Sub frame connector, got em?
#1
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Car: 2002 zr2 Blazer 88 Iroc convertable
Engine: 305 T.P.I.
Transmission: 700r4
Sub frame connector, got em?
Ok, got sub frame connectors great which type do you have and are you happy?
#2
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Originally Posted by 88 IROC CONVERT
Ok, got sub frame connectors great which type do you have and are you happy?
Welcome to the forum!
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Car: 88 Iroc Vert/ 1980 Z28
Engine: 305 TPI/ 350
Transmission: 700R4/ TH350
Axle/Gears: 2.73posi/ 3.08 Open
Yea the alstons will fit convertibles. Most others need extensive modification to install. Go with the alstons first then if you are hard core go with a cage.
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Car: '92 Heritage Z28 Convertible
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
88 IROC CONVERT,
I've been researching subframe connectors for several months. The only players in the vert SFC business that I can find are Spohn and TDS. Both companies are sponsors of TGO. Some people report using MAC and other brands but I don't know if they still make them.
I really like the way the Spohn SFC's are designed to run along the ASC installed brace and the floorboard. They really tuck up high and out of the way. But I ran into problems with the rivets that hold the ASC brace to the floorboard. It would take someone with some fabrication skills to work around the rivets. I ended up sending mine back to Spohn.
That leaves TDS. As you can see on the link that Cadillac posted. The TDS SFC's attach to the lower control arm and drop down and run forward to attach to the front subframe. Some people report minor ground clearance issues with lowered cars.
The other advantage of the TDS SFC's is that you can bolt them in. This means that you can work out any installation issues at home then drive your car to your welder. Hopefully this will save on installation cost and give you more control of the install.
Here is a link to the post I made when I was having problems with my Spohn SFC's
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/conv...-vert-sfc.html
And finally, thanks to the guy who posted pictures of his installed TDS/Chris Alton SFC's.
I lied. I've got one more thing to say. I'm still waiting for pictures of Spohn SFC's installed on a vert. I'd like to see the newer tubular one's if possible.
I've been researching subframe connectors for several months. The only players in the vert SFC business that I can find are Spohn and TDS. Both companies are sponsors of TGO. Some people report using MAC and other brands but I don't know if they still make them.
I really like the way the Spohn SFC's are designed to run along the ASC installed brace and the floorboard. They really tuck up high and out of the way. But I ran into problems with the rivets that hold the ASC brace to the floorboard. It would take someone with some fabrication skills to work around the rivets. I ended up sending mine back to Spohn.
That leaves TDS. As you can see on the link that Cadillac posted. The TDS SFC's attach to the lower control arm and drop down and run forward to attach to the front subframe. Some people report minor ground clearance issues with lowered cars.
The other advantage of the TDS SFC's is that you can bolt them in. This means that you can work out any installation issues at home then drive your car to your welder. Hopefully this will save on installation cost and give you more control of the install.
Here is a link to the post I made when I was having problems with my Spohn SFC's
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/conv...-vert-sfc.html
And finally, thanks to the guy who posted pictures of his installed TDS/Chris Alton SFC's.
I lied. I've got one more thing to say. I'm still waiting for pictures of Spohn SFC's installed on a vert. I'd like to see the newer tubular one's if possible.
#5
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Originally Posted by plndtx
https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/conv...-vert-sfc.html
And finally, thanks to the guy who posted pictures of his installed TDS/Chris Alton SFC's.
I lied. I've got one more thing to say. I'm still waiting for pictures of Spohn SFC's installed on a vert. I'd like to see the newer tubular one's if possible.
Lon Salgren
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#7
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Originally Posted by plndtx
I apologize for the incorrect info.
Thanks. I've become too lazy to write stuff that long anyway.
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#8
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Car: 2002 zr2 Blazer 88 Iroc convertable
Engine: 305 T.P.I.
Transmission: 700r4
Ok, I was looking for opinions of the people who have them installed. So it seems that the alston install well, the spohn are stiffer but are a tough install on convertible because of the asc riviots. What about the mac? who makes them, where do you get them and what is the story?
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Car: '91 TA vert
Engine: turboLSx
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.23
I JUST put MACs on mine a couple days ago and love how much stiffer the car is but it still seems like it flexes some. Although they look exactly like the alston ones.
#10
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Originally Posted by iansane
I JUST put MACs on mine a couple days ago and love how much stiffer the car is but it still seems like it flexes some. Although they look exactly like the alston ones.
MAC SFC's
Alston SFC's
Lon Salgren
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Car: 1991 Z28 convertible built 3/1/1990
Engine: Cammed 6.0L LSX
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: custom Ford 8.8", 4.10 gears
i need to buy me a set of those things sometime soon...i gotta pay off the balance on my student account at school first though. $400 for books
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Car: '92 Heritage Z28 Convertible
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Thanks for the pics 90-irocdx3.
I'm still trying to figure out why the rivets that hold the ASC brace on my
car hang down about 3/8 of an inch. Maybe the long rivets were part of the squeak reduction program of '91-'92 that I keep hearing about. The spohns sure look good.
