Looking at sub-frame connectors...whats good?

[white96TA]

you want your SFCs to support your chasis in the position it is in at rest. In other words, there should not be any tension/force on them when your car is just sitting there. Taking the weight off the suspension can completely reverse the force you are trying to combat with the SFCs, which can be enough to throw things out of alignment. Tension on the SFCs and chasis should be equivalent during flex, and supportive of each other. A misaligned install can create combative forces in the chasis, which you don't want.

I knew there was good reasoning for this out there or it would not be stated in every single install instruction sheet, I figured that was the case but nobody had ever explained it to me.

well said

but the way I did it was OK though? because when i tighted them down to their final resting place they had the normal forces of the car on them

[JoeliusZ28]

you did it correct if, when the bolts were loose, there was zero or minimal tension on the SFC. Tightening them down should do nothing more than firm them into place. It should not increase tension on the connector, or "pull" on it. Its hard to get perfect so a little is OK, but lets say for example if a bolt were to break ... the connector should not violently shoot out of position. (unless the chasis was undergoing flex at that moment, then it should do this)

[1BADAIR]

my car has had SLP bolt in double diamonds since it was 2 months old

[PWND3r]

My quarters have dimples in them now, they didn't have them when I first bought the car.

[JoeliusZ28]

My quarters have dimples in them now, they didn't have them when I first bought the car.

um, dont you have a 6 point cage?

[meissen]

My quarters have dimples in them now, they didn't have them when I first bought the car.

um, dont you have a 6 point cage?

Yes he does and that's scary as shit. That's exactly the reason why I want to firm my car up as soon as possible. He's already got some chassis flex showing, but think if he didn't have the cage how much worse it'd be. I've heard too many horror stories about people flexing their cars (even with stock LS1 power) just by adding sticky tires and doing drag racing. I've heard of people who add slicks and then do a drag racing for a season and then notice their t-tops don't fit as well as they used to. If I could, I'd not only do the SFCs but I'd do a 6 point just for the stiffness factor, but I doubt Angie would let me get away with that...

[JoeliusZ28]

agreed, and thats why i want to put a cage in mine asap as well. But IMO, his car should not be flexing with a 6 point. Seans car with a 6-point and SFCs is freaking SOLID. I could not believe the difference it made. It was a completely different car in the corners.

[meissen]

agreed, and thats why i want to put a cage in mine asap as well. But IMO, his car should not be flexing with a 6 point. Seans car with a 6-point and SFCs is freaking SOLID. I could not believe the difference it made. It was a completely different car in the corners.

Joel I say we invest in some welding equipment and start banking on everyone wanting SFCs and cages on the site.

[JoeliusZ28]

ive already got a welder, i just cant bend the piping

[meissen]

Alright, I'll get the mandrel pipe bender and we're all set man.

[ktl711]

In the spring I'll be getting UMI 2-pt bolt-ins installed on my vert

[white97z28]

http://www.lmperformance.com/18833/2.html

Are these subframe connectors any good?

[tenpin842]

I bought Spohn subframe connectors for my car. 1 - I liked them because they were tubular, and tucked up under the car more then others.
Other brands were a rectangle and you could actually see them sticking down.

I had Tuffy on Euclid weld mine in. And they actually welded them in for $110.00.
The frame rail connects to the front lower control arm mounting area and runs the entire length of the rocker panel, it ends at the rear side of the front wheel well. The main shaft is formed to fit the contour of the floor board, providing for weld contact area the entire length of the frame shaft, and no ground clearance loss. That's what I liked because my car is lowered as well.
They don't stop there. Mid-shaft they install a "Y" off frame that connects the main frame shaft to the beefy front sub-frame at the transmission cross member mounting area. This provides for the ultimate in chassis stiffening by utilizing a triangulated framing design. The frame rails also provide for an excellent jacking point. Sometimes its hard to get under a F body to jack it up, this makes it a little easier.

[csmith4153]

http://www.lmperformance.com/18833/2.html

Are these subframe connectors any good?

I would not put them on my car. Thats just my opinion. Why put 3-point connectors on your car if they are connected with flat steal? Its going to flex. Its not going to be as strong a tubular or boxed 3-point connectors. Again, just my 2 cents. Are you just looking for "low cost"?

[sman]

x2, get with creight ^ and order some quality UMI stuff.