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Subframe connectors? #2382420
10/05/17 02:27 PM
10/05/17 02:27 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 222
California
70Drop Offline OP
enthusiast
70Drop  Offline OP
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Posts: 222
California
My Duster has no subframe connectors, just a 6-point 0.134 mild steel roll bar. I've made about 30 passes with the car, and it launches straight and hard. Mid 10's with 1.5 60-foot. No complaints. I was originally going to put connectors in the car, but my friend said not to bother. He's been right about everything else he's suggested. He's a Chevy guy but has been building record-setting cars for many years. Interested in what you guys think.

Re: Subframe connectors? [Re: 70Drop] #2382430
10/05/17 02:44 PM
10/05/17 02:44 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 20,642
So Near, Yet So Far
topside Offline
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So Near, Yet So Far
They've helped with twist & distortion in everything I've put them on: a '73 Nova, '73 Camaro (both being stub-frame fronts & unitized rear bodies), 2 Dusters, '64 Plymouth wagon...one of the Dusters has made several hundred passes on slicks since new, low-10s, has been on the rear bumper, and the doors still close like a new car; subframe ties & 6-point cage. Both Chevys instantly handled more predictably and all instantly felt more solid.

Re: Subframe connectors? [Re: topside] #2382437
10/05/17 02:48 PM
10/05/17 02:48 PM
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 4,651
Wichita
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GY3 Offline
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Wichita
I did subframe connectors first just 2x2 so I didn't have to cut the floor. It made a HUGE difference in the feel of the car. I recently added a 6pt. bar and was suprised it felt even better!

Anything you can do to stiffen our unibodies helps!


'63 Dodge 330
11.19 @ 121 mph
Pump gas, n/a, through the mufflers on street tires with 3.54's. 3,600 lbs.
10.01 @ 133mph with a 250 shot of nitrous an a splash of race gas. 1.36 60 ft. 3,700 lbs.

Re: Subframe connectors? [Re: 70Drop] #2382453
10/05/17 02:59 PM
10/05/17 02:59 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,408
Fulton County, PA
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CMcAllister Offline
Mr. Helpful
CMcAllister  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,408
Fulton County, PA
A bodies are flimsy. Sub frame connectors are the first thing to do. Welded, and I prefer to section into or at least tie them into the floor somehow. Firewalls are also flimsy, that is usually addressed with a full cage.


If the results don't match the theory, change the theory.
Re: Subframe connectors? [Re: 70Drop] #2382506
10/05/17 04:15 PM
10/05/17 04:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 11,701
Portage,michigan
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B3422W5 Offline
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Portage,michigan
They make a HUGE difference.
Make sure to install the two angled bars off the main hoop through the rear sear footwell to connect with the frame connectors, basically that makes a 6 point an 8 point and is an extremely good upgrade.
Doing all this makes the car " one piece" your doors will thank you by continuing to shut properly

Last edited by B3422W5; 10/05/17 04:15 PM.

69 Dart GTS A4 Silver All steel, flat factory hood, 3360race weight
418 BPE factory replacement headed stroker, 565 lift solid cam
Best so far, 10.40 @127 1/4
1.41 best 60 foot
6.60 at 103.90 1/8

Re: Subframe connectors? [Re: 70Drop] #2382539
10/05/17 05:16 PM
10/05/17 05:16 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,205
New York
polyspheric Offline
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polyspheric  Offline
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Posts: 4,205
New York
3" tall, through the floor.


Boffin Emeritus
Re: Subframe connectors? [Re: polyspheric] #2382597
10/05/17 07:00 PM
10/05/17 07:00 PM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 11,408
Fulton County, PA
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CMcAllister Offline
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Fulton County, PA
Originally Posted By polyspheric
3" tall, through the floor.


Short of a 25.x chassis, this is most effective.


If the results don't match the theory, change the theory.
Re: Subframe connectors? [Re: 70Drop] #2382716
10/05/17 10:35 PM
10/05/17 10:35 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,205
New York
polyspheric Offline
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polyspheric  Offline
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Posts: 4,205
New York
IIRC 3" still keeps the floor mostly intact.
For those not familiar, the bending resistance improvement between 2" and 3" is huge: more than 2-1/2 times with only a 25% weight penalty.


Boffin Emeritus
Re: Subframe connectors? [Re: 70Drop] #2382726
10/05/17 10:49 PM
10/05/17 10:49 PM
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,176
East Coast
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A/MP Offline
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Posts: 1,176
East Coast
If your Duster ws a few years old than I would agree with your friend.45+ years and there is rust and plenty of torsional stress from just being a car driving on the road or just sitting in a garage. Takes a lot of torque to move an A body into the tens. Once you twist the frame your done. That car won't be worth sh%*. Do yourself the favor and have them installed.

Re: Subframe connectors? [Re: 70Drop] #2382770
10/05/17 11:59 PM
10/05/17 11:59 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,205
New York
polyspheric Offline
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polyspheric  Offline
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New York
... before you wrinkle the "C" pillar on a hard launch!


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Re: Subframe connectors? [Re: CMcAllister] #2382884
10/06/17 11:09 AM
10/06/17 11:09 AM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,539
Motor City
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6PKRTSE Offline
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Motor City
Originally Posted By CMcAllister
Originally Posted By polyspheric
3" tall, through the floor.


Short of a 25.x chassis, this is most effective.


Yes, Mine are round tube chrome moly & tie in with the cage on my Challenger and go thru the torsion bar support & front frame rails. The short bar show with tab is my removable drivesahft loop mount that goes from frame connector to frame connector & meets the 25.5 rule about having the under car cross bar.

100_1707.JPG

1963 Belvedere 440 Max Wedge Tribute
1970 Charger R/T S.E. 440 Six Pack
1970 Challenger R/T, 528 Hemi
1970 Charger 500 S.E. 440 4 BBL
1970 Plymouth Road Runner 383
1974 Chrysler New Yorker 440
1996 2500 RAM 488 V-10 4X4
2004 3500 Dually Cummins 4x4
2012 Challenger R/T Classic.
Re: Subframe connectors? [Re: 70Drop] #2382897
10/06/17 11:41 AM
10/06/17 11:41 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 27,421
Balt. Md
3
383man Offline
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Posts: 27,421
Balt. Md
I would put them in. No matter how much they will help some. Even if they did not help they surely wont hurt any and can only help some. I feel my 6 point rollbar stiffened my car more then the frame connectors but the frame connectors definetly helped. Ron

Re: Subframe connectors? [Re: polyspheric] #2382954
10/06/17 01:55 PM
10/06/17 01:55 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 222
California
70Drop Offline OP
enthusiast
70Drop  Offline OP
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 222
California
A unanimous opinion. I guess I have some welding to do. Thanks to all for your input.

Re: Subframe connectors? [Re: 70Drop] #2383157
10/06/17 09:58 PM
10/06/17 09:58 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,205
New York
polyspheric Offline
master
polyspheric  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,205
New York
If you're not sure the boxes are water-tight, drill small drain holes at the lowest points so that water doesn't accumulate.
Someone I know has simply caulked the ends with silicone (very clean first!) and it's been dry for years.


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