I'm still trying to figure out why the rivets that hold the ASC brace on my
car hang down about 3/8 of an inch. Maybe the long rivets were part of the squeak reduction program of '91-'92 that I keep hearing about. The spohns sure look good.
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Car: '91 TA vert
Engine: turboLSx
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: 3.23
The 'verts weren't made by GM, they were made by ASC so anything changing in the manufacturing process would've stopped before they even cut the roof off.
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Car: '92 Heritage Z28 Convertible
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
You guys who have the spohns on a vert, your installer didn't happen to trim the rivets, did they?
Hey BlueZee28,
You like to take pictures. You need SFC's. Post a pic of the area where the SFC goes on your car.
Hey BlueZee28,
You like to take pictures. You need SFC's. Post a pic of the area where the SFC goes on your car.
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Car: 1991 Z28 convertible built 3/1/1990
Engine: Cammed 6.0L LSX
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: custom Ford 8.8", 4.10 gears
Originally Posted by plndtx
You guys who have the spohns on a vert, your installer didn't happen to trim the rivets, did they?
Hey BlueZee28,
You like to take pictures. You need SFC's. Post a pic of the area where the SFC goes on your car.
Hey BlueZee28,
You like to take pictures. You need SFC's. Post a pic of the area where the SFC goes on your car.
sorry, i didn't understand that? lol
#20
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Car: '92 Heritage Z28 Convertible
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
Yeah, what does the area right next to the ASC brace look like on your car?
(Got rivets hanging down? How far?)
(Got rivets hanging down? How far?)
#21
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Car: 1991 Z28 convertible built 3/1/1990
Engine: Cammed 6.0L LSX
Transmission: T56
Axle/Gears: custom Ford 8.8", 4.10 gears
Originally Posted by plndtx
Yeah, what does the area right next to the ASC brace look like on your car?
(Got rivets hanging down? How far?)
(Got rivets hanging down? How far?)
i'll try and go get a pic today. i've got classes right now
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Car: 88 Iroc Convertible
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Originally Posted by plndtx
You guys who have the spohns on a vert, your installer didn't happen to trim the rivets, did they?
Hey BlueZee28,
You like to take pictures. You need SFC's. Post a pic of the area where the SFC goes on your car.
Hey BlueZee28,
You like to take pictures. You need SFC's. Post a pic of the area where the SFC goes on your car.
My installer wound up fabbing up metal shims to "bridge the gaps".
Of course that was done last November and I've only driven it 20 miles since then so it's tough to tell how they work.
Thanks,
George
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Car: 92 rs camaro ,92 covt trans am
Engine: 305 tpi , 305 tbi
Transmission: auto
last time I was Was under my my trans am I looked over the subframes, And they are stamped with GM and a number, but I do not have number off the top of my head.
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Car: 90 IROC-Z
Engine: LB9
Transmission: M5 5spd
Axle/Gears: 3.42 POSI
I HAVE THE ALSTON SFC'S ON MY 90 VERT, AND THEY FIT GREAT, EXCEPT THE CANT NOW RUBS ON THE SFC!!!! THEY DID MAKE A BIG DIF OVER JUST THE ASC STOCK SFC.
WHEN THE WEATHER GETS BETTER, I AM GOING TO INSTALL THE ONES FROM SPHON. I WANT TO MAKE SURE MY VERT FLEXES AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. JUST MY 2 CENTS.
WHEN THE WEATHER GETS BETTER, I AM GOING TO INSTALL THE ONES FROM SPHON. I WANT TO MAKE SURE MY VERT FLEXES AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. JUST MY 2 CENTS.
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Car: '89 RS Convertible
Engine: 355
Transmission: 700R4
I put the Spohn tubular SFC's on my '89 RS convert with no problem at all. No cutting, fabrication, mods, etc. Fit nice and tight up against the frame and at all attachment points.
#28
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Location: Doghouse ······································ Car: 1989 Formula 350 Vert Engine: 350 L98 Transmission: 700R4 Axle/Gears: B&W 3.27
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Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
Originally Posted by 90IROC1
I HAVE THE ALSTON SFC'S ON MY 90 VERT, AND THEY FIT GREAT, EXCEPT THE CANT NOW RUBS ON THE SFC!!!! THEY DID MAKE A BIG DIF OVER JUST THE ASC STOCK SFC.
WHEN THE WEATHER GETS BETTER, I AM GOING TO INSTALL THE ONES FROM SPHON. I WANT TO MAKE SURE MY VERT FLEXES AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. JUST MY 2 CENTS.
WHEN THE WEATHER GETS BETTER, I AM GOING TO INSTALL THE ONES FROM SPHON. I WANT TO MAKE SURE MY VERT FLEXES AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE. JUST MY 2 CENTS.
How you move the cat is you heat up the exhaust with a torch and then bend it... worked out well.
John
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Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
Originally Posted by 92fbodylover
last time I was Was under my my trans am I looked over the subframes, And they are stamped with GM and a number, but I do not have number off the top of my head.
