Homemade Sub Frame Connectors..What did Ya Use?

5.0Droptop

...all those nights we shared, and you're a dude??
Special Agent Mukity-Muck Whats in Charge Round Here
May 15, 2002
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Indiana
In keeping to my strict low budget daily driver plan.
I decided to make my own SFC.

I went to my local Tractor Supply. They sell mild steel tubing there.

I bought 2 pcs of 1x1 tubing 48" long. More than stout enough.
I would have rather had 1x1.5x48" but they didnt carry it.

In the past I have bought SFC's and they were all made differntly.

For example.
The set on the vert was a round hollow tube about about 2" in dia. They had a plate welded on each side on each end, to weld to the sides of the subframe. So the actual contact area was on the sides of the frame about 6 inches on each plate.
It worked fine.

Another set was 1" x1.5" rectangle tubing. 43" long
Another set was 1.5 x 1.5 sq tubing. 43" long. with a useless bracket that was susposed to connect to the seat bolts.
I installed a set for a buddy that were home made out of 1x1 tubing 1/8" thick walls which was overkill on thickness but they worked just fine.

I have never noticed any differnce in feel on any of them.

I am going to try the 1x1x48" sq tubing and see how they do on my car. It was less than 20.00 for the 2 pcs. The material is alot thicker than the actual subframe thickness so I see no reason why it wouldnt hold up just fine.

I know from my fabricating experience as a welder that it will be more than suitable strength wise. Visually it will look a little odd because its narrow but who will see them but me. :shrug:
 
The whole point is to connect the front and rear frame sections. This way they flex together in a even uniform way, rather than independently. I feel the tubing I bought will be suitable.

I guess if I decided I want the connector to be wider. I could buy another set of 1x1x48 weld 2 pcs on each side and weld them where they butt together. It would still be cheaper that buying a set off ebay...And it would spread the stress out over a wider area.

hmmmm

Ill install the first 2 pcs and then decide if it needs more. Ill be doing it this weekend.
 
Thanks. I saved the diagram for the cuts and bends. I can take the tubing to work and fab it all up.