DSE Mini Tub Install

[workbenchracer]

I'm having a hard time getting the tubs into place. I've followed the video and instructions word for word and looked at DSE's project pics hundreds of times through the process. It looked like I had everything right but I've ground away a little more and bent the sheetmetal even more and still no luck. I'd hate to keep removing material to find that I have a huge gap to fill. Any hints or thoughts?

[workbenchracer]

Well...I just had to get a little more rowdier with it than I thought and it went in. I do have some filling to do but it won't be bad. Any advice would be welcomed though.

[69blackwhss]

What car u putting them in?? An am thinking of doing the same thing to my 69 Camaro in a month. I found a good thread on here look for it on Dse mini tubs it had pics also mite help.

[Josue]

There never seems to be anyone having installation problems with items on this site. lol Everyone just posts a pic or 2 and VOILA, just like it was from the factory. All these big name, high dollar shops that build a car up from a dash and roof frame make it look SOO easy, I always wonder what they go through to make these parts fit.

Hopefully you get some answers, I know how frustrating it can be to work with parts that aren't fitting. It's taken me over a month to put in an entire floor on our '69 Firebird because the fit is so horrible.

[1969CamaroRS]

I'm having a hard time getting the tubs into place. I've followed the video and instructions word for word and looked at DSE's project pics hundreds of times through the process. It looked like I had everything right but I've ground away a little more and bent the sheetmetal even more and still no luck. I'd hate to keep removing material to find that I have a huge gap to fill. Any hints or thoughts?

I think for me that was the hardest part of the install, not wanting to cut too much. I had to keep slowly cutting a bit more, grinding down and then test fitting, rinse and repeat many times. If you are doing it right I think it should take awhile. You want a tight fit so you have to come up on it slowly. They do eventually kind of "pop" in, if you have a tight fit.

Just in case you haven't seen this thread yet, only a couple pics there thou ;) :
The Novice's guide to mini-tubbing a 68-69 Camaro

[johnny68]

when i did my nova Ed's thread was it for me he is the head tub dude dse was worthless

[workbenchracer]

Thanks for the replies! The link to "The Novice's guide to mini-tubbing a 68-69 Camaro" was very helpful. I am glad to hear that others have found it to be difficult. It means I'm doing it right. I guess the first one is hard but hopefully the rest get easier.

[workbenchracer]

Sorry for another post. Someone asked what the car was- it is a '69 Camaro. My 1st car that I've been "holding" on to for 25 years so I could start what I am doing now. It figures though- years ago I had all the time in the world to work on it but no money. Now I have some money (never enough) and no time.

[badazz81z28]

I know this is an old thread, but after countless research and cost figuring, paying someone $4K to install the tubs is crazy especially on my salary. How attainable is it for a novice to install these in a second gen? I will have to find someone to weld for me, but it looks like all the time is cutting an fitting.

[Rick D]

I know this is an old thread, but after countless research and cost figuring, paying someone $4K to install the tubs is crazy especially on my salary. How attainable is it for a novice to install these in a second gen? I will have to find someone to weld for me, but it looks like all the time is cutting an fitting.

It's not hard at all, make sure to go slow. Remember most cars are different from one another, so what worked on one might be to much on yours. Measure more then once and recheck it until you are sure you have how you want it.

I'm getting ready to mini tub my 2nd gen but I'm not using the DSE tubs I'm just moving my stock ones in and adding the filler metal in. $450 for tubs is just to much.

[badazz81z28]

It's not hard at all, make sure to go slow. Remember most cars are different from one another, so what worked on one might be to much on yours. Measure more then once and recheck it until you are sure you have how you want it.

I'm getting ready to mini tub my 2nd gen but I'm not using the DSE tubs I'm just moving my stock ones in and adding the filler metal in. $450 for tubs is just to much.

Thanks Rick, I'm going to buy a welder learn. Any recommendations on a welder for this sort of work and ease of learning?

[TheJDMan]

The mini-tub install is not hard just time consuming. As for a welder you want a 115V MIG welder from a brand name manufacturer like Lincoln, Miller or Hobart. Eastwood has a good line of MIG welders as well. You also want a MIG that can be converted from flux core wire to use shielding gas. Welders are kind of like cars everyone has a favorite brand, I'm partial to Lincoln. Here is a Lincoln Weld Pac 100 from Summit for a decent price. This was my first machine and it worked well for sheet metal. A great entry level MIG.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/lcn-k2185-1/overview/

[badazz81z28]

The mini-tub install is not hard just time consuming. As for a welder you want a 115V MIG welder from a brand name manufacturer like Lincoln, Miller or Hobart. Eastwood has a good line of MIG welders as well. You also want a MIG that can be converted from flux core wire to use shielding gas. Welders are kind of like cars everyone has a favorite brand, I'm partial to Lincoln. Here is a Lincoln Weld Pac 100 from Summit for a decent price. This was my first machine and it worked well for sheet metal. A great entry level MIG.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/lcn-k2185-1/overview/

Awesome! Thank you.

[69ridetech]

Just got done putting a set of DSE mini tubes in my 69 Camaro. Like mentioned earlier, not hard just time consuming. here is a pic of my project. Good luck.