Take a look at my torque box area.

[88 Fox GT]

Do they look damaged? I noticed on both sides there is a little bending in the fronts and the passenger side appears to have a crack or separation in front of where the lower control arm mounts.

Passenger side.

Driver side.

I plan on getting full length sub frame connectors next. Can I install them and prevent any further damage to the torque boxes, if I even have any damage now?

 

[R2D2]

subframe connectors wont help the boxes

 

[stihl-066]

looks to me like you need to put something on there to stop the rust. Then fix your problem. Be sure to put some undercoating on there or you might be putting in new torque boxes in the future from rusting out.

 

[notch22]

looks to me like you need to put something on there to stop the rust. Then fix your problem. Be sure to put some undercoating on there or you might be putting in new torque boxes in the future from rusting out.

No lie. You may be replacing a LOT more than torque boxes if you let that get out of hand.

 

[dec322]

I've been wondering about torque boxes....now I'm subscribing for more info.

 

[88 Fox GT]

It's only surface rust. The rust hasn't even begun to start eating through anything. Trust me, undercoating is on my list of things to do very soon. Now, how about the torque boxes? I get a popping noise when taking off in reverse or forward. I figure it's either these making noise or the fact that my spring isolators are nearly rotted off and it's the springs binding against the metal.

 

[bill302]

It's only surface rust. The rust hasn't even begun to start eating through anything. Trust me, undercoating is on my list of things to do very soon. Now, how about the torque boxes? I get a popping noise when taking off in reverse or forward. I figure it's either these making noise or the fact that my spring isolators are nearly rotted off and it's the springs binding against the metal.

have you ruled out u-joints most of the time the symptoms your describing are bad universal joints...

 

[85_SS_302_Coupe]

Subframes can actually make torque box damage worse if it's already an issue. The more you stiffen the chassis, the more work the suspension has to do, and the more of the bumping and flexing it has to absorb. If you have aftermarket control arms and a strong running car with a stiff chassis, you narrow down the week links to the torque boxes.

 

[Mavrick]

Are you kidding? That's barely surface rust, I wouldn't worry about that.. have it undercoated and forget about it!

 

[68torinogt]

you need to clean the rust before undercoating.

rust doesnt stop when it is merely "covered" up. it keeps eating at the steel,

rust is some nasty s***!

 

[88 Fox GT]

The thread isn't about the rust! lol

I know it's got some surface rust and I'm going to get it cleaned up, but do you think my torque boxes look damaged? Does anyone notice the small upwards bend? In the bottom picture, you can see where the paint is wrinkling where the bend is.

have you ruled out u-joints most of the time the symptoms your describing are bad universal joints...

U-joints are new.

 

[stihl-066]

Sure if you think there are some cracks buy an aftermarket strenghtening kit. But be sure and fix the rust. I just put both front and rear frame rails and torque boxes that the previos owner just covered up with undercoating when they had some surface rust. The kits are like 170.00 from jegs. Easy install if you can weld. I just put a set of them in my 82 GT.