Subframe Connectors/beat Up Tq Boxes/irs

stpete · Jun 21, 2016

I think I found a guy to weld in some subframe connectors for me. I will probably choose the MM full length.

I have two questions.

First, my torque boxes are kind of beat up. It looks like someone used some jack stands on them and smashed the flat top in. What is the proper procedure to get the subframe connectors welded on there?

Second, I would someday like to put an IRS on the car. Is there going to be any interference if I already have the subframe connectors on there?

mikestang63 · Jun 21, 2016

stpete said:
I think I found a guy to weld in some subframe connectors for me. I will probably choose the MM full length.

I have two questions.

First, my torque boxes are kind of beat up. It looks like someone used some jack stands on them and smashed the flat top in. What is the proper procedure to get the subframe connectors welded on there?

Second, I would someday like to put an IRS on the car. Is there going to be any interference if I already have the subframe connectors on there?

few things

Make sure this "guy" knows what he is doing or you will end welding in the connectors wrong end then end up with your car tweaked all out of sorts. The car needs to be on its weight and proper drive height. The areas need to be clean and free of paint, grease, etc. He also needs to know how to weld on the car so you dont end up setting the car on fire and or frying your electronics.

That being said, dont even consider installing them if you have damaged torque boxes. At a minimum. you may be able to weld, repair them if not too bad or your may need to get a set of wild rides battle boxes and install them. This needs to be done before you install subfame connectors.

The IRS should not be impacted at all by subframe connectors.

FoxMustangLvr · Jun 22, 2016

Agreed with everything @mikestang63 said about torque boxes and SFC's. Fix the torque boxes first before doing anything. Also as far as IRS goes, installing full length subframe connectors (SFC's) correctly before the swap is perfectly OK and will not affect anything. The IRS bolts in to the torque box the same way the lower control arms do for a solid rear axle.

FYI, I welded my MM sfc's in AFTER I did my IRS swap. You can really feel a difference with less chassis flex after the install.

Noobz347 · Jun 22, 2016

To hell with those torque boxes.

If they're as beat up as you're describing, cut em out, install Wild Rides replacements, and never look back:

Edit: What those guys said up there is spot on. This just eliminates all the guess work or battle box installation.

Davedacarpainter · Jun 22, 2016

Noobz347 said:
To hell with those torque boxes.

If they're as beat up as you're describing, cut em out, install Wild Rides replacements, and never look back:

Edit: What those guys said up there is spot on. This just eliminates all the guess work or battle box installation.

Show a picture of their lower boxes as well Noobz, I'd do it myself, but I'm an idiot.

Noobz347 · Jun 22, 2016

Good call:

Here's an image of the reinforcement kit for the lowers.

...and the kit for the uppers if you decide that yours are salvageable.

This last image would be in-place of the replacement kit in my first post, reinforcing your factory uppers.

Davedacarpainter · Jun 22, 2016

Noobz347 said:
Good call:

Here's an image of the reinforcement kit for the lowers.

...and the kit for the uppers if you decide that yours are salvageable.

This last image would be in-place of the replacement kit in my first post, reinforcing your factory uppers.

Nah Noobz, the have an entire box you weld in, it completely replaces the factory box. For the lowers, just to be clear.

Noobz347 · Jun 22, 2016

Davedacarpainter said:
Nah Noobz, the have an entire box you weld in, it completely replaces the factory box. For the lowers, just to be clear.

Are you talking about these?

I've never even seen these installed.

Davedacarpainter · Jun 22, 2016

Noobz347 said:
Are you talking about these?

I've never even seen these installed.

That's it Noobz, badass stuff there! Very cool, you have to cut out the old box entirely and weld those in.

I kind of lust after them.....

mikestang63 · Jun 22, 2016

I've owned many 10-12 second fox mustangs and not one thankfully needed to have the entire floor section replaced. Only the battle boxes welded in and welded up the stock stich seams. The lower ones are much easier than the uppers- you have to gut the entire back section of the interior usually- seats, carpet, sound deadening, paint, and then cover everything with welding or heavy blankets.

Ford did some stupid things over the years but stitch welding the torque box seams ranks up there. It would take all of 2 minutes on the assembly line to fully weld those in properly.

