I’ve started the modifications on the 1979 Ford Fairmont. Remember kids, many of the things I do to this car also apply to Mustangs from 1979-1992. So if you’re looking for a walkthrough on…
Installing Frame Connectors Ford Fox Body -EricTheCarGuy
881
Like
Save
){kind=link}
- Tags:
body, Connectors, EricTheCarGuy, Ford, frame, Installing
- Categories: Ford
Comments
Write a comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Here’s the latest on the Fairmont project.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mtrw7DcUtHg
Extend the frame connectors the extra 4″ and stitch weld them to the body.
I bet that’ll make a noticeable difference with the doors after you align
them a bit.
Not trying to be rude at all, but I cant see the weld at 36:19 holding up
over time. Especially if you think there is so much new pressure holding
the body together it broke a stabilizer link.
I bet if you stitch weld it on the ground it will strengthen it by 40% and
your doors will close on the lift
Saw you on drift garage, I was a little surprised. But I don’t know why I
would be, car guys are car guys. Anyway, that was really cool.
Sounds like you need to turn up the wire feed on your welder.
It’s a right and a left bracket, you should have switched them over left
to right, and you should not need to modify them, at least that’s my theory
Im 100% sure my 86 escort gt needs these.
Eric the ford Fairmont has never been a cool car, just saying.
i wanna put sub frame connectors on my nova
Wow that body flex is ridiculous lmao.
I was definitely disappointed when the door-closing thing didn’t go as
planned. But I was very happy to hear that the car rides and handles far
better than it did before — I guess that’s just something you have to
feel, rather than see on a video.
*Very* much looking forward to future work on the Fairmont!
Lol like the product placement magnets on the hoist near the end of the
video :-)
I guess it’s not just the strikers that need realignment, right?
Wish I lived closer so I could help with some welding. I’m a millwright in
a plywood factory. I fabricate, install, maintain, and modify industrial
machinery.
I do a lot more stick welding than mig welding, but it almost sounds like
you’d get a more consistent arc by turning your wire speed up a little bit.
If you’re using a shielding gas make sure you don’t have any tight bends in
your welding lead because it can kink the hose that your gas flows through.
Hard to give constructive tips without actually being there to pull the
trigger myself, and I’m no expert with a mig gun. Just want to help if I
can.
Love your videos.
Where did you get this car
Dont quite see the big deal/point in doing this. the flex is like that by
design yeah
“Bolt-on”
A deceptive amount of work when you’re planning things out.
I used to work on a fleet of limos, and it was standard practice to open
all of the doors before lifting the limo because of body flex.
Have you thought about cutting the end plate off of that square box tubing
and sliding the next size smaller tubing into it to get that extra 4
inches. It’s already Bologna sliced on an angle so the side weld would get
you a little bit more rigidity.
Chris
HEY ERIC YOU FORGOT THE RECTANGLE PLATES FOR THE WEAK SPOT ON FRAME RAILS.
Weld those in….
Maybe I missed something, but why vice-grips and not two nuts to try to get
the stud out? I’ve never known anyone to have success turning a stud out
with vice-grips.
+EricTheCarGuy seeing the video ,you said that everything lines up really
good but when u put them on the brackets they shifted, here is a question,
are the bracket installed the wrong way? think 180 degrees
Great job Eric. Years ago I installed weld in sub frame connectors in my
Mustang GT and I couldn’t believe the improvement they made. I agree with
you they’re a great bang for the buck mod. Looking forward to seeing your
future modifications to your Fairmont.
Should of practiced welding on something else :(
Pls Eric, let someone else weld it for you. The welds will break 100% If i
whas close to you il come and do it for you but i live at the other side of
the world. But dont mess up the fairmont like that. I am not hating on your
welds, everyone can learn but learn whit some scrap metal not on you’re
Fairmont :)
Everyone like this comment, Eric you forgot to weld in the flat plates that
go over the bends in the tubing. This may be a big part of the problem, if
not it would help stop the flex! Great video
I noticed at the end that you hadn’t put the plates on over the weak point
of the connector. Was that done off camera?
Doing this to my 05 vert this year, flex is bad on it just haven’t pulled
the trigger on getting them yet. Awesome video Eric
I always built my own frame connectors from scratch. those ones you bought
don’t attach to the rear lower control arm box where the control arm
attaches and don’t have any cross members for drive shaft loop and rear
cross brace.
I’d also add an export brace under the hood to support the strut towers.the
export brace will make the steering much more responsive.
Also I’d box in the rear control arms if you aren’t going to use ladder
bars and install urethane bushings
Better get that thing to a good welder / body man.Cool project though.
Weld through primer is your friend. Good vid, I bet once you weld it all up
completely it will be a bit better. I’m sure you can tell it’s better
already though.
Isn’t cutting off a trans mount going against the very idea of stiffening
the chassis?
@ 0:13
THE FORD FAIRMONT
yessssssssss
best teacherrr everrrr
although he never speaks to me again
Have you tried the pen test.
You put a pen in between the gap on the door, then lower the car and it
going back to its non flexed state should break the gap becoming much
smaller.
Eric, surely to god you should have done this with the weight on the
wheels? I can’t help thinking you have turned your car into a banana by
welding the braces on while it was crooked?
Put 2 plates on side of the frames to extend it a litle.
The first most important mod on a fox body car ! And the best suspension
brand for sure ! Hey Eric , some things that you will do on Fairmont also
apply to 94-95 mustangs (they came with the 5.0 on GT and Cobra versions.
The last years of the true 5.0) . And all suspension system is the same on
1979-2004 mustangs with little changes (except 01-04 Cobras with rear
independent susp.) .
Great video glade to see it, I’m also glade so many pro builder’s watch
these videos, i mean shit if i knew it all and had an endless budget id
watch this. What’s that hunny? No i didn’t get off my fat ass today and do
anything. I was too busy googling specs and reading Hanes manuals so i
could bitch about something Eric the car guy was doing. Can you bring me a
snack cake I’m just too awesome to do it myself.
Not too be rude but those welds will absolutely not hold over time.
Very good as usual!
You’re very strategic when working Eric. It’s very impressive. Leads me to
believe you were a chess player in a previous life. Haha.
My advice to you is to get as steady and comfortable as possible before
welding out of position. Use both hands and make a few dry runs before
pulling the trigger. Lighting can also help. But nothing beats practice. I
have been welding for half my life and if I don’t touch a stinger for a
couple of weeks I find myself a little rusty.
I’m glad you went with Maximum Motorsports SFCs. About to install these on
my 93 mustang lx