Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Suspension/Steering => Topic started by: gumby on April 21, 2007, 07:30:19 PM

Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: gumby on April 21, 2007, 07:30:19 PM
b-e-a-utiful day to make some progress on the bird.

cut some steel
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/56256f9a.jpg)
cut some holes in the floor pan
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/cb6a1d90.jpg)
swiss cheese the subframe hat channels w/a 3/4" hole saw
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/bfefddf3.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/051a60af.jpg)
lay/beat/massage/fit in the steel
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/42a3f329.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/a212a791.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/9f0eaced.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/55389dc3.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/72dd4225.jpg)
build a piece to connect the front and rear connectors, compound miters are FUN!
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/212dc557.jpg)

so that was todays work so far. started about 9:30 this morning. all thats left is to tack the d.side parts in place, and finish weldin everything up. after my daughter goes to bed, time for more weldin!

:birdsmily:
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: chri85tc on April 21, 2007, 08:39:08 PM
Nice work !!

You want to come over and do Mine ?

:)
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: daboss351 on April 21, 2007, 08:40:14 PM
 you know what your doing man!
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: Ether947 on April 21, 2007, 09:21:35 PM
Nice work! :)
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: 5.8fastcat on April 21, 2007, 11:18:10 PM
Looks like it will be strong as HELL.

 What do you plan on doing with the car?
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: 32VFoxBird on April 22, 2007, 02:05:35 AM
2"x3" 14 gauge tubing?
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: gumby on April 22, 2007, 08:12:56 AM
2x3x.083", yeah.
i think that is 14ga

fastcat, it will be a dual duty track/street car. i plan to autoX and open track it as often as i can get out there.

chri85tc, thanks for the offer, but i think ill pass :D
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: blueovalford on April 22, 2007, 08:29:55 AM
Great job man, keep it up.
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: gumby on April 22, 2007, 09:14:42 AM
thanks for the compliments guys. it great when a plan works out exactly how you want it. i spent quite a few evenings studying mustang guys SFCs, bottom mount and thru floor. jus like anything else, theres a million different ways you can go about gettin it done.
finally settled on my material and design based on strength, invasiveness, and (relative)ease of installation.
the rear sections are 16" long. only 4.25" sticks out thru the bulkhead into the cabin leavin nearly 12" of material stuffed into the stock rear framerails! the front sections are 40" long and extend all the way forward to the kick-up in the rail that leads to the inner fender structure.
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: chri85tc on April 22, 2007, 09:43:50 AM
I think now I may have to look at installing mine like yours Gumby. I was going to take the easy way and just weld in the tubes on the underside. Since my Full 3" exhaust hangs so low the SFC's would still be above that.
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: Chuck W on April 22, 2007, 11:31:57 AM
Nice.  I really like that.  I'm wanting to do something similar to the '84 when I get around to messing with it as I don't plan on putting a cage in that one.

Looks like another nice day today....so I bet there's some welding going on now ;)
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: 1BadBird on April 23, 2007, 09:41:07 AM
Those are some nice connectors!! Like you said, there's a lot of different ways of installing the thru-floor connectors. I've installed some lowers on mine and I'm putting the thru-floor connectors in the very near future (a day or 2). I'm using 1X2 .120 for the lowers, 2X2 .120 for the uppers with .120 for the misc bulkhead plates.


John
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: thunderjet302 on April 24, 2007, 01:02:48 AM
Wow that's really nice. I could use something like that.
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: FLYN83BIRD on April 24, 2007, 08:55:17 AM
Those look very well planned out.  Very good job Gumby.
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: thundr306 on April 25, 2007, 06:03:36 PM
Nice job. I had to pay someone to do mine....lol. He used 2x3 on my car too, but would have rather had 2x2 now.
Jim
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: Sluggo on April 25, 2007, 09:04:24 PM
That's tight.  Very clean install.
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: 32VFoxBird on May 23, 2007, 07:00:08 PM
anymore updates?
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: gumby on May 23, 2007, 07:32:47 PM
what kinda info you need?
they are finished except for weldin on the seat braces and some paint. lemme know what your lookin for, and ill let ya know :hick:
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: 32VFoxBird on May 23, 2007, 07:46:39 PM
Quote from: gumby;149265
what kinda info you need?
they are finished except for weldin on the seat braces and some paint. lemme know what your lookin for, and ill let ya know :hick:

