to tub or not to tub?

[71maroesteban]

So dse mini tubs run about 400 dollars and my wielder has never installed these but he said if I helped him he'd charge 400 dollars to cut and wield them into place, so should I do? I know second gen Camaros can fit a 305 with a little massaging is it worth the extra money to tub?

[dragonfly jones]

I tubbed my own car, that being said if you can get someone to do it for $400 jump on it. It takes alot of work to do a nice job.

[Schwartz Performance]

$400 is a good deal.. Might as well do it now even if you can't afford the big wheels and tires yet.

-Dale

[71maroesteban]

$400 is a good deal.. Might as well do it now even if you can't afford the big wheels and tires yet.

-Dale
I guess I'll take the plunge and tub it do the shocks need to be relocated?

[astroracer]

How clean are the original tubs? You could cut them out and relocate them. Save you 400 bucks for other things...
Mark

[cwylie]

Yeah $400 is a deal. I took me about 4 weeks to do mine working on it a few hours a week.

[Simbad68]

Tub it, you will more options in the future for wheel upgrades!

[71maroesteban]

How clean are the original tubs? You could cut them out and relocate them. Save you 400 bucks for other things...
Mark
They aren't bad at all just how much metal would I need to add to comfortably fit a 335 I'm pretty much set on tubbing my car now and never thought about using my old ones

[Schwartz Performance]

You'd have to add at least 2 inches, but thats not anything to worry about. I'd recommend having a 335 there before you fit it though..

-Dale

[astroracer]

Like Dale said, grab a junk 335 and use it for mock up.
Here is a link to the tub build for my Astro. I widened the original tubs 8" and raised them 4".
https://www.pro-touring.com/threads/20086-The-BAD-AST-Project-Faze-II?p=870182#post870182
Mark

[71maroesteban]

You'd have to add at least 2 inches, but thats not anything to worry about. I'd recommend having a 335 there before you fit it though..

-Dale
Okay thanks! Lol damn now I'm getting all greedy and want a 345! LOL

[srh3trinity]

Do it. Easier to do it now than later. I am probably going to split mine and add some metal.

[astroracer]

345/335. It's less then 1/2" overall so making room for the 345 is a no brainer. That is a 345 in this pic.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/MVC008Fvi-1.jpg
I went as wide as I could with the tub just so the option is there for big drag radials if I want.
Mark

[71maroesteban]

345/335. It's less then 1/2" overall so making room for the 345 is a no brainer. That is a 345 in this pic.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2012/01/MVC008Fvi-1.jpg
I went as wide as I could with the tub just so the option is there for big drag radials if I want.
Mark
That looks awesome! I guess I'll pick up a 345 to start mocking up the back and a 275 for the front to mock up and if I can reuse my stock tubs this will be a under 500 dollar project. Now would I have to narrow my rear end or can I keep it at its stock length just get a rim with the correct offset.

Also I know I will most have to relocate my shocks doing this anyone make a good relocating kit?and besides dse anyone else make offset shackles?

[Schwartz Performance]

The only reason you would want or need to narrow the rear end is if you wanted a deep dish on the wheels. It has nothing to do with minitubbing. Minitubbing just adds back spacing to the wheels basically.

-Dale

[alphaenvirmgt]

A word of caution...pay attention to emergency brake cable routing. Wide wheel/tires have a way of rubbing the cable. If you don't want e-brake, no problem BUT I want e-brake on my street rides.
Conrad

[whytry]

I'm about to take this on myself too, I'm going to widen my stock tubs....

[badazz81z28]

Whoa....hold on a second. When you tub the car, you cut out the top shock mount in the process. You need to decide how to address this. You will need DSEs upper shock mount bar, and Im not sure if you need to move the spring plates to allow its use.

You just can't install the tubs

[71maroesteban]

Whoa....hold on a second. When you tub the car, you cut out the top shock mount in the process. You need to decide how to address this. You will need DSEs upper shock mount bar, and Im not sure if you need to move the spring plates to allow its use.

You just can't install the tubs was about to cut and realized this LOL well back to the drawing board

[Chadman27]

What badazz81 said... Speaking from experience on my own project, you will need to either 4-link or relocate the leafs inboard.

The $$$ stacks up quickly. On the bright side, $400 sounds like a steal if shop labor is usually 60+ an hour. I have a feeling your guy doesn't know all that he is in for with this job. I did the full 4-link and tubs on my own. While maybe I was going slow cause I am type A and meticulous (to a fault, haha) I have 80+ hours in the whole job (tubs, frame notch fill plates, upper link doubler plates, upper link frame mounts, shock mount frame notch fill plates, upper shock cabin reinforcement plates, spring pocket (lower link) relocation brackets, frame/panhard bar frame cross brace - this does not include axles brackets). If you kept the leafs, it would be much simpler, but still take additional welding/work.

Just giving you some details. I would recommend buying a welder (the $400 in labor would get you close) and doing it on your own, its actually quite fun and you will know it is done right! :hammer:

[rdchandler]

Most shops estimate 40 hrs for the Deep tub install only. The $400 reflects someone who does not know the extent of the work involved. Just say'n!

[71maroesteban]

Most shops estimate 40 hrs for the Deep tub install only. The $400 reflects someone who does not know the extent of the work involved. Just say'n! all he does is fabrication he works at a shop and all but helps me do a lot of side work he knows it'll take a long time but he lives 3 houses away from me and would help me on his free time. Seeing as how I'm going to need to drop another 2 grand in either relocating the shocks and offset shackles and gas tank or 4 link I think I will just be going with 295s on a 18x10 as if I was to to bigger the tire cost would kill me lol

[Chadman27]

I have a buddy that runs 315s on an 81 Camaro. You can get away with this with rolling your fender lip and BFH to the seatbelt hump. Carefully checked backspacing is a must (side to side may be inconsistent due to factory tolerance stack-ups). They would look almost as meaty as 335's. No need for minitubs. Just a thought, goodluck!

[whytry]

I've already moved my shocks inboard and got lower plates that work. So for my application its just the widening of the tubs.

[badazz81z28]

Most shops estimate 40 hrs for the Deep tub install only. The $400 reflects someone who does not know the extent of the work involved. Just say'n!

I would honestly like to see why it takes that long. If it includes removing and installing the interior, I get it. But cutting the old tubs out, fitting the new ones and welding them in...40 hours a long time. I have actually thought about cutting my own tubs out and getting a mobile welder to spot weld them in.

[hessdawg]

Anybody have a link or pics of doin their own tubs
I'm really tempted cause I've a 4 link already in.
Bought a plasma, mig and tig.
But I don't want spent $400 for mini tubs that I can build with a 2 inch strip of steel