convertible subframe connectors

I know weld in is the best, but are bolt in connectors any good?

"Cut the subfloor, Mick!"

"You don't want to do it, kid!"

"Cut it."

It's what Rocky woulda done. That, and pound raw meat. :-D Here is a pic of the Tinman subframes going through my floor. I like how it turned out. If you ever wanted to go back to stock, you could buy another set of subfloor pans, remove the subframes, and cut and weld them in. Not too huge of a deal. Here is the final result with Tinman subframes. I seriously think joining the subframes together to the unibody amidships goes a long way:

http://web.mac.com/jbauder/iweb/6970clutchpedals/tinmansubframes.html

i installed maier racing subs in my 65 convertible after i completed the resto. Made a huge difference. My headers hang down the same amount at the sub frames...so clearance was not compromised. Well worth the time to install.

Mike

I believe that weld-in are way better than bolt in connectors. I had bolt-in connectors on my '83, and they help, but the body still tweaks quite a bit. I could tell in that car because the T-tops would leak additional air when I really got on it. The bolts always allow extra room for everything to move. Plus the bolts are going to crush the ends of the subframes if you tighten them securely. However, they did keep the car from folding completely in half when granny hit me.

As far as clearance goes, my '70 is lowered quite a bit in front and my GW connectors bottom out on the ground all the time. It's annoying. I'd like to lower the back some, but I need lower profile connectors to do that. The next time I'd rather put something that is tighter up against the floor of the car, possibly through the floor. Unless your car is a Boss 302 or something similarly rare, I wouldn't be concerned about doing it.

CochinoFilipino said:

I will have an AOD so I'll have to see how the exhaust goes. If I can get the exhaust tucked up in the tunnel I will plan to do what 70vert did with his SFC. Thanks for the input.

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I got my 2 1/2" dual exhaust with the 3" Aluminum driveshaft all tucked up under the plate without spacers. Plenty of room. I even did the work myself, so I am sure a pro can do it easily. I just did not want to pay $400 for the job, plus materials.

I am getting the sFc's mocked up and will be welding everything up like 70vert did as well. Nice.

CochinoFilipino said:

Did you get your cross-over in? And do you have any pics?

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Yup, 2 1/2" H-pipe. I don't have any pics as the car is now down off the stands and waiting for a P/S pump bracket (last item) before I start it up. It's been like 4 years!!! The forum police shut down my thread over on 5.0 Tech asking for one. Babies. How close are you on your project. 2 years right?

I just did some photos of the 3-link mid-installation, but there are photos of the subframe connectors in there as well: (yes, the exhaust will end up being re-routed over the plate, or I might have a custom plate made that dips down in the middle)

http://gallery.mac.com/jbauder#100048

CochinoFilipino said:

I'm in the Bay Area too, mid-peninsula. Now update your sig.

And do you guys mean OVER the plate (inside the tunnel)? I probably won't do a crossover but want to clarify anyway.

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Yes I went up over the plate into the tunnel. I will post some pictures tomorrow. Picking up the P/S bracket in the morning so I will be over at the garage anyway. I'll get some pics of the engine compartment as well.

'til tomorrow then

I meant "over the plate", as in "higher than the plate". I was thinking from the bottom up, rather than top-down.