Gussets for Frame
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 23
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Gussets for Frame
I'm planning to do the Chevy Power mods to my frame. What thickness of steel should I use for the gussets on the lower a-arm mounts and engine mounts? Also what thickness for boxing the front frame rails for the stabilizer bar mounts?
Thanks,
Paul
Thanks,
Paul
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 24,160
Likes: 78
Originally Posted by Supercobra
I'm planning to do the Chevy Power mods to my frame. What thickness of steel should I use for the gussets on the lower a-arm mounts and engine mounts? Also what thickness for boxing the front frame rails for the stabilizer bar mounts?
Thanks,
Paul
Thanks,
Paul
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
Likes: 9
yeah, .125 is fine, I used that for the boxed sections because i had to bend some curves and stuff, for the flat gussets on the cross shaft mounts (well mine aren't completely flat, I curves them so they would closely follow the original seam of where the 2 plates of the crossmember join) I used about .16 thick steel plates.
The boxed section in the power book is just a plate welded over the inside. I didn't really like this approach since many cars have warped frame horns from the sway bar. The lower section ill not be straight. I felt this was not strong enough and also wanted to tie the horns into the crossmember. Here's what I cam up with, it's a compound curved corner section, a U shaped plate on the frame horn and a gusset between that and the frame. The compound curved piece wraps around the stock frame secion and is welded also on the top and bottom, it intersects with the seperate sections that mke up the frame there. I hope you can see it in these pics:
compound corner section:
u shaped boxing section:
and a big .16 gusset welded in:
The boxed section in the power book is just a plate welded over the inside. I didn't really like this approach since many cars have warped frame horns from the sway bar. The lower section ill not be straight. I felt this was not strong enough and also wanted to tie the horns into the crossmember. Here's what I cam up with, it's a compound curved corner section, a U shaped plate on the frame horn and a gusset between that and the frame. The compound curved piece wraps around the stock frame secion and is welded also on the top and bottom, it intersects with the seperate sections that mke up the frame there. I hope you can see it in these pics:
compound corner section:
u shaped boxing section:
and a big .16 gusset welded in:
