With hinston cradles dropping like flys... are my only choices jimlabs (maybe) or convincing my mechanical engineering brother to help build our own?

 

Your brother would be the best, saves you tons of money I would assume.

 

Im a mechanical engineer but i dont think I have the time and necessary tools to build my own. I was planning on going Hinson. Is there something that can be done to strengthen the Hinson mount?

 

Yeah, it's called QA.

 

lol.

Why don't we put a list together of what we want out of a subframe and go from there. I'm not opposed to helping set up a group effort of sorts.

 

dont be a sissy.
buy a hinson cradle, reinforce it when you get it if it looks shatty, and get on with your conversion.
if all of hinsons stuff was junk there would be hundreds of bad posts about him but hey what do you know, there are only a few.
or you could buy one, copy it, send his back and be done with it.

 

Im thinking of mocking my own up just because. I have a spare cradle I can wack apart. A nice tig and a full cnc machine shop at work.

 

sounds like a good idea. Keep us posted on what you come up with.

 

So you guys want a full chromoly tube front subframe with no need to give in your stock subframe to be cut up? I have been thinking of making something like that but haven't decided yet.

 

i think it would be great to have something like that where you dont have to worry about your subframe. That way if you ever decide to go back to rotary you have it and you dont have to deal with sending your subframe out. There is a post on torquecentral with pictures that someone took of their build making their own custom subframe

 

I'm thinking titanium.... Ofcourse I'm kidding because it is damn near impossible to find someone to weld the stuff. Soon as I do, it's on!

 

http://www.torquecentral.com/showthread.php?t=40258

the pictures are down right now. Im gonna post and see if he can rehost the pictures.

 

Here is mine.....but if I was going to make subframes for people I would not reuse the stock subframe for parts.

 

If you wanna go the brother engineering route lemmie know, I'll be down for spending a few all nighters

I'll bring the beer...and the movies... yeah, we're gonna get a lot of work done... I can FEEL it

 

Why have you decided not to make it?

 

I didn't say I don't want to make it, but if I was going to do it we have to get five people together to make a group buy. I would supply a front subframe and tranny mount.

 

I may be interested in a chromoly front subframe if the weight savings is significant over hinson's. Any idea how much they weigh?

 

What do you think cost would be?

 

I really don't know. I have to take my car apart to give you a good quote. I am sure you guys have seen some of the pics of my setup.

 

Paul I would also be interested

 

Nice, Chevy v8 swaps are great everyday drivers!

 

Im extremely interested, I just got my rolling chasis last night and Would love to save some money over hinson and would be nice to not have to sent in my subframe. Let me know. I have money ready

 

I am glad you are intrested, but let me be the first to tell you custom Chromoly tube anything is not going to be cheaper then the Hinson square mild steel tubing he uses. The only thing you will save on is shipping, only one way!

 

Paul,

Do you know how the engine sits in your cradle versus Hinson? Do you use the floorpan for the transmission brace?

 

My engine sits slightly higher, you must cut the hood bracing where the throttle body sits, and trim your stock throttle body for hood clearance. My motor also sits about .5in to 1in. further back, so its better for shifter location. I am using the stock tunnel braces but I recommend drilling and riveting them in place to prevent the possiblity for failure, which I have not experienced with my added rear diff support inplace. http://www.swapcartech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=884 read through the thread to the end.

Please read this thread for understanding the need for a proper rear diff support.

http://www.swapcartech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=761