Thanks! I learned an old axiom years ago - your frame should not be an active part of your suspension. Minimizing frame flex will allow your suspension to do its job better. That's what I'm trying to achieve here.
They did ok for the time, but thankfully engineering has evolved over the years. I still think the whole bolt-on subframe had everything to do with ease of assembly, performance took a back seat. Not an engineering decision, the accounting department is at fault!
Great job on the adding the connectors to the sub frame. I have a 74 Trans Am and would like to make the sub frame as stout as possible. Your ideas are great and I'm following with great interest. I know all about your ocd, I've been following you since you redid your sailboat. Always great to see what you come up with next. Keep up the great work!!!
Fix the cradle........ cut out the damaged section and make a flush patch. Weld it in solid. Dress welds flush. Paint. Or as they used to say in the aircraft repair world: measure with a mic, mark with a chalk, cut with an axe, beat to fit, paint to match!! Hahaha!!
I understand what you are saying about maintenance of the sub frame, Yes , nobody does it on a regular basis. But, if the car gets wrecked/hit in the front and bends the subframe, it's now a lot more work to replace/repair. Making plates and bolting the subframe connectors and your filets at the "torque box" can make just as strong of a connection. Then in the event of an accident, which we all hope never happens, disassembly and repair is much easier. I come from industrial construction and many things are bolted together and are as strong as or sometimes stronger than welding.
That car should handle a thousand horsepower with all of those mods! That rotisserie is awesome, I wish I had one. I have OCD too, if you can’t pull the dents, maybe consider cutting out the dented section and welding a new skin on it. I couldn’t bondo it either, it would bug me. I can’t wait to see what you decide!
Incredible detail work. Do they make a hotrod paint you used in a different color?? I’m restoring a white car and for poops and giggles I would like to use a grey…ish color.
The company that makes the Hotrod Black is called Distinctive Image. I checked their catalog and unfortunately they only make this paint in black. I bet your local paint store could mix up a single-stage in the color you want though. Only problem is they may not be able to do the satin finish, only gloss.
Good job. Geez, with a plasma-cutter it would only take like .02 milliseconds to separate that bracket from the subframe --- why would anybody not like it? Not like you separate the subframe for routine maintenance.
Hey Sir, I am attempting to sound deaden the trunk area of my VolkswagenPassat. Liked this concept. Do you think that this could be applied with a brush.?
Back in the day they were meant to isolate vibration and road noise/feel from the cabin. Interesting that very few new vehicles use them anymore. About the only place you will see them anymore is on full-size trucks. Almost all newer cars & SUVs are unibody construction and more modern chassis design has eliminated the need for the bushings.
