Frame Rail Connectors

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momoparman

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I am about to install some frame rail connectors on our 69 vert barracuda and wanted to see if I could get some input on the installation.

I have the car up on some body supports and the doors and panels are all lined up perfectly. I dont want to load the chassis with suspension. motor and trans for fear of losing my lines. Can I install them with it up on the supports?

If so what should I do other than making sure the car is level before I do so?

Thanks for the input.

Mop
 

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As long as everything is lined up, I wouldn't sweat it.
 
I agree, if everything is lined up I would install them as is. Just tack weld both of them in place first, then do the finish welding.
 
I was always under the impression you welded them in with your supension loaded? Same with aligning your doors and fenders, but I suppose welding them in at this point would be similar to putting the car on a full frame so that might work just fine? I'm coming up to this stage myself on a vert but I had planned on installing the suspension first, maybe I won't. I'll be watching for updates on this :happy1:
 
One more vote for "Do it"

As long as the doors and stuff are lined up ok and the body is flat, you are ready.
 
I am about to install some frame rail connectors on our 69 vert barracuda and wanted to see if I could get some input on the installation.

I have the car up on some body supports and the doors and panels are all lined up perfectly. I dont want to load the chassis with suspension. motor and trans for fear of losing my lines. Can I install them with it up on the supports?

If so what should I do other than making sure the car is level before I do so?

Thanks for the input.

Mop

First off, that paint looks gorgeous. Great job on the body work!

As for the frame connectors...
It really depends how the body supports were constructed. Are all of the supports the exact same height? Are they tied to the frame where the suspension would be applying a load? The back supports look like they may work fine, but unless you have the load on the torsion bar mounts and the weight pushing up where the k-frame bolts, it will be tough to duplicate.

If one or two of the supports is off height-wise, it would apply a torsional stress on the unibody and knock the subframes out of alignment. This will become evident if you weld frame connectors in and then install your suspension afterward. The suspension will most likely apply stress to the body at different focal points, and you may end up losing the body lines even with the frame connectors.

I totally understand not waiting to lose the body lines, but i would personally bolt the suspension in before the welding the frame connectors in. If nothing else, I would at least ensure that all of the body supports are the same height. This will at least get the car relatively "square" before you start welding the frame connectors in. Then you can re-align body panels as needed (if needed).

-Mike
 
Thanks for the comments and compliments.

Yes it looks awesome in the sun....can't wait to get it done.

OK so with your input the plan is to level the car at four points, check square at k-member mounting bolt holes, bolt the rails in for now then deal with welding once I get it on wheels.

I appreciate all your help and if you want to follow along here's the link to the build.

http://www.forabodiesonly.com/mopar/showthread.php?t=122153&highlight=pam's+jamaican+blue+baby

Thanks,

Mop
 
:D I have NEVER heard ONE person say they wish they had waited until (whatever) was done first.

I have however seen a LOT of people overthink it. :D

Do you like the current gaps in your set up, install them. Maybe even jack them up against the floor pan to take some sag out.

This is one of the most over-thought deal in all mopar land.

Nike ad.. JUST DO IT!


To add. One of the guys did a deal with a laser pointer with his car on a rotisserie. In all positions, the laser pointer did not move more than 1/16 of an inch from normal operating position. With the crappy tolerances on these cars, does it really matter?
 
Just curious.
What kind or type rails are you installing?
Are the torque box's in good shape?
 
Mopar rails.
Boxes are in good shape.
I need to modify each rail on one side to clear the boxes but that is no issue.

They were delivered today and are sitting in the garage waiting on me.....I'm on the way....:D
 
Mopar rails.
Boxes are in good shape.
I need to modify each rail on one side to clear the boxes but that is no issue.

They were delivered today and are sitting in the garage waiting on me.....I'm on the way....:D

I actually used the Mopar rails as well. I was very happy with the fit and finish. Welds looked very good on mine. Price is a bit higher than the competition, but having them fit right is always worth the extra $$.
 
Well they won't exactly fit right away on the vert but they are easy to modify and cheaper than me ruining more steel trying to make them myself.

I painted them last night and hopefully I can get started installing them tonight.

Time flies by after work and it's getting dark earlier.....soon i will be back to freezing my ars off unless I can get these last few things done in 3-4 weeks.

Rush is on!
 
Mopar rails.
Boxes are in good shape.
I need to modify each rail on one side to clear the boxes but that is no issue.

They were delivered today and are sitting in the garage waiting on me.....I'm on the way....:D

Mopar makes subframe connectors? Where to buy?
 
I agree lots of stuff gets overthought. That said I've seen a lot more than 1/16" movement when a car is jacked up. Not surprised there's little movement on a rotis since the car is likely stripped right down.

I'd think in terms of what's fairly easy to do that can buy you some peace of mind. If it's just as easy to put them in later when the car's on its wheels, do it then. If not, and its easy to get it supported right, do that. Just remember once they're welded in you won't want to take them out.
 
WRONG!!!!! The car (body) must be supported in a way that loads the suspension.
 
WRONG!!!!! The car (body) must be supported in a way that loads the suspension.

Or what? The sky falls? End of the world as we know it?

Take a look at some of the resto threads on here. A LOT of folks weld in frame connectors when their cars are on a rotisserie. I have yet to see a thread on this forum (or any other Mopar forum for that matter) about anyone installing frame connectors while their car was on a rotisserie and then not being able to properly align the body panels or suspension afterward. For that matter, I don't think I've ever seen a thread about anyone installing subframe connectors in any way that resulted in poor body or suspension alignment afterward. Suspension points on these cars from the factory were +/- 1/4", body fits were even worse.

I keep hearing this but nobody can point to any supporting documentation.

I haven't seen any either. I would say that on a rotisserie, with the drivetrain and everything else out of the car, as long as the body panels all line up you're good to go. I have in fact seen a restoration where the frame connectors were welded in with the car on a rotisserie while the car was stripped to the shell and while the car was "on its side" on the rotisserie so the connectors could be easily welded in. When complete the car had no fit or alignment issues. That's not how I would recommend doing it, but apparently it worked.

With the car fully assembled I would install the frame connectors with the suspension points loaded, OR the frame leveled with all the body panels aligned as desired.

If all the body panels are properly aligned, you're already ahead of what the factory did.
 
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