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Which frame connectors? #724545
06/14/10 08:51 PM
06/14/10 08:51 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 24
SoCal
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dodgex5 Offline OP
member
dodgex5  Offline OP
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 24
SoCal
I have a "72 Challenger 340-4 speed slightly built and I keep busting the seams between the quarters and the dutchman's panel. We're putting a stroker at about 500 hp to the rear wheels and I'm sure it'll twist the car in half. Time for frame connectors.
Please give me some pointers. Are thay all the same? I have an old set of Hamburgers (I think) that are new. Seems to me if they're connected on either end that it will still allow quite a bit of flex in the floor pan.
Opinions welcome.

Re: Which frame connectors? [Re: dodgex5] #724546
06/14/10 09:01 PM
06/14/10 09:01 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,664
IN
A
ahy Offline
master
ahy  Offline
master
A

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 7,664
IN
There was a thread earlier in the week on this. Try the link below for a start

https://board.moparts.org/ubbthreads/show...rue#Post6030556

Re: Which frame connectors? [Re: ahy] #724547
06/14/10 09:15 PM
06/14/10 09:15 PM
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 12,291
Kent, Wa
340SHORTY Offline
Truck Nut
340SHORTY  Offline
Truck Nut

Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 12,291
Kent, Wa
cage it..


I am truckless..
Re: Which frame connectors? [Re: 340SHORTY] #724548
06/14/10 10:30 PM
06/14/10 10:30 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 24
SoCal
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dodgex5 Offline OP
member
dodgex5  Offline OP
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 24
SoCal
I'm not gonna cage it or tub it.

Re: Which frame connectors? [Re: dodgex5] #724549
06/14/10 10:53 PM
06/14/10 10:53 PM
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 461
Detroit Michigan
stinger Offline
mopar
stinger  Offline
mopar

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 461
Detroit Michigan
I welded in a set of the US car tool connectors in my bcuda and the car seems very rigid now.they did not fit perfect and it took hours to trim them so they could be welded in.

Re: Which frame connectors? [Re: dodgex5] #724550
06/15/10 08:46 AM
06/15/10 08:46 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,978
VA
DAMOPARS Offline
master
DAMOPARS  Offline
master

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,978
VA
Make your own.

Re: Which frame connectors? [Re: DAMOPARS] #724551
06/15/10 10:42 AM
06/15/10 10:42 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 961
.
T
TMP66 Offline
super stock
TMP66  Offline
super stock
T

Joined: May 2003
Posts: 961
.
Quote:

Make your own.




Yes, your local steel supply company is full of "frame connectors" at a lot better price.

Re: Which frame connectors? [Re: dodgex5] #724552
06/15/10 03:35 PM
06/15/10 03:35 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 801
central CT
cudazappa Offline
super stock
cudazappa  Offline
super stock

Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 801
central CT
I just finished installing AutoRust Technicians 2x2 SFCs last night. I had to slit the floor to fit them. They protrude 1/8" most of the way, just enough to be a nuisance. But they went in pretty easy over all, and I'd recommend them to others. The extra money spent to have them cut to length and contoured for the frame was money well spent IMO.


1971 Challenger
Re: Which frame connectors? [Re: dodgex5] #724553
06/15/10 03:53 PM
06/15/10 03:53 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,582
Rust Belt, SW PA
Silver70 Offline
I Live Here
Silver70  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,582
Rust Belt, SW PA
For looks I'd say the ones us car took or xv sells... however they will take some time to install, but finished they looks pretty good.

Heres a pic of the xv ones install. I angled them in so the holes for the brake line and fuel lines on the crossmember weren't blocked.



68 Road Runner, 69 Belvedere, 71 Challenger Vert
340 barracuda, 01 Ram CTD, 95 Ram, 04 Ram, 85 Daytona turbo Z
66 GTO, 06 Magnum RT AWD. 07 Ram CTD, 07 Ram
Re: Which frame connectors? [Re: Silver70] #724554
06/15/10 09:04 PM
06/15/10 09:04 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,572
Jacksonville Florida
elitecustombody Offline
pro stock
elitecustombody  Offline
pro stock

Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,572
Jacksonville Florida
I'd go with USCartool SFC's ,I installed a pair on 69 Dart recently, took about 30 minutes to trim and make them fit snug,otherwise very nice pieces,once done and coated,floor looks like it's OEM

Re: Which frame connectors? [Re: elitecustombody] #724555
06/17/10 02:20 AM
06/17/10 02:20 AM
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 242
midwest
I
intragration Offline
enthusiast
intragration  Offline
enthusiast
I

Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 242
midwest
I vote for the US Car Tool as well.

