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Since people are always asking me for the Vega subframe connector plans, here is a link to the drawing. Please note that the connector shown is the right-hand side connector. The LH side would be the mirror image.

http://www.hangar18fabrication.com/misc_images/vegaframe.pdf

Wish I would saw this a year ago...anyway made them by trial and error...built two complete sets... My question is, is it true that what creates the stiffness in the frame is the connection to the front and rear frames but just as important is the connection of the foor of the car?

In these cars, I would say yes....unless you have a complete roll cage, which may make it a moot point. The entire car is a mass of spot welds and sheet metal. Obviously they were never designed for what we do with them.

Rewelding all of the factory spot welds would probably reap benefits, as well.

Thanks...once i did it i could really tell the difference in rigidity...At the same time I put in a posi 9inch took it out to the street, dropped the hammer and bam there went the little saginaw 4 spd. So I took the motor/tranny out. I should be putting a new motor and tranny (richmond 4 spd) hopefully by the end of august.

I am switching from hooker mounts to Don Hardy, doing away with the power steering for a manual box...is there anything anyone would recomend I strengthen or do while the engine is out??

Heater is gunna go too.

weld your fender wells to your frame and all your seems on the front frame section i am finishing up mine right now i started a long time ago but just now getting back to it i am welding about 3 inch long beads 3 inches apart from each other i will post pics soon on how i am doing it i don't now for sure that it will help but it can't hurt oh and box you cross member or swap to the bigger monza one i have a monza cross member and k member brackets if you are interested

and this is how i did my sub frame connectors with 2x3 square tube layed flat

A quick question. Will these work on a wagon? I am not sure if they have the same wheel base. Thanks

I'm coming up to this stage with my Vega and I would like to see some more pics of subframe connector installs. Specifically of where the front and rear attachment points are and how far in or out from the rocker panel they are mounted. I have a set of Don Hardy headers to install, so if anyone has pics of both the Don Hardy kit and their SFCs installed, that would help me out a lot.

Thanks,
Mike

Bobby,

I think this would work fine on a different wheel base. You just need to know how to weld.

Mike,

I took my idea from Ray's and changed it slightly to do what I needed. I needed to reinforce my trailing arm connections and replace some rusted sections. I decided to chop out a portion of the trailing arm support. I actually welded my frame rails along the whole pinch weld below the rocker arm. Here's a link to my Frame rail build page:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2357894/6

The important part is joining the trailing arm support area to the reinforced area adjacent to the transmission crossmember. I like the idea of taking it all the way to the front frame rail so that's what I did. I also cut out the unibody support from the LCA mounts and made some of my own using the same 1 1/2 x 3 1/2 square steel tubing. This will give me more room for headers.

Thanks! I am so glad spring is coming. I can git the streetrod out and start on the Vega.

You'll be amazed how much rigidity is actually possible on these cars. I have an Alston 6-point cage and subframe connectors. When I jack up the front left tire to get a stand under it, the left rear tire comes off the ground. I feel like I"m going to topple the car over when I lift just one tire off the ground.

Hay Bacchus were did you git your cage? It is on the list to do.

Jegs has a version of their own, as well.

Jegs has a version of their own, as well.

AN H-BODYS BUILDERS WORK IS NEVER DONE!!!!!