You need subframe connectors

Topic: You need subframe connectors (Read 13852 times) previous topic - next topic

You need subframe connectors

Reply #60 – January 04, 2012, 10:16:38 PM

What I sent to 88 Blackbird 5.0 is a throught the floor subframe that ties into the lower subframe connectors. I can tell you from experience that the GW units are stout. I have a set in the Bird and a set in the Coupe. With them and only them in the car you could jack up any corner of the car and it would pick up that corner, then the opposite corner across the car, followed by the corner on the same side of the car, and leave only one tire on the ground. The doors would open and close and they stayed aligned. The addition of the upper subframes and tying them into the lower subframes made the car flatter in the corners. The lowers alone would allow some twist with the chassis loaded up going into a hard corner but with the uppers installed that was almost all but eliminated. When the six point cage was installed in the Bird I noticed zero difference in the stiffness of the car but it made me feel a bit safer.

Griggs Racing sells the upper subframes for about $320 (List, dealers are much cheaper) and they are shown here:

http://www.griggsracing.com/product_info.php?cPath=4332_4316_4375_4408&products_id=221&osCsid=b63e5cb9d0316943961db962ab882fa0

This is basically what I have in both of my cars with the GW lowers. The reason I like the GW lowers is they are full lengh and have four tie in points. They also mount on the sides of the front and rear subframes which gives my car additional ground clearance that is needed. The tubing is 1-5/8" X 0.125" roll cage tubing as stated on Summit's website and in the installation paperwork I have but I could not find this on GW's site:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/GLS-918/

Anyhow, its just a personal preference for me and if you do the math round tubing will resist twisting better than rectangular or square tubing when comparing the same wall thicknesses and circumference. I will also say that ANYTHING on these cars is a huge improvement and you will notice a differnce with just about any weld-in connector.

Darren

You need subframe connectors

Reply #61 – January 05, 2012, 09:55:23 AM

I didn't know the GW's were that strong Darren. You said they have 4 tie-in points, but I only see 2 points where it looks like you'd weld them onto the car. Did you use seat brackets with yours?

You need subframe connectors

Reply #62 – January 05, 2012, 10:45:21 AM

Several companies make full length subframe connectors for the Mustangs but I don't know of many that make them for the T-Birds. GW makes full length subframes connectors which is what you see on their site. The ends on the connectors tie into the rear bulk head (where the lower control arm mounts) and the front of the car's front subframe (near where the e-brake cable comes out of the driver side inner fender hence the tab on the subframe connector to mount the e-brake cable. GW provides two brackets (not shown) that allow you to weld the rear of the car's front subframe and the front of the car's rear subframe to the body of the GW subframe connector. Hopefully that makes sense.

The seat braces they offer are for the Mustangs which are narrower than the T-Birds. I have asked them if they will make seat braces for the Birds and they are looking into it which means maybe and more like not going to happen. I am thinking of making my own by measuring the seat braces I have on my Coupe and possibly building a set based off of that design but its pretty low on the list of things to do.

Darren

You need subframe connectors

Reply #63 – January 05, 2012, 11:26:16 AM

Thanks for clearing that up for me Darren. Now I see why you like GW's SFC so much. It sounds like they're extremely well engineered. I was wrong to have any misgivings about them.

You need subframe connectors

Reply #64 – January 05, 2012, 12:34:14 PM

You're a bad influence on me Darren. Because of you, I'm gonna have to buy a pair of their SFC's. Because of all the big bills I've had to pay lately, I'm gonna have to do financial gymnastics to buy them, but it sounds like they're worth it to me.

I just spoke to a Tech Rep at Global West by the way and asked him about the possibility of them starting to make seat braces for our cars. It would be in your best interest to read the thread I just started. It's titled "Global West Seat Braces."

You need subframe connectors

Reply #65 – January 16, 2012, 06:48:19 AM

All I can say is GIGGITTY! I like where this is going!

You need subframe connectors

Reply #66 – January 16, 2012, 06:54:25 PM

i thought they made mine ride worse, that may al;so be because i have a strut tower bace also. but it launchs alot harder

You need subframe connectors

Reply #67 – January 16, 2012, 07:41:58 PM

It may be the suspension. I have full coil overs and street valved Koni DA's (Griggs Racing) on all four corners on both cars so it actually made mine more responsive and much more fun to drive. I have strut tower braces and Griggs upper subframes on both cars so they are really stiff.

Darren

You need subframe connectors

Reply #68 – January 16, 2012, 09:10:14 PM

Quote from: 87tbird5.0;377864

i thought they made mine ride worse, that may al;so be because i have a strut tower bace also. but it launchs alot harder

Then your suspension is sub-par.

You need subframe connectors

Reply #69 – January 17, 2012, 12:03:43 AM

Quote from: 87tbird5.0;377864

i thought they made mine ride worse, that may al;so be because i have a strut tower bace also. but it launchs alot harder

Quote from: Chuck W;377879

Then your suspension is sub-par.

I agree with Chuck. I have the stock LX springs and Monroe SensaTracs and the car rides better after I had the subframes installed. The ride is smoother and more controlled than it was before the subframe connectors.