John
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Car: 91 Camaro Vert
Engine: 02 LS1, HX40
Transmission: 2002 LS1 M6
heres my spohn SFCs...... lol. just got them today.
my plan is very simple.... hold the SFC in place, and mark it.
using a grinder, im going to remove the undercoating near and around the SFC....
any rivets that are in the way will be ground off.. then the material it was riviting will be welded together... then ground flat... sounds like alot of work, but honestly, it'll add less then a half hour total to the install time.
once i have it fitting up there firmly, and everything is shiny new bare metal, i'll weld it in 2" strips alternating between the floorboard and the ASC bracing...
hopefully, the end result will be a nice SFC install.
my plan is very simple.... hold the SFC in place, and mark it.
using a grinder, im going to remove the undercoating near and around the SFC....
any rivets that are in the way will be ground off.. then the material it was riviting will be welded together... then ground flat... sounds like alot of work, but honestly, it'll add less then a half hour total to the install time.
once i have it fitting up there firmly, and everything is shiny new bare metal, i'll weld it in 2" strips alternating between the floorboard and the ASC bracing...
hopefully, the end result will be a nice SFC install.
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Car: '92 Heritage Z28 Convertible
Engine: 305
Transmission: T5
MrDude_1,
Could you take some pictures while you are doing the installation?
I am interested in how the removal of the rivets goes.
Grinding the rivets is obviously the way to go to get them out of
the way. But, will you be able to secure the ASC brace with a weld.
Don't forget that there is a brace in the rear seat floorboard area.
It is located on top of the floorpan.
Keep us updated!
Could you take some pictures while you are doing the installation?
I am interested in how the removal of the rivets goes.
Grinding the rivets is obviously the way to go to get them out of
the way. But, will you be able to secure the ASC brace with a weld.
Don't forget that there is a brace in the rear seat floorboard area.
It is located on top of the floorpan.
Keep us updated!
#33
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Car: 91 Camaro Vert
Engine: 02 LS1, HX40
Transmission: 2002 LS1 M6
Originally Posted by plndtx
MrDude_1,
Could you take some pictures while you are doing the installation?
I am interested in how the removal of the rivets goes.
Grinding the rivets is obviously the way to go to get them out of
the way. But, will you be able to secure the ASC brace with a weld.
Don't forget that there is a brace in the rear seat floorboard area.
It is located on top of the floorpan.
Keep us updated!
Could you take some pictures while you are doing the installation?
I am interested in how the removal of the rivets goes.
Grinding the rivets is obviously the way to go to get them out of
the way. But, will you be able to secure the ASC brace with a weld.
Don't forget that there is a brace in the rear seat floorboard area.
It is located on top of the floorpan.
Keep us updated!
i have no idea if i can or not, but i guess im going to find out.... lol
i'll try to have someone take pics as i go, but i doubt i'll be taking off the helmet and stopping to take pics as i go along.. so i guess it depends on if anyone else helps..
#34
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Car: 88 IROC Convertible
Engine: 355 (Finally!)
Transmission: Auto :(
I put on both the Spohn's and the Alstons this spring - HUGE difference, and I haven't even replaced my tired springs and shocks yet. Car rides/handles much better, and 75% of my squeaks and rattles are gone. Oh yeah, I also put in the Edelbrock strut tower brace at the same time.
#35
noone has mentioned kenne brown. these guys were the only people i could find that made sfc for 3rd gens when i was looking. they fit well and as i remember they were priced reasonably.
#36
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Car: 1991 RS Convertible
Engine: 96 LT1
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.45 9-Bolt
Kenny Brown isnt making them anymore last I heard. Its too bad too. I had them on my 95 Z28 Vert and they were amazing!
#37
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Car: 92 T/A 'vert
Engine: Mild .040 over L98 4 bolt mains
Transmission: Mostly stock 700R4, 2600 Vigilante
Axle/Gears: LS1 3.42
Don't forget a wonderbar, too! Big difference.
Last edited by watajob; 11-10-2006 at 04:55 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
#39
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Car: 91 Camaro Vert
Engine: 02 LS1, HX40
Transmission: 2002 LS1 M6
alot of your car is glued together too... lol
theres nothing wrong or "cheap" about them using the type of rivits they used...
#41
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Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
To Rivet the SFC's to the car:
1) raise up the car,
2) align the SFC's
3) drill holes,
4) rivet them into place
5) lower car
Done!
To weld the SFC's into place
1) Remove door threshold
2) Remove forward kick panel
3) remove rear trim pieces
4) remove seats
5) remove carpet
6) remove any residual carpet material backing
7) get fire extinguisher
8) raies up car
9) align SFC
10) weld SFC into place
11) lower car
12) install carpet
13) install seats
14) install trim
Done!
Makes a whole lot more sence for producion purposes
John
#43
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Car: 87 Formula T-Top, 87 Formula HT
Engine: 5.1L TPI, 5.0L TPI
Transmission: 700R4, M5
Axle/Gears: Sag 3.73, B&W 3.45
John
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