[dmanflynn]

Hey there guys, first time poster in the mm community. My first question is mainly about chassis strengthening as I see that will probably be my biggest problem. I'm considering purchasing a 93 lx 4 cyl and doing a 351w swap. From what I gather on here from looking around, you have to strengthen the frame of the 4 banger correct? Never been under a older mustang so I dont really know. My next question is, is it worth it to buy the 4 cyl. and beef up the chassis or is the 5.0 chassis strong enough and a cheaper route for a 351w swap? I really am in the "just looking phase" and am open to any advice.

[Av8tor]

The chassis itself is pretty much identical between the 2 cars. But with that said, if i got either one i would want to do some of the basics for the chassis. With the mustangs all being unibody, subframe connectors are a MUST have. Youd be suprised how much of a difference these will make. Even if you had a 5.0L youd wanna do these. This will help out for your plans as usually you can find a 4cyl mustang for alot less than a 5.0l.

[dmanflynn]

How easy are these to do? Is it better to just have a shop weld them in? Im decent at welding but not good enough to go welding on my car. To do it RIGHT just in materials what are we talking price wise? To completely strengthen the frame up to whats needed for a 351w swap. Obviously not including suspension or anything

[Av8tor]

These are the ones im going to be getting myself when i get to that stage in my car, The subframe connectors are relatively inexpensive for the benefits they provide. I would guess that if your decent at welding you could weld these guys in.

Its more about prepping the car for them as you have to make sure you grind off any undercoating or paint so you get a good weld in there. The one thing ive heard people say is when you do them if possible to do it with the car on ramps or something so the cars suspension is still loaded.

But other than that anything else you wanna do to strengthen the car is up to you. But i would say that the subframes are the biggest thing youd wanna do.

[dmanflynn]

Yeah, theres not too many things you dont grind down and prep before you weld. I'm guessing that the reasoning for the ramps is so the body/frame is under normal stress when you weld them. Makes sense. Is there any kind of info out there on where to place them, who sells them prefabbed, or a diagram to fab them from?

[ReverendDexter]

There's no difference in the chassis between 2.3L and 5.0L cars. Both are super-flexy, and need full-length subframe connectors at the very least.

If you've got the coin, I suggest something like the Griggs Racing over-and-under SFCs. They're more expensive, but they're MUCH stiffer than your typical under-only SFC like you get from just about everyone else.

A roll bar will do wonders for your chassis stiffness as well. All I have is a 4-pt, and that was a noticable improvement, I've heard 6-pts are that much better.

[dmanflynn]

I'd be more apt to have a roll cage fabbed for me and throw in the SFC's by griggs if they are that much better. By the way, you got a link for those SFC's? Looked em up on their site and cant find em. I want to make everything as solid as possible before any performance mods will be added. If either frame is different Ima just by the 4 cyl and yank that biotch out

[dmanflynn]

never mind, found em. Are their kits the way to go? There is no description for what their kit entails.

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by dmanflynn never mind, found em. Are their kits the way to go? There is no description for what their kit entails.

Depends on what you're doing. If you're road racing, there's nothing better.

[dmanflynn]

Thanks for being patient with all my questions hahaha. I see they have a stang kit and then a world challenge kit which is a hundred or so more, I wouldnt need the pro kit right? Im not taking it to the track

[turbochicken]

all sub frams connectors are exactly what they say they are its square tube that connect the c notch to the front sub fram you can make your own out of square tube and a good mig and just for fun throw in some torson boxes

[turbochicken]

no differances from one to another untill you get to converts. the have beefed up sub fram and torson boxes