Location for front of frame connector

[72cudamaan]

I'm ready to weld in my frame connectors and need to know.
A) Should frame connector run parallel to rocker panel  and covering up oval hole in crossmember or
B)Frame connector runs at slight angle to rocker panel with front of connector next to torsion bar socket

I've looked all over for pictures and the only one I saw was from TopCat. Is there any reason I couldn't cover up the oval hole in the crossmember?

                                                               Thanks guys, Andy

[brads70]

Isn't the oval hole for a fuel line? When I intalled mine I didn't cover up the hole? Sorry this is the best picture I have of that area , hope it helps some?

[Cuda Cody]

What type of connectors are you using?

I'm ready to weld in my frame connectors and need to know.
A) Should frame connector run parallel to rocker panel  and covering up oval hole in crossmember or
B)Frame connector runs at slight angle to rocker panel with front of connector next to torsion bar socket

I've looked all over for pictures and the only one I saw was from TopCat. Is there any reason I couldn't cover up the oval hole in the crossmember?

                                                               Thanks guys, Andy

[Cuda Cody]

FYI.....

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=69602.msg712766#msg712766

[72cudamaan]

Thanks Brad and Cody, I decided to split the difference and cover up just a little bit of the oval hole.
Decided that I liked how the connector fit that way. By the way, I used US Cartool connectors.
I put one on last night, then spent an hour and a half trying to get pictures in my computer and downloaded.
Obviously, as you can tell, I failed.  But the frame connector looks good anyway.

[Topcat]

That oval hole is the fuel line hole for the line to pass thru.


CODY's E brake cable routing is different since its a 70'.
From 71' and up, the brake cables run on each side.


I welded in a stainless steel tube for the cable to pass thru the frame connector.

[rhamson]

I also used US Cartool frame connectors and found that the passenger's side slightly covered the oval hole.  I still have not gotten any instructions so I went off of pictures on their website.

[rhamson]

Here is the whole kit installed.

[mopar12372]

heres how i did it the front

the rear. once i get the engine in i will know where i will  be tieing them to gether and the car in other places .

[larry4406]

Topcat - on your 71 cuda, how close are your connectors to the exterior edge of the torsion bar socket?  I have a 71 b'cuda vert and the directions say to keep the connector 3/4 of an inch away.  When this is done, the end of the connector covers completely the oval hole for the fuel supply and vent line on the passenger side torsion bar crossmember and on the driver's side, almost completely blocks the similar oval hole for the rear brake line.  Concidentially, the mid-point bottom hole in the connector is exactly in-line with a floor plan body plug hole where I think you used a bolt to ensure that the connector was returned to the same place each time during fitting.  My e-brake is similar to yours, except that I do not have the triangle piece on the drivers side and have a loop connector similar to that at the rear brake cable connections.

Rhamsom - your connectors appear to be almost touching the edge of the torsion bar sockets.  What year and car type and whose brand connector?

[Topcat]

Topcat - on your 71 cuda, how close are your connectors to the exterior edge of the torsion bar socket? 

I have a 71 b'cuda vert and the directions say to keep the connector 3/4 of an inch away.  When this is done, the end of the connector covers completely the oval hole for the fuel supply and vent line on the passenger side torsion bar crossmember and on the driver's side, almost completely blocks the similar oval hole for the rear brake line. 

Concidentially, the mid-point bottom hole in the connector is exactly in-line with a floor plan body plug hole where I think you used a bolt to ensure that the connector was returned to the same place each time during fitting. 

My e-brake is similar to yours, except that I do not have the triangle piece on the drivers side and have a loop connector similar to that at the rear brake cable connections.

Rhamsom - your connectors appear to be almost touching the edge of the torsion bar sockets.  What year and car type and whose brand connector?

On the US Carttool connectors, the passenger side front mounting goes right in between the fuel line hole and the torsion cross member hole. It's a tight fit. I'll see if I have a pic of that area.

[Topcat]

Here's the best one I could find right away.

[GranCuda1970]

Damn that looks really good!! comong along really professionally!! Cannot even see the weld seams for the torque boxes.

[larry4406]

Thanks Topcat - i read thru your build and found some really good pictures.  The 3/4" directions from the torsion bar socket are just not right for a 71 cuda.  I will be holding the connectors tighter to the socket like you did so that the brake line and fuel line oval holes are not obscured.

I see that you removed the "tab" from the connector that would overlap onto the torsion bar crossmember so that your connectors tee/butt to the crossmember.  Others leave the tab on and weld it around the perimter and in the hole.  Any pros/cons either way?

Please explain how you did the tube for the e-brake.  I found the attached pictures from your thread.  On the driver's side, do you have a guide tube for the operable cable to feed thru?

How did you address the "anchor/adjustment rod" on the passenger side?  It appears that your adjuster rod goes thru the connector yet still slips into the original frame hole via the rod hook end?

Lastly, I found a picture on US Cartool that showed yet another frame brace that was added.  Is this worthwhile?  Obviously it would need to have holes to permit the fuel lines and brake lines to pass.  Seems like it locks the front frame rail to the torsion bar cross member.

Thanks again for your help, it looks like you have thought this out rather well.

[rhamson]

Here's the best one I could find right away.

Mine are installed in the same place.