Anyone have any really good pics of subfame connectors not installed, or any type of dimensions? I am thinking about fabbing my own, cause it'd be a lot cheaper
sorry, no pics of them at the moment but I built my own to connect the new rear frame rails. I dont know if the way that I did it will work for you but I cut the frame rail extensions off the car (as well as the floor pans but you shouldnt have to go that far). I then cut the bottoms off of the front frame rail and slipped a 2*3*14ga tube inside the front frame rails and have started the install. They are 6 feet long and run straight back to my rear frame rails which are only slightly similar to the originals in some of the bends. My rear frame rails are moved inward so the connectors can run from the front frame rail to the rear in a relatively straight line (only a half inch difference from front to back over a 6 foot length). Currently they are half welded on the back but will be welded over a 1.5 foot overlap.
If you are going to do a stock install, why not just buy connectors? Aren't they only around 100 bucks? You might save 25 bucks but its not worth the hassle of running around collecting the steel unless you are not doing a stock application.
How much is the steel? I have no idea, but I didn't think it would run too much. Though, if it is near the price of the new ones, I might as well get those.
I got my steel from a local metal warehouse and even at wholesale, a length of 2*3 cost me almost 80 bucks and usually they have scrap chunks of 3/16 that they sell by the pound. I think it cost me $85 total but a length includes 24 feet. It was almost as expensive to buy a half length and I use steel constantly so I just bought the whole thing.
It is all in what you expect. The cheaper subframe connectors that just weld to the end of the front and rear subframes are the cheapest, but give you the least performance gain. The 4 points give you MUCH better performance gain. but usually you lose a little bit of ground clearance and they cost a bit more. Tie them in with a center connecting kit and you have the best pre-fabbed SFC's you can buy. The benefit of making your own is not saving money, but you can make a set better then you can buy.