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Topic: I want to tie my unibody frame together - Questions (Read 2701 times) previous topic - next topic

I want to tie my unibody frame together - Questions

Ok,

My first order of business for my 1988 T-Bird LX 5.0 project is to tie the frame together.

Besides fabricating the stuff myself. Anyone have any advise as to any packages out there that I can use to tie the sub frames together?

Will mustang kits fit easily? Do you knwo any companies or part order numbers. any help would be appreciated.

John
 

I want to tie my unibody frame together - Questions

Reply #1 –
John....the search button is your friend, buddy.  Give it a try.

Anyhoo.....if you can weld, I made mine for $30.  Get a 10' stick (or two 5' pieces) of 1"x2"x.125" tubing, notch and close the ends, lay them up as far back onto the rear LCA mount box as you can and burn them in.  Took me about two hours start to finish.
1988 T-Bird Sport Coupe--5.0 HO, MAF swap, 1-5/8" shorties, BBK/Flowmaster exhaust, Explorer intake, 70mm Edelbrock TB, T5, B&M short throw, Centerforce clutch and PP, disc brake TC rear w/ 3.55's, TC front brakes, '98 Cobra springs, DIY SFC's, other misc .  14.05 @ 98mph with launching too low and shifting too high.

I want to tie my unibody frame together - Questions

Reply #2 –
if you want to make your own and have the tools, make yourself a pair of tubular subframe connectors just like the 1's global west sells.. or buy the GW connectors.. they're pricey, but they're great.. they're far more superior than just welding a 1x2 piece of steel in.. they'll completely change the rigidity of the car, like night and day
ShadowMSC.com < < Still Under Construction

R.I.P. 'Zump' 8/29/86 - 11/11/11
3- 87 TC's / 1 really mean 83 Capri RS / 94 Sonoma SAS Project on 37x12.50 TSL Radials / 88 S10 that's LITERALLY cut to pieces / 84 F150 SAS, 351M, 39.5 TSL's / 85 Toyota regular cab, 22R 5spd, 3/4" drop, my little junkyard save/daily driver

I want to tie my unibody frame together - Questions

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Dan B.;385244
John....the search button is your friend, buddy.  Give it a try.

Anyhoo.....if you can weld, I made mine for $30.  Get a 10' stick (or two 5' pieces) of 1"x2"x.125" tubing, notch and close the ends, lay them up as far back onto the rear LCA mount box as you can and burn them in.  Took me about two hours start to finish.

This is what I did also, cheap and easy if you can weld. :)
95 Ranger Splash 2.3
88 Tbird Sport :ies::ies:
5.0 SO, stainless shorty headers, w/ Magnaflow lers. KYB struts, KYB shocks. 5lug conversion from sn95 Mustang, subframe connectors, drilled and slotted rotors, 03 Mach 1 wheels. sequential taillights.140 speedo

I want to tie my unibody frame together - Questions

Reply #5 –
Maximum Motorsports used to make them for the T-bird/Cougars.  I have a set I bought years ago that I am finally getting ready to weld in this week.  IIRC they were around $85 or so plus shipping.
'88 'bird, 10.9:1 306 w/TFS top end, forged rods/pistons, T-5 swap & bunch of other stuff, 1-family owned, had it since ‘98, 5.0tbrd88 on Instagram and YouTube

I want to tie my unibody frame together - Questions

Reply #6 –
If you really want a stiff chassis, do a triangulated SFC's like I have. I have maybe $50 into them if I bought the steel from a regular steel supply. I didn't however so they didn't cost me much of anything, other than my time and welding wire/gas.


86' T/C 4.6L DOHC
16' Chebby Cruze 1.4L Turbo
17’ Peterbilt 389 600hp 1850ftlb Trq 18spd

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

“Heavy Metal Mistress”
[/COLOR][/SIZE]

I want to tie my unibody frame together - Questions

Reply #7 –
Quote from: 1BadBird;385264
If you really want a stiff chassis, do a triangulated SFC's like I have. I have maybe $50 into them if I bought the steel from a regular steel supply. I didn't however so they didn't cost me much of anything, other than my time and welding wire/gas.

Pictures? Thread somewhere?
...and there was light!

I want to tie my unibody frame together - Questions

Reply #8 –
check the link in my sig, pages 4 &5.  If u need measurements, i run back to my car and do it real quick.

John


P.S. I also fabbed up some other pieces to tie the bulk-head to the rear sub-frame as well.


86' T/C 4.6L DOHC
16' Chebby Cruze 1.4L Turbo
17’ Peterbilt 389 600hp 1850ftlb Trq 18spd

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

“Heavy Metal Mistress”
[/COLOR][/SIZE]

I want to tie my unibody frame together - Questions

Reply #9 –
I have been known to play with the hot stick once and a while.....lol Yes I can weld a little. Thanks for the input....sounds pretty easy.

John

I want to tie my unibody frame together - Questions

Reply #10 –
this is what's under my car
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
***** Project "EVOLUTION" 1987 Cougar LS  & 1985 Cougar Convertible *****
[/COLOR]
5.0 HO 306 roller block, machined GT-40P heads, Wiseco dished forged pistons, Eagle forged floating I-beam connecting rods, Lunati pushrods, ARP bolts, Scorpion aluminum 1.6 rockers, Comp Cams Magnum 266HR, Explorer intake, 65mm TB, MAF Conversion, 19# injectors, Ford Racing stainless P-headers, 2-1/2" cat-less exhaust w/ Flowtech Afterburner lers , SC AOD with 2800 BDR torque converter, 3.73 T-Lok rear, CHE rear control arms, full 2-1/2" frame w/1" jacking rails & seat supports, Rear disk brakes, Turbine wheels, All original interior w/ floor shift upgrade .......
Pretty much every panel on my 87 is new, rebuilt, or re constructed. :D
Join us on Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_137541156293768&ap=1

I want to tie my unibody frame together - Questions

Reply #11 –
I don't think MM makes them for the T-Birds any longer and I am not sure the ones they made were full length either but I could very well be wrong.  I would still like to see pics of them if you can.

Darren

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

I want to tie my unibody frame together - Questions

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Aerocoupe;385360
I don't think MM makes them for the T-Birds any longer and I am not sure the ones they made were full length either but I could very well be wrong.  I would still like to see pics of them if you can.

Darren

 
I can get pics sometime...they are in the process of being welded in right now.  I didn't work on it last night but plan to tonight.

I'm not sure what is considered full length, but my MM oneshiznit the frame rail just behind the trans mount crossmember and go back to about where the LCA's bolt up.

MM probably does not make them anymore.  I've had these laying around since 2005 or so.
'88 'bird, 10.9:1 306 w/TFS top end, forged rods/pistons, T-5 swap & bunch of other stuff, 1-family owned, had it since ‘98, 5.0tbrd88 on Instagram and YouTube

I want to tie my unibody frame together - Questions

Reply #13 –
Full length are like what the GW units are.  You can see them on my car in the last page of this thread (ignore the exhaust and look for the black connectors to the side of the subframes):

http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?31210-Custom-Exhaust-for-the-351W/page3

The full length units have two places of attachment on the front subframe and two places of attachment on the rear subframe.  The MM Units sound like they are the standard length units and they will work well especially since they are paid for.

Darren

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

I want to tie my unibody frame together - Questions

Reply #14 –
You guys Rock - Thanks Darren...Those rails look heavy duty for sure! Send pic for sure. I have enough steel at home to do it so that wouldnt be a problem for sure.

John