Body off in progress.. Where to weld bracing to the frame?

[G NASTY]

I'm thinking about boxing the c channel and maybe adding a bar across the rear shock towers similar to one used when a frame notch is performed. Any opinions? Im building this to be an all around car, street,strip,X

 

[charlief1]

Make sure to re-weld all of the seams n the frame. You won't believe how crappy they were welded until you take a close look at them. If you go to the B4black section my build is there and it should give you some ideas. The thread is calle "Finally got some time." and it's a little different than most of the others. Brace the rear LCA mounts on the frame as well to keep them from ripping off.

 

[chopped39]

I braced mine lca brackets after Pete from ans showed me one with control arm ripped through the floor and seat

 

[charlief1]

I braced mine lca brackets after Pete from ans showed me one with control arm ripped through the floor and seat

That's exactly why I did this to mine.:biggrin: I've seen several threads where the LCA mounts have been ripped off so I figured it wouldn't be a bad idea at all.:smile:

 

[G NASTY]

Hey Charlie thanks for the pics..I spent a solid half hour reading your build, nice job man! Anyone have any info on boxing the c channel like do's or dont's? How should the frame be supported when it gets welded? There is no rear on the frame right now. I really want to weld a support brace at the back of the shock towers and a bar from the brace to the back of the front of the shock towers. Will it be useless without the frame notch? TIA

 

[charlief1]

Thanks for the compliment. I've used scrap that's just laying around the shop to build just about everything on the frame. On boxing the frame I used non conventional matereal. I took a 4 foot section of 4x4 post that you'd use for a metal building. I cut it apart on the sides after measuring the thickness of the frame at .121" and found the post was .091" thick. I didn't want it to thick so I kept some flexability. You can use .125" (1/8") if you want to and it should be about the same as what I used. If I had to do it again I'd sand blast the C channel first though.

As far as bracing the back, I added the brace at the front of the rear spring mount as you saw. I welded all along the stock brace because the stock one has a tendancy to crack in the middle. I will also be making one to go in between the rear shock mounts to help stiffen up the rear a little more.

 

[Pronto]

Did you fab those pieces that are welded to the lca mounts or are they from other frame or machine? Are they open on the bottom with just the top part welded to the center area of the lca mount?

 

[charlief1]

Did you fab those pieces that are welded to the lca mounts or are they from other frame or machine? Are they open on the bottom with just the top part welded to the center area of the lca mount?

LOL I made them from scratch.:biggrin: They're welded top and bottom all the way. The only place that they're not welded is toward the back. These pics should give you a better idea of how they were made. If you look at the 2 ears you'll see the tab I left open. It will be boxed but for now I left that section open. I made the template and cut the 2 "claws" out first then made the section that goes in between. I hand fitted it so it would be able to fit all the way up to the LCA mounts and welded all of it up so there's no chance of it having any water getting in there.

 

[Pronto]

I see now. I was wondering how you were going to get access for the bolt. That's pretty hefty gauge stock.

 

[turbojoe1]

Saving these ideas

Thanks Joe