toddshotrods
12-21-2004, 05:53 PM
Hey guys,
Project Machete (79 Camaro) is finally inside for the winter, and my first project is a custom front clip. If I remove all the sheet metal from the windshield forward, are the remaining four body mount bolts enough to support the weight of the car with everything else intact? It will basically be a complete car minus hood fenders, front fascia, bumper, radiator support, inner fenderwells (never had those anyway).
I am not going to drive it like this - just doing the fiberglass work. When that is complete I plan to fab 1.75" mild steel tubing braces from the firewall to the front of the subframe. My plan is to make them bolt to the stock upper rear fender mounting locations on the firewall, figuring that if the factory supported it from there it should work for my purposes. I prefer to not do the braces until after the new clip is done because I want them to be made to fit the body, not vice versa.
I am used to working on full-frame and uni-body vehicles and figured I'd better ask you guys because many of your projects have front subframes.
Please deposit your comments, suggestions, and opinions, in five four, three, two, one...
Todd
Project Machete (79 Camaro) is finally inside for the winter, and my first project is a custom front clip. If I remove all the sheet metal from the windshield forward, are the remaining four body mount bolts enough to support the weight of the car with everything else intact? It will basically be a complete car minus hood fenders, front fascia, bumper, radiator support, inner fenderwells (never had those anyway).
I am not going to drive it like this - just doing the fiberglass work. When that is complete I plan to fab 1.75" mild steel tubing braces from the firewall to the front of the subframe. My plan is to make them bolt to the stock upper rear fender mounting locations on the firewall, figuring that if the factory supported it from there it should work for my purposes. I prefer to not do the braces until after the new clip is done because I want them to be made to fit the body, not vice versa.
I am used to working on full-frame and uni-body vehicles and figured I'd better ask you guys because many of your projects have front subframes.
Please deposit your comments, suggestions, and opinions, in five four, three, two, one...
Todd