so i've been getting some sub-frame connectors built for supras for the last couple weeks. we finially finished our production set. they are made of 1.5" .120 wall mild steel. they are more to stiffen up the targa top verisions. we also included jack points.

let me know what you guys think. they can be bolted or welded on (welding preferable obviously).

 

the right side one is a bit longer...

nice work any installed pics?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ROTARY &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">the right side one is a bit longer...

nice work any installed pics?</TD></TR></TABLE>

maybe by .030.

 

Intersted to hear more since I am an SC owner. Is clearance going to be an issue if you run these, pics installed?

 

heres the prototype, but the clearence and fitment are the same as far as ground clearence.

we used sheet metal screws to hold it in place during building. these are not for the production run.

we welded those with mig, where the production set is all tig. i had my new welder fresh out of school doing some practing.

the jack points were not in this version.

 

Pretty nice.....

So, are there tapped holes underneath that your using, or are they weld on or bolt through?

 

I would guess you weld the tab all around and the hole you could use as a rosette

 

Yeah, I know the offroad guys do that with frame sliders. Pretty nice setup though.

 

Are the SC's and supras virtually the same frame/unibody?

Justin

 

Supra's are unibodies... what subframe?

That isn't going to help much unless he going to curb side grind like skateboarders .

 

If the piece is a weld-on with the tube welded the entire way along the frame rail, I can see it working well. The mounting pads are only grabbing onto thin steel material, and three thin small tabs doesn't appear to have enough surface area to strengthen that portion of the chassis....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by MidShipCivic &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
That isn't going to help much unless he going to curb side grind like skateboarders .


</TD></TR></TABLE>

lol

 

Is there a problem with Targa Supra's and body flex? I know the subframe connectors are very popular with Mustangs, but that is because there is nothing that connects the front subframe to the back creating a "5th spring" effect. When Supra's have a full length subframe, is reinforcing the existing rail in a parallel manner really going to help reduce chassis flex?


Craftsmanship does look nice.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by The Original Whitey &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Is there a problem with Targa Supra's and body flex? I know the subframe connectors are very popular with Mustangs, but that is because there is nothing that connects the front subframe to the back creating a "5th spring" effect. When Supra's have a full length subframe, is reinforcing the existing rail in a parallel manner really going to help reduce chassis flex?


Craftsmanship does look nice. </TD></TR></TABLE>

More importantly what about the rest of the car? That round tubing doesn't have enough surface area or triangulation. Square tubing and welding the whole thing to the unibody would be alot better, because I dont see that needing to come off for anything.

 

Agreed. I wouldn't use these on my Supra. I think makng a brace that fits in place of the OEM targa does more than that.

 

Well, I guess the only way to answer the question is support three corners before and after to see what we got here.

I wanna see pics and droop measurements of an unsupported corner before and after!!

 

originally we were supposed to make somthing similar to the do-luck supports which is one bar that runs the length of the pinch weld with three supports. instead of one bar, we wanted to tie that into the frame rail because its stiffer. people have been using the do-luck bars for a long time and say they work.

supra and sc's are basically the same frame setup. "subframe connectors" is just an easy way to describe them. i guess i'll start calling them "supra grinding bars" or "pinchweldtoframerailstiffeningbarsthatarereallyco ol" in the future.

there is no rules on what you can and can't weld. if you want to weld the entire span of the frame rail, i'm sure there isn't welding police that will ticket you for it.

this design is meant to weld in. customer requested bolt in ability, regardless of how well it worked.

obviously there is better ways to stiffen up the chassis, but with the price range we were given and space requirements, this is a pretty good option. people want them, so we'll make them.

as far as definitive r&d we'll do some chassis flexing before and after and we have a source that will install them and run tests on difference in cornering and the skid pad.

below is a picture of some do-luck knock offs for a 240, but they are pretty much the same as the supra version.

 

id say that with all three 'tabs' welded to that subframe brace, as well as numerous welds throughout the pinch weld, it would make the uni-body significantly more rigid.

but id also think that welding a couple 45's into the D shape would help strengthen them up a bit too.

just my $0.02

craftsmanship and fit look excellent though

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 92LSVTEC &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">id say that with all three 'tabs' welded to that subframe brace, as well as numerous welds throughout the pinch weld, it would make the uni-body significantly more rigid.

but id also think that welding a couple 45's into the D shape would help strengthen them up a bit too.

just my $0.02

craftsmanship and fit look excellent though </TD></TR></TABLE>

thanks. we're planning on making a gusset in a corner of each d-shape with our logo laser cut out of .125 mild, so that might help a little too.

 

Bump for more info

 

no offense OP but i can't se this doing much if anything accept for the above mentioned skateboard concept.

one thing that i would bet money on is that if you made a butterfly style brace that tied the frame rails together across the bottom of the car that you would see a big improvement.

check out http://www.flyinmiata.com

they sell a butterfly brace that makes a huge difference. different car, sure, but boxing in the drive shaft/ exhaust tunnel will pay dividends on most cars.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr.E.G. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">no offense OP but i can't se this doing much if anything accept for the above mentioned skateboard concept.

one thing that i would bet money on is that if you made a butterfly style brace that tied the frame rails together across the bottom of the car that you would see a big improvement.

check out http://www.flyinmiata.com

they sell a butterfly brace that makes a huge difference. different car, sure, but boxing in the drive shaft/ exhaust tunnel will pay dividends on most cars.</TD></TR></TABLE>

connection of the frame rails is obviously the best option, howeve running 4~5" exhaust would prohibit this.

we went with this design to one up the du-luck design.

hope this makes sense. is you would like a set, contact mvpmotorsports.com

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by manifoldmiketyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

connection of the frame rails is obviously the best option, howeve running 4~5" exhaust would prohibit this.

we went with this design to one up the du-luck design.

hope this makes sense. is you would like a set, contact mvpmotorsports.com

</TD></TR></TABLE>

sure, i'll take a set if throw in a free supra. otherwise they'd make an odd looking coat hanger or tie rack.

 

have you considered making a brace that ties the top of the a pillar and the top pf the b pillar together for the targa version. i'd imagine that would make a pretty big difference.

also, if you are making enough power to necessitate the use of five inch exhaust i would hope that a roll cage is in your near future. lol

seriously though, why is it that i never see supras will roll cages. a zillion horsepower? check.

roll cage? ehh, I'll be going too fast to survive cage or not. lol.

 

thats a good question. every supra i've worked on hasn't had a cage. we'll be putting one in the one were currently working on, but its going to be a 6 point at the most.