Which frame connectors?

Posted By: dodgex5

Which frame connectors? - 06/15/10 12:51 AM

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.

Posted By: ahy

Re: Which frame connectors? - 06/15/10 01:01 AM

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

Posted By: 340SHORTY

Re: Which frame connectors? - 06/15/10 01:15 AM

cage it..

Posted By: dodgex5

Re: Which frame connectors? - 06/15/10 02:30 AM

I'm not gonna cage it or tub it.

Posted By: stinger

Re: Which frame connectors? - 06/15/10 02:53 AM

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.

Posted By: DAMOPARS

Re: Which frame connectors? - 06/15/10 12:46 PM

Make your own.

Posted By: TMP66

Re: Which frame connectors? - 06/15/10 02:42 PM

Quote:

Make your own.

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

Posted By: cudazappa

Re: Which frame connectors? - 06/15/10 07:35 PM

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.

Posted By: Silver70

Re: Which frame connectors? - 06/15/10 07:53 PM

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.

Posted By: elitecustombody

Re: Which frame connectors? - 06/16/10 01:04 AM

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

Posted By: intragration

Re: Which frame connectors? - 06/17/10 06:20 AM

I vote for the US Car Tool as well.

Attached picture 6041210-uscartool.jpg

Posted By: Silver70

Re: Which frame connectors? - 06/17/10 10:08 AM

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.

Posted By: DennisH

Re: Which frame connectors? - 06/17/10 11:58 AM

US Cartool.

Posted By: RacerGofKGB

Re: Which frame connectors? - 06/17/10 12:17 PM

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.

Posted By: gtx6970

Re: Which frame connectors? - 06/17/10 12:59 PM

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)

Posted By: stinger

Re: Which frame connectors? - 06/17/10 05:29 PM

yeah let us know how the parking brake cables work out.

Posted By: Silver70

Re: Which frame connectors? - 06/17/10 06:05 PM

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.

Posted By: RacerGofKGB

Re: Which frame connectors? - 06/17/10 06:55 PM

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.

Posted By: Silver70

Re: Which frame connectors? - 06/17/10 07:52 PM

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!