Subframe connectors

[Bob Gervais]

Wait, are you saying I might have to work on the car after James does...??? WTF!

You let James work on your car?!?



Kevin, I agree that bracing, however it's done, should cover the entire length (or close to it) of the connectors. I really have no ideas on this yet, I figured I'd weld the connectors on, and go from there. I think the major obstacle, which still won't be that bad, is avoiding contact with the exhaust components.

 

[grailgolf]

You let James work on your car?!?



Kevin, I agree that bracing, however it's done, should cover the entire length (or close to it) of the connectors. I really have no ideas on this yet, I figured I'd weld the connectors on, and go from there. I think the major obstacle, which still won't be that bad, is avoiding contact with the exhaust components.

There were not that many clearence issues with the exhaust when I had the x-member built - at least an inch and a half clearence in most places - I will have big issues if I choose to alter my exhaust system - it will just make the job much more difficult.

 

[Bob Gervais]

I think my issue is going to be near the driver's side attachment point for the rear strut rod. Even with regular connectors and no bracing, it gets tight there.

Exhaust is another issue. I've been tossing ideas around about ditching my stock exhaust for something a little more extravagant....

I guess projects never really are done!

 

[SuperHO]

reading this thread got my gears turning...

I don't think I've ever seen anyone do a simple x-brace between the rear strut towers.

I have an image in my head of a piece of 1" square tubing welded to the top of each tower, another one welded to the bottom across the floor, and maybe either an "x" or a "v" tying the two bars together. Surely that'd help stiffen up the Taurus's huge ass, and wouldn't compromise ground clearance or maintenance ability.

and for the front, run an "a" style brace, tying a strut bar with bracing going back to the firewall. Sure, you'd have to rearrange some of the crap bolted to the firewall, but it seems both styles would significantly stiffen the car without being too awful intrusive.

 

[Bob Gervais]

Kirk and I discussed this many times, waaaaay back in the day when I was still making strut braces. IIRC, a few of us brainstormed some ideas to tie the front strut brace to the hood strut anchor points on the firewall. Never followed through, but it's something to look at. As you mentioned, the rear of these cars react much better to stiffening than the front.

The rear x brace idea is a great one. It's already very proven that a rear strut bar does way more than a front one. I can't imagine additional bracing wouldn't help.

Now, to tie in a normal RSTB with another factory, bolt on point.... that'd be pretty cool!

 

[trainguy1989]

As you mentioned, the rear of these cars react much better to stiffening than the front.

Tow hitch FTW!!

 

[Bob Gervais]

Yessir! I've got one on my 92, and the difference in that could be felt as well.

 

[grailgolf]

The x-member that was built for my GL was only one of many ideas that Herb Hill Racing and I tossed around -One of the most important things in my GL build was weight so the stiffening had to be done with the least amount of added weight to the car. If weight was not as big an issue we would have done something very similar to what Bob mentions above.

 

[speedysprocket]

SFCs are in and my god make a world of difference. About 75% of the classic SHO rattles and shakes are gone. Makes a world of difference - car is like a bullet at speed. So much so, I went ahead and ordered parts for the 96 brake upgrade because I roasted the almost new stockers (93). Here are some pics. The X brace looks like a great addition, do you have an specs/blueprints on it? Id like to add that to the mix

 

[turbo79]

Here ya go. They have Two Options
Option one, you buy JUST the sfc's
http://shosource.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=61_3_38&products_id=106
or
Option 2 you get the SFC's, Front&Rear STB, and a powdercoated H-Brace
http://shosource.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=61_3_38&products_id=109

I installed all three of the goodies (bought from SHO Source), and they do make a difference. The chassis of the car ('91) most definitely feels more rigid, tracks around corners more precisely.

 

[grailgolf]

The X brace looks like a great addition, do you have an specs/blueprints on it? Id like to add that to the mix

Your exhaust hangs much lower than mine so the x-member won't work on your sho. I had a outlaw racing team engineer design my x-member for me - he had years of experiance using x-members in his racing chassis' - It was made from the same size and rectangular shape steel tubing as the long subframe connectors. I never asked for any specs or design blueprints once it was built.

 

[speedysprocket]

The X brace looks like a great addition, do you have an specs/blueprints on it? Id like to add that to the mix

Your exhaust hangs much lower than mine so the x-member won't work on your sho. I had a outlaw racing team engineer design my x-member for me - he had years of experiance using x-members in his racing chassis' - It was made from the same size and rectangular shape steel tubing as the long subframe connectors. I never asked for any specs or design blueprints once it was built.

Thx - I was thinking it would most likely need to be a custom engineered piece of work. Im going to talk with an old shop teacher from high school, he still helps me out from time to time on these one-off welding projects. EDIT: the exhaust is sitting just right, but from the angle of the pictures its hard to tell.