking rails

I've used my MM's as a rail before, not sure about "home made" ones though.

 

[GT12207]

ask them about the thickness of the steel they use. then compare that to the thickness of the MM ones.

ask them if the two bends on each connector are reinforced with steel plates. if the answer is no, then get the MM or Steeda ones.

not all sfc's are the same. they might look the same to the naked eye though

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I would go with MM ones if it was me...

Also, I would reiterate the fact that the car must be lifted by the wheels, this is very important.

 

[FivePointStang]

Buy your own and have them weld them in for you.

 

[steveb24]

And the welding is a 30 minute job at most.QUOTE]

you must not weld. it takes at least 2 hours to weld on full length sfc's. welding on all 8 flanges (i forget the real name of them) and all the welding that must be done on the rails themselves. plus you must take your time when welding to do quality work.. i dont see anybody doing that in 30 min. mine took 2.5 hours and i had them professionally done and i watched him do it.

 

[BennyBlown2v]

I did mine in about 1hr myself in my garage. Car was up on raised rhino ramps. Had my buddy who owns a race shop take some of the bend out of the SFC's to fit the rails better, and used some steel stock to "stitch" the areas where the connector normally just flush welds with the frame rail. The gussets and seat pan bracket were actually the easiest part of the install as 50% of them are easily accessible...

Anyway, just buy some MM connectors, Laurel Mountain Mustang connectors, or Steeda even... Odds are the guy who will make them for you won't make full length connectors that go from the back of the torque box all the way to the front of the front frame rail.

 

[forum155pl]

i read the specs of the MM subframes at http://www.maximummotorsports.com/ from what MM says in the specs it seems stupid to have someone try and make em and throw them on your car.. most would think that MM would do a better job then a stang shop...

 

[twogts4us]

MMs FTW - metal thickness, design, and, agreed, what kind of weld job are you getting in 30 mins...?
Not sure what the comment about pulling the carpet was about - they aren't welded to the floorpan..!?!?!?

 

[HoustonGT]

I was gonna have a shop do it but then realized that having something welded on to the car is pretty serious, so i'll be going with the MM Full-Length LCA's

 

[Rickey_Bobby]

I weld on speedboats in my free time for Donzi. I am certified in TIG, MIG, ARC, and Submerged ARC welding. The engine braces I put together hold down engines making about 1500HP each, that run at 6,500rpm for hours on end at WOT. So I have some experience. A self taught back yard welder with a sears flux welder can't do it in 30min. It would take about an hour using a 115amp welder.

However, a good shop will have AT LEAST a 300 amp MIG setup that, on a bad day, can lay a bead FULL LENGTH of both braces in 30 minutes. Your 8 tabs have under 5 feet of total weld. Thats a minute for every inch. Even a first timer should weld faster than that.
So again, Sub frame connectors can be done by a good welder (with a good welder) in under 30 min.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Donzai...

You should consider having the torque boxes welded while the work is being done.

 

[Lab Rat]

i read the specs of the MM subframes at http://www.maximummotorsports.com/ from what MM says in the specs it seems stupid to have someone try and make em and throw them on your car.. most would think that MM would do a better job then a stang shop...

I don't know..... personally I looked at the MM design specs and didn't like it, so I ended up fabricating my own and welding them in. Last I checked, the MM SFCs were made with 0.083 in wall thickness square tubing, which seemed a little weak to me. I ended up using 1.5 x 2 inch square tubing with 0.125 inch wall thickness. I also reinforced the torque boxes with 10-gauge steel plates I fabricated for the purpose, which you really want to do when welding in full-length SFCs. If you have the shop do it, ask them the size and thickness of the tubing they'll use, and also make sure they're going to reinforce the torque boxes and weld seat-mount brackets onto the SFCs as well. Nothing wrong with custom fabricated SFCs as long as the person making them knows how to weld well and how to design the SFCs properly for your car.

Matt