wjaholic
My car stole my wallet!
I picked up an 8' piece of 2"x3" rectangular tube with .093" wall years ago. I had intended on cutting in to the floor pan and installing the 3" vertically. It wasn't until I had my stainless fuel line and brakes lines installed that I realized they would be in the way.
At first I thought of switching to 2" square tube and just butt welding it in there or even rerouting my brake and fuel lines. But, I didn't really want to just abandon the rectangular tube that I already had.
So I started doing some home work and taking some measurements. I ran across this video and decided to steal his idea. I changed one or two things but that is essentially what I ended up with.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l6Rels-jR8"]Sub-frame Connectors 1972 Dodge Dart MUSCLE CARS & HOT RODS Episode 145 - YouTube[/ame]
I cut one end of the rectangular tube at a 45 degree and closed it in with some 16ga. I used 10ga (roughly .120 thick) for the vertical plates in the rear where they sandwich the rear sub-frame and same for the front plate that butts up against the torsion bar cross member.
I know they are not perfect and they are no where near as cool as some of the others on this board. But, for my first try at them... I am happy with them. They don't weigh very much at all and I can already tell they have stiffened the car up a great deal.
Let me know what you guys think!
At first I thought of switching to 2" square tube and just butt welding it in there or even rerouting my brake and fuel lines. But, I didn't really want to just abandon the rectangular tube that I already had.
So I started doing some home work and taking some measurements. I ran across this video and decided to steal his idea. I changed one or two things but that is essentially what I ended up with.
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l6Rels-jR8"]Sub-frame Connectors 1972 Dodge Dart MUSCLE CARS & HOT RODS Episode 145 - YouTube[/ame]
I cut one end of the rectangular tube at a 45 degree and closed it in with some 16ga. I used 10ga (roughly .120 thick) for the vertical plates in the rear where they sandwich the rear sub-frame and same for the front plate that butts up against the torsion bar cross member.
I know they are not perfect and they are no where near as cool as some of the others on this board. But, for my first try at them... I am happy with them. They don't weigh very much at all and I can already tell they have stiffened the car up a great deal.
Let me know what you guys think!
