Subframe Connector Plans

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Subframe Connector Plans

Postby SWT Racing » Sun Jul 02, 2006 3:22 am

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
Andrew Slater
Hangar18 Fabrication/SWT Racing
http://www.hangar18fabrication.com/swtracing.html

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Postby erock805 » Wed Jul 05, 2006 12:11 am

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?
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Postby barebonesracecars » Fri Jul 07, 2006 6:28 pm

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.
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Postby erock805 » Sat Jul 08, 2006 12:39 am

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.
erick in AZ
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73 vega wagon
61 Econoline PU
Road King
34 ford PU
94 bagged crew cab dually
06 GTO
two rat head kids
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Postby peterpan » Tue Jul 18, 2006 1:04 am

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
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Postby peterpan » Wed Jul 19, 2006 6:57 pm

and this is how i did my sub frame connectors with 2x3 square tube layed flat
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Postby Troadster » Sun Feb 04, 2007 10:19 pm

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

Postby wootz » Sat Mar 17, 2007 4:53 pm

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
Last edited by wootz on Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:43 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Postby NixVegaGT » Sat Mar 17, 2007 5:20 pm

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.
- Nic '73 Vega GT "DogBoxx" Batwing LS1
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Postby Troadster » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:01 pm

Thanks! I am so glad spring is coming. I can git the streetrod out and start on the Vega.
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Postby Bacchus » Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:17 pm

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.
1974 Vega Wagon
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Postby Troadster » Sun Mar 18, 2007 9:11 am

Hay Bacchus were did you git your cage? It is on the list to do.
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Postby barebonesracecars » Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:40 pm

Jegs has a version of their own, as well.
Reid

*1979 Buick Skyhawk SCCA/street/show*
(with Buick 350 power on deck)
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Postby barebonesracecars » Thu Mar 29, 2007 9:49 pm

Jegs has a version of their own, as well.
Reid

*1979 Buick Skyhawk SCCA/street/show*
(with Buick 350 power on deck)
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Postby mldeolde » Fri Mar 30, 2007 12:48 am

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