When are subframe connectors necessary?

[Cojohnso1]

I think they should have been from the factory? Unibody? Engineers loved the design. Racers? Not so much.

 

[John B]

The pics of my 69 Charger I posted was a 99.5% rust free CA car and it looks much better than the earlier pics as a finished product, one might think the connectors factory if not knowledgeable.

As far as the A12 or Hemi cars, I think the added body structure and/or torque boxes helped like it did in my old 6-Pack Coronet that I never saw this and it had over 600HP. I will make sure not to slam the doors in case I'm wrong.

 

[John B]

With all due respect, bullshit.
I miged them from the inside the first time I fixed them and after several years, the passenger door was the first one to crack out and it was closed a 10th of the time the driver side door was. Under 500+ foot pounds of torque these cars flex like a bitch without connectors.
We welded in some additional steel behind them this time.

No ****. I have the scars to prove it. Hard to make a pretty weld as well.
I have seen guys weld them in on a rotisserie but question how much "bow" is welded in.
US CAR Tools recommends they be welded in with the car's feet firmly planted on the ground.

I agree it's a bitch to weld upside down, I did mine by setting up the suspension on stands, welding in good tacks on the ends and 5 different places on each side about 1" long prior to putting on the rotisserie. I spent the welding time on the rotisserie, welding 3" alternating sides (in/out) afterwards to dissipate the heat. It's all about patience, I wish I could learn that about paint. LOL

 

[myk r sanchez]

Don't forget the torque boxes..

 

[biomedtechguy]

My 70 V-code Roadrunner already has the torque boxes in the rear, and "skid plate" up front. I'm going to have the longitudinal front-to-rear frame ties welded in. US Car Tools

 

[Runner 68]

I think they should have been from the factory? Unibody? Engineers loved the design. Racers? Not so much.

You have to figure that these cars were early in the whole concept of the uni-body. Combine a fairly long uni-body car with bigger torque, slap some meats on it to make it hook and you have a recipe for well, body cracks. Something has to give. Frame rail connectors solve that problem plain and simple.
No disrespect to the engineers back then, I really enjoy and love what they produced. But it was after all, the 60s.