Homemade frame connectors

Oldmanmopar said

Frame ties like these do more than just stopping car flex. If only frame ties like the ones installed above would have been on this car. I say all everyday drivers should have them.

These pictures were taken after the roof and doors were cut open and the car spread apart a little to remove their bodies. The drivers foot was still wrapped up in the floor. Frame ties may have helped the passenger.

I always post these pictures to show how dangerous these cars are and how important adding any type of strengthening supports are.

The ties made above are about the best I've seen to prevent this type of carnage. Rectangle tubes laid flat. Great idea!

View attachment 1715170732

View attachment 1715170733

View attachment 1715170734

View attachment 1715170735

View attachment 1715170736

Click to expand...

Sad pictures. RIP to those people.
Regarding the material. I have some 2"x2" .083 at the shop too. I elected not to use that because mainly because of the floor interference but noteworthy also is the 2"x2", one end in the vice and a pipe wrench on the other, you can twist it by hand. It probably doesn't matter much once it's all welded in place but those were my reasons.
The biggest bugger for this project was that somewhere early in the cars life, someone had it undercoated. It may have saved the car I guess but it looks like crap and what a bugger to deal with! For nice welds metal prep is key and this stuff did not want to come off! We ended up scraping it cold (heat made it stickier)... brake clean, wire brush, rags... etc, no easy way out of that task. Most of the job was prep work.