just looking for current pics. looks great so far!
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: gumby on May 23, 2007, 10:35:32 PM
ill try to snag some completed pics this weekend after i get the braces welded in and everything tidied up
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: turbo_88_XR7 on May 24, 2007, 09:36:56 AM
wow.. looks great. i'll have to take some notes for when i start mine either this weekend or next.
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: Bob on May 25, 2007, 12:32:03 PM
very nice, looking forward to the new pics
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: gumby on May 25, 2007, 04:41:28 PM
well, i hurt my right thumb pretty bad last night, so this weekend might be a wash. luckly im left handed, so dependin on how i feel tomorrow and how well the pain meds continue to work i might be able to run a wire feed to get this finished up.

here is a teaser of the seat braces and rear bulk head spreader plates jus in case i dont get out there
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/dd6be726.jpg)
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: gumby on May 26, 2007, 10:20:36 PM
here are the finished pics from today. first, my thumb!
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/c486c345.jpg)

seat braces
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/163321bb.jpg)

rear bulk head spread plates
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/839629a4.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/36d11dcb.jpg)

youll hafta excuse the smog. flux core weldin is dirty, and i jus dont feel up to cleanin it up tonight.

enjoy!
if there are any specific pics youd like, jus lemme know. gonna throw a coat of rustoleum on everything tomorrow and call them finished.
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: 32VFoxBird on May 26, 2007, 10:29:49 PM
that looks really good! ill have to tackle that setup later.

and yea, flux core is messy.
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: Sick88Tbird on May 27, 2007, 12:39:51 AM
Yeah, look like some nice welds for flux core....I have a cheapo craftsman welder with flux core wire...it's real finicky and never seems to be just right....and I'm a welder for a living! lol

Nice work though, I'm interest to see how the carpet will fit(or not).
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: gumby on May 27, 2007, 09:43:16 AM
Quote from: Sick88Tbird;150015
...and I'm a welder for a living!

me too :flame:
this is jus a small cheap-o HOBART. it works well enough for garage work. its a fun transition from a lincoln 275 square wave TIG to this lil HOBART flux core :punchballs:

i havent made a full decision on carpet yet, but id imagine it will get notched around the rear sections of the subframes. we shall see...
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: chri85tc on May 27, 2007, 10:35:00 AM
I wish I could make my flux core welds look like that, but then again I am no welder. I am a machinist who pretends he can weld. :)
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: Sick88Tbird on May 27, 2007, 06:30:09 PM
Quote from: chri85tc;150058
I wish I could make my flux core welds look like that, but then again I am no welder. I am a machinist who pretends he can weld. :)


Well, at least you're honest with yourself! :welder:
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: gumby on May 27, 2007, 07:58:01 PM
there arent enough adjustments on the front of this welder. i find myself gettin it close with the s, and fine tuning with the amount of stick out i use. it works for me anyhow.

practice, practice, practice

all cleaned up and painted
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/6ff6d585.jpg)
(http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c73/gmby23/87%20turbocoupe/799c0047.jpg)
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: daboss351 on May 27, 2007, 09:00:11 PM
sweet!!
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: CougarCoupe88 on May 27, 2007, 11:01:15 PM
bro those bars by the doors what are they ? for a cage ?
Title: thru floor subframe connector update(not for the weak stomached)
Post by: Chuck W on May 27, 2007, 11:04:37 PM
Quote from: CougarCoupe88;150292
bro those bars by the doors what are they ? for a cage ?

Yes