Joined: Fri Dec 22 2006, 08:41PM
Location: Warrenton, Virginia
Posts: 1366
I just contacted Auto Rust Technicians and they said they discontinued their line of C body sub-frame connectors for lack of interest. Is anyone running sub-frame connectors? If so, who makes them??
Mine are home made. There isn't much to frame connectors.
Basically, take a 2" square tube and notch one end to lap over the rear frame rail, then butt the other end to the subframe. You can get more elaborate, use bigger tube, some guys like to cut them into the floors.
Since my vert has torque boxes, the torque was pealed back and the connector was laid underneath, and the torque box was welded on top.
The connectors were welded to the rear floor pans and seat brace, where they made contact.
A guy at the resto shop had a cool idea to make a bracket on the subframe that the connector would mate to. They would then bolt together and be stitch welded for extra strength. If the subframe ever needed removed, unbolt and grind off the welds.
Here is the bracket on the subframe during fabrication.
Fitting the bracket and rail.
The rear section, showing the over lap and torque box.
Full view, shows contact at floor pan and seat brace.
We had first considered using 2x3 tube, but settled on 2x2 with an 1/8" wall. Less cutting on floors, and PLENTY strong! The tubes must weigh 40 pound each.
Joined: Wed Jan 25 2006, 07:03PM
Location: Milford Mi
Posts: 403
I have a set of Auto Rust Technicians for the my 300 just have not installed them yet. If you would like I'll take a couple pictures and post them. Just remered the Tidewater Mopar Clube site has pictures of them installed on the 68 Fury they are doing.
<span class='smallblacktext'>[ Edited Fri Jan 11 2008, 05:22AM ]</span>
6pac300 wrote ... I have a set of Auto Rust Technicians for the my 300 just have not installed them yet. If you would like I'll take a couple pictures and post them. Just remered the Tidewater Mopar Clube site has pictures of them installed on the 68 Fury they are doing.
I would like to see them preinstall also. Specially the front. This image makes it look like it laps on top of the subframe. Curious in what order Tide Water did their floors and connectors.
Joined: Mon Sep 03 2007, 05:16PM
Location: Ridgecrest Ca. (China Lake Naval Weapons Center)
Posts: 58
How do they affect the front subframe? Is it still removable or? (I havent crawled under my '66 T & C yet to actually look at the front subframe so...)
I think they make a huge difference. I have jacked up my Fury a dozen different ways, no signs of flex, the doors and all panels don't move or flex when lifted. Put a floor jack in the middle of the connector and lift the whole side of the car, pull both tires at once. Remember my tube walls are 1/8".
The Tidewater pictures look like the connectors are welded directly to the subframe, which seems to be the most common. The subframe could probably be removed, but the connectors would probably need hacked up. Mine are designed so the subframe can be removed with minimal impact to the connectors or subframe bracket.
Joined: Fri Dec 22 2006, 08:41PM
Location: Warrenton, Virginia
Posts: 1366
Hmmm, I'll check out Tidewatermopars site. I used to be a member, there's lots of good info and knowledgable people. There just wasn't much traffic to speak of. They are in Virginia (VA Beach) which is a plus as I am in Virginia too (although 220 or so miles away in Northern VA). I suppose I could ride down there some day and check into some of the resources they use.