Do I need frame connectors?

[Longgone]

My 68 Barracuda is starting to show a small crack at the end of the rocker panel right at the bottom corner of the drivers door. Is this an indication of the frame twisting? The car is equipped with a 440-6 and a 4spd. with 3.91 gears. In addition the passenger door used to stick some but doesn`t any more. Do I need frame connectors? Has anyone else experienced this? Thanks

 

[1969340dart]

I would put a set in with that much torque the 440 is putting out! Not that hard to do and not that expensive!

 

[Jim Lusk]

I would say YES.

 

[mikesduster]

YES!!!!! :thumbup:

 

[rumblefish360]

More door used to stick but don't anymore!?!?!? Yikes, me think it's frame connector time as well.

 

[Jims71duster]

if its got the 440 and then the future frame connectors, then go for broke and do the torque boxes too.

 

[demon seed]

yup, it's that time. I would suggest a complete inspection in search of more cracks, wouldn't surprise me.

Terry

 

[Rick@Laysons]

Yes on the frame connectors and yes on the torque boxes too!! That's a lotta motor for an A-body!

 

[BJS racing]

I'm with all of them.

http://www.magnumhp.com/index.php

These guys make some that you don't have to cut throught the floor and they look factory with you are done. I am not sure if Greg has the A body ones done yet but they are a very nice looking set. They are cut to form with the floor pans and weld straight to them.

 

[Ace]

The difference you will feel with properly installed SFCs is amazing. My Duster seemed like a different car. Solid, compared to before. I also believe that with the right combination of torque, traction and cracked frame you could literally twist an A-body into a mangled mess if a U-joint doesn't let go soon enough. Probably look like it was dropped on a 2-foot high speed bump from about 10 feet off the ground. Not that I've ever seen anything like that.
:toothy7:

 

[Longgone]

Ordered a set today, should be here Thursday, and if my friend at the Ford place is working this weekend, they may be installed by Saturday evening. Thanks guys for your opinions.

 

[dresselman]

O.K. Stupid question of the day. What the heck are frame connectors?

 

[Eric_S68]

Should you install them? Absoultly. At that HP level with out using them I would put that car on a frame rack. The unibody is surely twisted. Once you know it's square the weld em in...

 

[63dartman]

Dresselman, here is a site explaining frame connectors.



http://www.autorust.com/m_getc.pdf

 

[Longgone]

I bought the MP bolt-on frame connectors and finished the install yesterday. My buddy at the Ford dealership had a full roster Saturday so I had to do these at the house. Fortunately the weather has been great the last few days. Even though they were bolt-ons ,I decided to just weld them in, because after getting them lined up, I realized I would have to remove the mufflers to drill for the rear connection. The drivers side interfered with the emergency brake cable stop so that had to be removed and a new hole drilled just above the original. All together it only took a few hours to install the pair and OH what a difference. I was surprised how much more rigid the car feels, especially when you romp on it! I`m very pleased with this $105.00 modification. Now I`m thinking Tremec 5 speed? Hmmmm?

 

[SGGDuster]

dibs on your 4 speed if you go Tremec 5! :thumbup:

 

[Longgone]

dibs on your 4 speed if you go Tremec 5! :thumbup:

Lol! Thanks ,I`ll need every penny if I go 5 spd!

 

[4mulaSvaliant]

Hey man, just a kinda cool/ funny story.
I dropped a 360 in my 69 Valiant orig /6 car, which still has the /6 torsion bars and ran that car as hard as the duke boys, I ran the HS drags every single weekend, beat the crap outta some ricers, and some other american steel. Well I had the sandwich style motor mounts and shredded the left mount while tuning in a new carb one day. So I couldnt dare miss the drags that night so out came a length of chain fitted between the head and the K frame. OH MY LORD did I twist that poor car that night. I could barely open the drivers side door after the first pass! I didnt realize at first what had happened. Since then the car has sat for 9 years and I finally have my baby back and started looking the car over. I see I have cracks on the braces that run from the frame to the rockers just under the front floor pans, where you weld in the torque boxes. As well as some cracks at the top of my A pillar inside the door frame. Hey you may wanna check em out! Just thought Id share with ya. Man I love a small block A body!!!!!

 

[Longgone]

4mula , that`s a good story. It`s amazing what some HP will do to these cars. I had a friend of mine put my car on a lift and measure the frame with lasers. A small tweak here and there and I was able to tack the connectors in. The following day I did a good weld and sealed all the raw metal with undercoating. It`s an amazing difference, more than what I had imagined. I`d suggest it even for cars without a lot of HP, just for what it does for the feel of the car.