Thanks. That is another option, but I'm already giving up stiffness by mounting the 2x3 tubing horizontally... making part of it 1.5 would be even weaker (although still better than just the unibody).

Also it's easier to cut the sheet metal of the floor pan than the 1/8 wall tubing. I don't own a plasma cutter and using a cutoff wheel has already gotten old wink

What about just lowering the rear of the connector 1/2" so it touches the floor pan but doesn't have to go up through it? work