Author Topic: Need frame connectors, should I do torque boxes to?  (Read 3415 times)

Offline EMCD

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Need frame connectors, should I do torque boxes to?
« on: November 19, 2011 - 06:18:19 PM »
Stepping up to a 408 stroker motor in my 72 cuda. Probably should get some sort of frame bracing. Should I do both, or just frame connectors? The car will be 100% street use.




Offline Fastd

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Re: Need frame connectors, should I do torque boxes to?
« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2011 - 07:37:17 PM »
I am going to be adding both sub-frame connectors and torque boxes as well as fender braces and core support. See the link below to US Car Tool's chassis stiffening Kit. For $900 the kit comes with a drive shaft loop (that I think I will not need) and a core support I may be able to make myself. So I will get the connectors, fender braces and torque boxes seperately for less. I am building a Pro-touring 70 Challenger that will have a 3rd gen hemi in it with a goal of 500hp to the ground. 

 https://store.uscartool.com/70-74-Dodge-Challenger-E-Body-Total-Chassis-Stiffening-Pack_p_12.html
Todd

1970 Dodge Challenger (pro-touring build)
1999 Dodge Durango
2006 Dodge Charger 5.7 Hemi (Wifes)

Offline 67vertman

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Re: Need frame connectors, should I do torque boxes to?
« Reply #2 on: November 19, 2011 - 08:06:51 PM »
Stepping up to a 408 stroker motor in my 72 cuda. Probably should get some sort of frame bracing. Should I do both, or just frame connectors? The car will be 100% street use.

Opinions differ greatly on this subject.  Some say yes do both and other say you only need one or the other, but not both.
In my opinion, and what I did on my car, were both.  E-Bodies need stiffing to handle the extra HP, plus they are over 40 years old, so I try to make them a solid as possible.   



Ron - Born and raised in Southern California

I got the 1970 Cuda, but still need the hot blonde to ride shotgun!

First car -1969 Road Runner 383 4sp

Current ride - 1970 Barracuda 440-6 4 sp Dana 60  (4:10)

Offline EMCD

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Re: Need frame connectors, should I do torque boxes to?
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2011 - 01:38:05 PM »
Cool. Who makes the best connectors and how long for a pro to install hour wise?

Offline brads70

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Re: Need frame connectors, should I do torque boxes to?
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2011 - 02:18:37 PM »
I'd vote to do both. E-Bodies need all the help they can get in this area. I got my t-boxes from Dave at Roseville and made my own subframe connectors ( cost me maybe $10)
Even with both all welded in when I put the car on jack stands the front end still sags 1-2"  :22yikes:

So I still need to do more to limit that as much as possible...... the saga continues... :grinyes:
Brad
1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
Barrie,Ontario,Canada
Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

My restoration thread 
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=59072.0
 My handling upgrade post
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73985.0

Offline EMCD

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Re: Need frame connectors, should I do torque boxes to?
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2011 - 02:34:43 PM »
Nice. I'll call roseville on monday. How many hours to install.


Offline brads70

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Re: Need frame connectors, should I do torque boxes to?
« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2011 - 02:36:48 PM »
Nice. I'll call roseville on monday. How many hours to install.

I can't remember exactly? You do need to pull back the carpet though! 2-3 hours? :clueless:
Brad
1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
Barrie,Ontario,Canada
Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

My restoration thread 
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=59072.0
 My handling upgrade post
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73985.0

Offline EMCD

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Re: Need frame connectors, should I do torque boxes to?
« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2011 - 03:45:19 PM »
Should I get the connectors there to?

Offline brads70

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Re: Need frame connectors, should I do torque boxes to?
« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2011 - 04:35:29 PM »
Should I get the connectors there to?

I don,t know what Dave has? I made my own.
Brad
1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
Barrie,Ontario,Canada
Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

My restoration thread 
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=59072.0
 My handling upgrade post
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73985.0

Offline EMCD

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Re: Need frame connectors, should I do torque boxes to?
« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2011 - 05:17:34 PM »
Good. Should I wait until the motor is in before doing the torque boxes and rails?

Offline brads70

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Re: Need frame connectors, should I do torque boxes to?
« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2011 - 05:50:36 PM »
Good. Should I wait until the motor is in before doing the torque boxes and rails?

I did mine with the motor out? I have no idea what the suggested method is though?
Brad
1970 Challenger 451stroker/4L60 auto OD
Barrie,Ontario,Canada
Proud to own one of the best cars ever made!!!!!

My restoration thread 
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=59072.0
 My handling upgrade post
http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=73985.0

Offline HP2

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Re: Need frame connectors, should I do torque boxes to?
« Reply #11 on: November 21, 2011 - 09:12:24 AM »
There are two  schools of thought on connector installs, 1) install with everything in place, car on the wheels so all stresses are naturaul and installation of connectors does  not change any panel alignmnet or panel gaps. This is probably the best approach to take if you car is all together, in finished condition, with nice paint and everything presentable. 2) set chassis up so everything in level, plumb, and square. This requires considerable effort as you need to know the origianl unibody measurements and locations to verify everything is exactly the right place, and it may require tweaking to get everything in alignment. Benefit to this is the structure then becomes correct in all aspects and you weld it in to this "perfect" position so every mod afterwords produces truer results. You do discover lots of weird things when doing this. For example, my car was bent like a potato chip. I had to stack up two engine blocks in opposing corners to flatten mine out to be level. In worst case scenario, time on a frame machine may be required to spring it back to shape, but you'll have great results once its done.

Offline EMCD

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Re: Need frame connectors, should I do torque boxes to?
« Reply #12 on: November 21, 2011 - 10:45:27 AM »
Good advice. Thanks for the insight.