Davedacarpainter · Jun 23, 2016

Noobz347 said:
To hell with those torque boxes.

If they're as beat up as you're describing, cut em out, install Wild Rides replacements, and never look back:

Edit: What those guys said up there is spot on. This just eliminates all the guess work or battle box installation.

Noobz347 said:
Are you talking about these?

I've never even seen these installed.

I want to install these on my blue car one day, I won't need them at all, just WANT them!

CarMichael Angelo · Jun 23, 2016

Davedacarpainter said:
I want to install these on my blue car one day, I won't need them at all, just WANT them!

You won't need them because you'll probably end up w/ a 5.0 in the car.

The engine typically fails before the torque boxes do.

*On a separate note:

Do you guys think that somebody that can't weld a pair of SF connectors in can even imagine cutting out the torque box completely, and welding in a set of uppers, or lowers like those that have been suggested?

Davedacarpainter · Jun 23, 2016

madmike1157 said:
You won't need them because you'll probably end up w/ a 5.0 in the car.

The engine typically fails before the torque boxes do.

*On a separate note:

Do you guys think that somebody that can't weld a pair of SF connectors in can even imagine cutting out the torque box completely, and welding in a set of uppers, or lowers like those that have been suggested?

Ah! Mike. You misunderstand me, I "want" them, need is unimportant here.

On your note, nope.

CarMichael Angelo · Jun 23, 2016

Davedacarpainter said:
Ah! Mike. You misunderstand me, I "want" them, need is unimportant here.

On your note, nope.

That's what I'm sayin'

It'd be like this:

* Dude "I'm thinking about buying a new used car, what'ya guys think about a Fox Mustang?"

* Noobz " Great Idea! One suggestion though, if you're gonna mod it, to hell with buying a stock one. Might I suggest:"

Davedacarpainter · Jun 23, 2016

madmike1157 said:
That's what I'm sayin'

It'd be like this:

* Dude "I'm thinking about buying a new used car, what'ya guys think about a Fox Mustang?"

* Noobz " Great Idea! One suggestion though, if you're gonna mod it, to hell with buying a stock one. Might I suggest:"

Nah, I don't like the hood......

Noobz347 · Jun 23, 2016

madmike1157 said:
* Noobz " Great Idea! One suggestion though, if you're gonna mod it, to hell with buying a stock one. Might I suggest:"

He's singing my song.

Loose the skinnies, wheelie bar, and stickers. There also needs to be a seat for the wife/kid, even if she doesn't use it.

1st gear rolls
through the
school parky lot
to pick up the kids

Carry the two minus 1

TWO SPEED POWER-GLIDE AND 4:56 GEARS!

Open LTs will do. Saves money.

stpete · Jun 24, 2016

I'm out of town right now. I don't think the boxes are that bad. I'll take some pics when I get home.
My understanding is an irs puts less stress on the boxes. Is it worth all that if I go irs?
My car is much more likely to see an auto cross or road race course than a drag strip.

Davedacarpainter · Jun 24, 2016

stpete said:
I'm out of town right now. I don't think the boxes are that bad. I'll take some pics when I get home.
My understanding is an irs puts less stress on the boxes. Is it worth all that if I go irs?
My car is much more likely to see an auto cross or road race course than a drag strip.

Autocross? If you can afford the IRS, you should go for that, way better handling for road racing.

Take pictures of the boxes and post them.

stpete · Jul 3, 2016

Finally got the car up to take some pics of the torque boxes.

The passenger side is the worst. Both look like someone put jack stands on the big square box and dented them in. Damage isn't terrible, but it's there.

Driver Side:

Lighting isn't great, but if you look you can see that it's dented in. Looks a lot like a jackstand or some other support was put there.

The rest looks OK to my untrained eye:

Passenger Side is worse where the jack stand was probably placed:

Again, the rest looks OK to me:

There is some wavy/bent material around the edge of the access hole, but again looks like some piece of a jack/lift/jackstand.

GroverDill · Jul 3, 2016

Those are fine nothing to worry about.

Subframe Connectors/beat Up Tq Boxes/irs

stpete

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Noobz347

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