Frame Repair - fabbing new / frame connectors / safe T caps

[hoobatech]

hi guys, this is my first post on the site, i was a member a few years ago when i had an old duster. My new project is a '72 Demon 340, its in pretty poor shape but not beyond restoring.

My question relates to frame repair, so the typical spots are rusted on the car, the dr side rail by the trans. and the very rear on both sides, behind the leaf springs.
a drag motor is going in the car, around 350-400 hp small block. and id like to take it to the strip on occation but mostly id like a beefy street car.
I work in a fabrication shop as a painter, we have lasers, punches, benders,presses and a whole host of other industrial tools at my disposal.
originally i was just going to go with the safetycaps from art, but i thought if im spending the cash on those and subframe connectors, i should just get a donor car and replace the rusted sections, but i think it will be cheaper and certainly alot stronger to just fab up some new frame rails that run from bumper to bumper, incorperating the frame connector into actual full frame rails,
Im just wondering if anyone has any expertise in this or would have blueprints and that sort of thing, also this will be the first time ive tried such a thing and im just curious what i need to watch out for and be mindfull of. plus any info on what else i should upgrade/repair while im at this stage in the game would be great. Im going to start building a rotisserie based on Hartman-52's plans before i really dig into this project, whats the best way to support the car while im replacing the frame? 6-8 jack stands placed in all the stress points on the stock frame? im not sure how much of the cars rigidity is in the body itself but the rockers/ floors are all in good shape if that makes much of a difference. also whats the easiest way to make sure my new frames are correctly aligned durring installation? i was thinking of drilling some small holes on both sides of each frame about 6-12 in. apart and welding some pins in that hug the existing frame so that when i remove the old one and install the new they should work as exact guides for the new rails.
Sorry about the extreamly long post and thanks to everyone who read all the way through it

 

[68gts340]

tack weld in a whole bunch of cross bracing to hold the car square, put in as much as you can , you cant have to much. you can just use measurments to place the rails , just do one side at a time and measure off of the one opposite ... S & W race cars makes replacement rails for the rear of an a body , they may still make the front ones to, you will have to call them to check...their tech line is 1-610-948-7303.. ,, I have used many of thier parts , nice guys and good parts . if they dont have the rails in stock they will make them up for you they have many many patterns for the older cars.
tack weld all your new parts in first . then weld them up , only weld a couple inches at a time ,to prevent the heat from pulling the car out of square, avoid heat build up....move around to different areas as you weld it up. .....again lots of cross braces to hold the car as square as possible...... watch the heat and take your time...its not that bad of a job, just time consuming....

 

[1966 dart wagon]

sounds like an awesome idea, id make my own especially if you have all the big machines, good luck with the project :thumblef:

 

[hoobatech]

do any of you dudes have a good way to properly support the car for the removal and installation of my new frame pieces? i'm going to undertake this project as soon as work slows down a bit, i just cant find the motivation get under the demon after 70+hrs a week. they've kept me painting rock crushers like crazy the past few weeks.

Currently im thinking the only safe way to do it is to put the car up on some tall stands, with one side having stands on the existing frame, as for the side im going to remove/replace, maybe put a stand behind rear wheelwell or around there and another on the front frame rail forward the front tire. Im not sure what the best method is i guess and would love any input you guys have, id hate to pancake a 72 340 car.