Sub-Frame Repair..?

[Jay128]

Hey guys, I have question about subframe repair. I wasnt able to get the one I was looking at while back, but I found another one that seemed very promising. It has been sand blasted and primed once already (needs to be reprimed and painted), comes with some of the bumper mount hardware and the tranny cross member (supposedly for a small block) for a reasonable price.

But the problem is, the body mounts where it would be mounted to the firewall must have been damaged/rusted and were enlarged. I know thats fairly common, and that they make repair kits for it, but has anyone ever used a kit or know if its any good?

Thanks alot
-Jay

[Jay128]

Anyone had to use these kits before??

[joe69standard]

Jay, mine will need them, well I shouldnt say that, mine will need new plates. Take a look at them, nothing more then flat, heavy gauge steel with some easy holes drilled in. Make some yourself Jay! Its almost like buying bottled water! :)

-joey

[Jay128]

Thanks Joey. Ive looked at the plates. But are you suposed to simply weld the plate on top or make it like factory, cut and weld it so its flush?

[joe69standard]

Thats another great question, and I am really one against "sandwiching" old metal and new metal, typicly because it traps moisture and allows rust to form. But as far as the crutial alignment of the subframe your really best to put it on top. I suppose if you got the kits and they were 100% exact you could cut them, but i still would only trust them if they were 100 % Dont take my word for it at all, I havnt got there yet, lets see what someone else has to say!

[Jay128]

Thanks alot for the info Joe.

[Ryatt-Motion]

I would get the plates as they already have the right diameter hole in them and are of the proper thickness. They even come with instructions on where to cut and weld them in. I would not mess around with making a set seeing as the holes have already been distorted. You want to make sure that you will have a nice straight surface when you are done otherwise you will end up with a subframe that you can't align. Jay, if you have not already bought the subframe you may consider looking for another one, maybe one that is a little more together and complete.

[Jay128]

No I didnt buy it yet, and looking for another was exactly what I was already doing/thinking. Thanks Rick.