6041210-uscartool.jpg (57 downloads)
Re: Which frame connectors? [Re: intragration] #724556
06/17/10 06:08 AM
06/17/10 06:08 AM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,582
Rust Belt, SW PA
Silver70 Offline
I Live Here
Silver70  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,582
Rust Belt, SW PA
How much time did you have installing the us cartool ones? I really like the way they look, but my experience with xv I'd have to use a different brand.


68 Road Runner, 69 Belvedere, 71 Challenger Vert
340 barracuda, 01 Ram CTD, 95 Ram, 04 Ram, 85 Daytona turbo Z
66 GTO, 06 Magnum RT AWD. 07 Ram CTD, 07 Ram
Re: Which frame connectors? [Re: Silver70] #724557
06/17/10 07:58 AM
06/17/10 07:58 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,278
San Jose, California
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DennisH Offline
Vacation
DennisH  Offline
Vacation
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,278
San Jose, California
US Cartool.

Re: Which frame connectors? [Re: DennisH ] #724558
06/17/10 08:17 AM
06/17/10 08:17 AM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,476
Oh
RacerGofKGB Offline
Got The Big One
RacerGofKGB  Offline
Got The Big One

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,476
Oh
Im sure the US Cartool ones are great. And im sure they arnt that tough to put in if you have a rotisserie or a lift, but for guys like me who have to roll around on a creeper, that is an awful lot of welding laying on your back.

Re: Which frame connectors? [Re: DennisH ] #724559
06/17/10 08:59 AM
06/17/10 08:59 AM
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,442
It's a dry heat
gtx6970 Offline
Too Many Posts
gtx6970  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,442
It's a dry heat
I have a 70 cuda in now , That just had the US car toll connectors installed.
The one who did the install commented it took some custom fitting to get them to conform to the floorpan. But overall they look good.
I'll be at the shop all day if anyone needs pics.

Now I just have to figure out how and where to run the park brake cables ( 71 E-body style)

Re: Which frame connectors? [Re: gtx6970] #724560
06/17/10 01:29 PM
06/17/10 01:29 PM
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 461
Detroit Michigan
stinger Offline
mopar
stinger  Offline
mopar

Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 461
Detroit Michigan
yeah let us know how the parking brake cables work out.

Re: Which frame connectors? [Re: gtx6970] #724561
06/17/10 02:05 PM
06/17/10 02:05 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,582
Rust Belt, SW PA
Silver70 Offline
I Live Here
Silver70  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,582
Rust Belt, SW PA
The pic above between grinding to fit and welding took me about 8 hours... I figure any made to do that will need work, but when I had 7 hours of grinding to fit, I probally could have use the plasma cutter and made my own in that time. So was hoping the us car tool ones would be down to 2-3 hours tops and I'd be happy.

Re: Which frame connectors? [Re: Silver70] #724562
06/17/10 02:55 PM
06/17/10 02:55 PM
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,476
Oh
RacerGofKGB Offline
Got The Big One
RacerGofKGB  Offline
Got The Big One

Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,476
Oh
Quote:

The pic above between grinding to fit and welding took me about 8 hours... I figure any made to do that will need work, but when I had 7 hours of grinding to fit, I probally could have use the plasma cutter and made my own in that time. So was hoping the us car tool ones would be down to 2-3 hours tops and I'd be happy.



Is that welding them solid or just tack welding ever 1" or so? I like the idea of tying the floor pan into the equation as i think it woul be much stronger than going the 2" x 3" tube method, but i hate the idea of rolling around on my back and fully welding these things in.

Re: Which frame connectors? [Re: RacerGofKGB] #724563
06/17/10 03:52 PM
06/17/10 03:52 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,582
Rust Belt, SW PA
Silver70 Offline
I Live Here
Silver70  Offline
I Live Here

Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 18,582
Rust Belt, SW PA
That was welded solid. But that didn't take alot of time... it was the grinding and fitting that took at least 6 hours. I read that there were variations in floor pans... not sure if it was years, where they were built or what. But apparently places were correcting them type of connectors. And I did install them while on the rotisserre... I couldn't imagine trying to install them any other way. Between crawling under to get them to fit to welding up like that... definetly not for me!







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