Bolt-on vs. weld-on subframe connectors

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pdw5000

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May 25, 2008

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Jun 3, 2008

#1

• Jun 3, 2008

• #1

I am about to purchase subframe connectors for my 68 coupe. I was wondering if it would be better to get the bolt-on or the weld-on subframe connectors. Also, what brands are the best?

 

jerry S

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Sep 3, 2003

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52.22N 5.12E

Jun 3, 2008

#2

• Jun 3, 2008

• #2

pdw5000 said:

I am about to purchase subframe connectors for my 68 coupe. I was wondering if it would be better to get the bolt-on or the weld-on subframe connectors. Also, what brands are the best?

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Welded, without a doubt. I have Global West subframes with jacking rails, that you can see in the pic below this text. I crashed my car in Nov. 2006 and the informed opinion of my mechanic and body guy were that the subframes and jacking rails were the only things that kept my car from ripping in half.

 

hivewax

Member

Jan 1, 2006

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17

Miami, FL

Jun 3, 2008

#3

• Jun 3, 2008

• #3

you can get the bolt on sub-frames, then weld them later on. you have your choice of name brands: TCP, Global West, and Competition Engineering. TCP has extras that can be attached to their sub-frames.

 

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truck90278

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Jun 4, 2006

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Redondo Beach, CA

Jun 3, 2008

#4

• Jun 3, 2008

• #4

We bought a set of "bolt on" fit was horrible, large gaps etc. Now they are used for scrap tubing. We used Maier's racing weld on - good fit

 

Pakrat

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Aug 6, 2000

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Currently: NH Originally: Rhode Island (and all po

Jun 3, 2008

#5

• Jun 3, 2008

• #5

I also went with Global West. When I first researched what to do years ago they came highly recommended as well as to purchase their bolt on units with the intention of welding them on instead of bolting them on.

 

JC6715

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Oct 24, 2005

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Hillsboro, Oregon

Jun 3, 2008

#6

• Jun 3, 2008

• #6

pdw5000 said:

I am about to purchase subframe connectors for my 68 coupe. I was wondering if it would be better to get the bolt-on or the weld-on subframe connectors. Also, what brands are the best?

Click to expand...

If you have the skill and the tools, make some weld on connectors yourself. I just followed DazeCars instructions and built some bullet proof connectors... If Daze sees this, thanks a lot by the way! Great, easy to follow instructions...

Save yourself tons of cash...

http://home.bresnan.net/~dazed/sub-frame.html

 

rbohm

Founding Member

Apr 12, 2002

6,698

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tucson,az

Jun 3, 2008

#7

• Jun 3, 2008

• #7

in my opinion the only reason to use bolt on subframe connectors is because you dont have a welder, but you have a drill and the proper size drill bit, so that you can fit the connectors in place and then take the car down to have the connectors welded in.

 

edgars23

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Oct 16, 2006

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Los Angeles Area

Jun 3, 2008

#8

• Jun 3, 2008

• #8

I have bolt on connectors in my 01 Mustang and I plan on getting a set for my 67 coupe as well. When it is all said and done, I'm welding both sets into place as they is no reason to ever remove them from the car. As for why I got bolt ons in the first place, I don't own a welder and I have limited access to one as it is now.
-Edgar

 

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66hezzi

New Member

Mar 28, 2008

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Jun 3, 2008

#9

• Jun 3, 2008

• #9

I bought mine from Mustang Plus - they were a bolt on, but I welded mine. Fit was horrible...I would have been better off building my own...I ended up plating the front subframes with 1/8 material to help fill the gaps. The subframe connectors I used are just 2 1/2 square tubing (maybe an .080 wall)........ be easy to build.

 

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pdw5000

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May 25, 2008

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Jun 4, 2008

#10

• Jun 4, 2008

• #10

I believe I am going to follow that website of how to fabricate the connectors. My uncle owns a metal fabrication shop so he can easily do it for me.

Thanks everyone!

 

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65GEEZER

New Member

Dec 5, 2006

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Jun 4, 2008

#11

• Jun 4, 2008

• #11

My body guy welded some tubing in when he was doing body work, appears to be a simple solution

 

joedokes28

Member

Jan 9, 2003

104

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18

Photown, Az

Jun 4, 2008

#12

• Jun 4, 2008

• #12

What can one expect to pay to have sub frame connectors welded on?

 

Tim65GT

Active Member

Feb 24, 2004

1,149

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39

West Texas

Jun 4, 2008

#13

• Jun 4, 2008

• #13

I have the Global West SFCs on my '65. I paid $160 to have them welded on. The guy did a great job, taking his time to first level the car on the rack. As he welded he had to continually adjust the heat as not to burn through the thin subframe material on the car. He also added some metal to fill in some small gaps where the front bracket portion of the SFC did not completely match up to the the subframe. He also painted the areas. It took about 2 1/2 hours.

edit: I prepared the SFCs and the area of the subframes ahead of time by grinding all the paint off to bare metal where the welding would be done with 60 grit disc on my right angle grinder.

 

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TOM B

20+ Year Stangneter

Nov 15, 2002

872

1

16

Harrisburg Pa

Jun 5, 2008

#14

• Jun 5, 2008

• #14

I bought a set of Global West bolt on connectors but came to find out they came loose all the time with higher horse power and you cant get them tight enough with the thin frame rails.
So I welded them on and to my surprise the bolt holes served me well as I used them to add a weld to the sides which made it a lot stronger

 

carefact0rzero

Member

Mar 17, 2008

49

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7

columbia, sc

Jun 5, 2008

#15

• Jun 5, 2008

• #15

same topic but a bit different direction...

i have some serious issues with cracked paint between the corners of the back glass and the trunk lid in the grooves that run in between the two, so i know i've got some pretty good chassis flex going on. i plan on adding subframe connectors when i start to repaint, but are there any other things that i can do to strengthen up the body?

 

Tony R

New Member

May 29, 2008

102

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Vancouver Wa

Jun 5, 2008

#16

• Jun 5, 2008

• #16

carefact0rzero said:

i have some serious issues with cracked paint between the corners of the back glass and the trunk lid in the grooves that run in between the two, so i know i've got some pretty good chassis flex going on. i plan on adding subframe connectors when i start to repaint, but are there any other things that i can do to strengthen up the body?

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