mini-tub questions

[JLM]

Due to my project taking quite a bit more time than I had originally anticipated, I've decided I might as well go in and due the mini-tub at this point since I want it anyway.



How much work is involved however? My car currently is at my parents house as i don't have the tools or garage space at my disposal for the project. That house is being put up on the market so I'm kind of on a time crunch now. Is this something that could be completed in say a weekend?

[bretcopsey]

I don't have any experience with this yet, but I doubt a weekend is enough time. Check out Detroit Speed's web site under "projects", and you'll get a pretty good idea of what is involved.


http://www.detroitspeed.com/Projects10.html

[68protouring454]

usually the complete job with crossmember takes 50 hrs or so, longer if you are not experienced with panel removal,
jake

[Travis B]

To do the DSE deep tub and and shock crossmember I would think 2 full days would be more than enough!!!! HOwever I have never done DSE's deep tub so I don't know for sure!

It just replaces the inner wheel houses right?

[68protouring454]

the dse mini tub conversion, replaces the inner housings, and you need to cut floor to install upper shock crossmember either staggard or straight across depending on shock arrangement, i would say you could have inner housings installed and crossmember hole cut in 2 days but i would love to see it completed in 16-20 hrs
jake

[JLM]

I don't have any experience with this yet, but I doubt a weekend is enough time. Check out Detroit Speed's web site under "projects", and you'll get a pretty good idea of what is involved.


http://www.detroitspeed.com/Projects10.html

It would be my luck that their site is "under construction"

I'm still not decided on this yet. I've measured and I know I can fit a 9.5" wheel with a 275 section width tire in the rear. After seeing 315's on my buddy's 95 Mustang, they make the 275's look tiny though.

I'll keep doing some research on this. I'm not extreamly skilled with metal fabrication or panel work so likely it would take me a couple solid weekends to get through it.

[dplenzig]

JLM I live in Greeley and just completed a full dse mini-tub install on my 69 camaro. I will message you my phone number and you can call me if you want to check it out.

Daren

[JLM]

JLM I live in Greeley and just completed a full dse mini-tub install on my 69 camaro. I will message you my phone number and you can call me if you want to check it out.

Daren

Great I'll give you a call this weekend. I responded to you pm before reading this. I guess that answers my question about you building a camaro or firebird.

[Ralph LoGrasso]

I don't think it could be done in a weekend. You'll spend almost a full day drilling spot welds, removing the inner housing, cutting the floor, making close-outs, etc. I've got about 30 hours in my mini-tub without the cross member installed, that's the last thing I have to do.

Travis,
DSE mini-tub is as follows, drill spotwelds, remove inner wheel house, cut the floor, make a flange, notch the frame rail, box the frame rail, make all close-outs and weld 'em in, weld the tub in, modify trunk brackets, cut the trunk pan, and weld in the x-member. Not in that order, but something along the lines of that. It's a 30-50 hour job depending on skill, experience and tools. A plasma cutter will really speed things up.

[Mark Smith]

im in the process of installing a mini tub kit on a 69 camaro. already drilled all spot welds and removed old tub.kind of tuff im 6ft 4 and i dont fit real good in the trunk.cut out floors and installed frame plates.installed new tubs and cut floor for diag. shock cross member.i am no pro so i've got approx.20 hours in it so far.measuring from the inner tub to outer fender i have 14.5 inches of clearance.should be able to stuff some good size meats.cant wait to get car on ground.

[SatisTraction]

i have about 30 hours in my DSE mini tub kit. To be honest would not use another DSE mini tub kit on a 67. Their products are top notch but The "kit" is made for the 69 so the inner tub is different on the drivers side. You have to make a patch panel for your new $400 tubs. The 67 also has the straight across shocks so the DSE kit "templates" are all wrong. none of these issues with a 67 are mentioned on their site nor are they in the instructions. the DSE cross member does not allow you to use "stock style" shocks with there shock mounts. I will say that Kyle at DSE was very helpful and seems to be a honest nice guy.

In the future i would just add 3" to my stock inner tub, have a machine shop make my own rear hangers or use the comp eng ones, and use a comp eng shock cross member. You would have about $400 in your mini tub kit by the time you replaced your spring mounts and other little things.

[rockdogz]

Is there anything stopping you from converting the '67 to a staggered shock setup with the DSE kit? I was always curious about that...

[SatisTraction]

Is there anything stopping you from converting the '67 to a staggered shock setup with the DSE kit? I was always curious about that...

i asked Kyle (DSE) that very question and he said it was not worth the effort to do. but i see no reason why it could not be done.