Pinto Car Club of America

V8 swap is underway for my 80 with a 9 inch rear and T5.  After measuring, 2x2 square tubing would stick out from under the body noticibly unless I performed a surgical procedure from fore to aft with a saws-all which I would rather not do.  What have other people used for subframe connectors and how did you position them not to interfere with fuel line routing?  Pics would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks

I found these on another thread posted by 78pinto.  78pinto has given me good advice and offered lots of pics in the past and these are good pics well worth viewing.

http://www.fordpinto.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=56&topic=5704.msg34263#msg34263

Also found a couple more pics here on fordpinto.

Thanks to all for sharing the wealth of information!

Hey there, those 2 pics posted are from my lifetime project. They were a Major pain to install but WELL worth it! They are 1 3/4 x 3- 1/8 wall rectangle tubing. Yes i cut the floor to install and  the full length welding from both top and bottom. It was a lot of work. I 90ed to the leaf spring and then went up to the perch with 1/8 plate.
The box only intrudes into the rear foot well about 3/4 an inch.
But I can tell you that the stiffness in the car is incredible even without a roll cage.For example during tire maintenance I used to jack up the front corner and the rear never left the ground let alone the other front. NOW it will lift all 3 tires off the ground without much height at all from one corner.
I didnt worry about my fuel lines as i redid them with a custom 3/8 line. You might want to think of doing that as well. But it is extra work.
Eventually i want to tie them together in an X fashion just to give it that extra stiffness.
Good luck with your ride.

71hotrod,
Thank you for the pictures and additional welding and structural info!   Your handiwork is apparant and you aren't the only one working on a "lifetime" project ;D.  I'm working on both ends and trying to meet somewhere in the middle instead of ending up in left field.
GH

Hey thanks for the compliments. Wish the wife appreciated all the work Ive done LOL!
Anyways another thing i forgot to mention. No one makes any subframe conn for the car so unfortunatly your stuck doing something custom. Competition engeineering says that they do but they are only designed to meet up with thier "back half" setup, not the stock setup.
Any other questions, fire away. Ill see if i can help.
Good luck

Quote from: 71hotrodpinto on March 30, 2007, 08:49:36 AM
Hey thanks for the compliments. Wish the wife appreciated all the work Ive done LOL!
Anyways another thing i forgot to mention. No one makes any subframe conn for the car so unfortunatly your stuck doing something custom. Competition engeineering says that they do but they are only designed to meet up with thier "back half" setup, not the stock setup.
Any other questions, fire away. Ill see if i can help.
Good luck

I've got the Compettion Engineering Sub-Frame Connectors on my Wagon and I just Simply made a 3"x2"x2" U channel up to connect the Connector making it Paralell with the Rocker. It wasnt to bad. I know exactally what you mean about the Rigidity it Improves. I also have Cage in my Wagon, it's realy strong.  ;D

turbowagonman