jimlab

Can't believe no one has cross-posted this yet.

The original thread. Hinson's lame "consumer awareness" follow-up.

Enjoy!

KaoticFdR1

must be a virgin welder cause there isn't any penetration.

Punished

so Jim since you know about welding and I know nothing. Is it possible to buy the Hinson parts and have them rewelded?

wptrx7

Better question, JIM WHERE IS YOUR CRADLE? (I know you were making one, so this is not a stab)

jimlab

Yes, if you want to have to fix something that you just paid someone else $765 to weld incorrectly.

Supposedly they've resolved the problem on recent cradles by welding from the back side too. The main problem, as I see it, is that the stock cradle stamping is very thin gauge steel and their design doesn't allow using a fillet weld of proper depth to join the cap to the stock stamping. This results in a very thin weld bead with very little penetration. Also, Lane Culver (Hinson's fabricator) has had problems in the past with cold welds (inadequate penetration) causing several torque arms to fail "due to material quality".

Hinson was supposed to have notified all those affected a year or so ago, but obviously that's not the case, as he's now vowing to do the same thing again. Considering that their volume is nowhere near what they claim, I fail to see how he was unable to achieve that. Must have poor record keeping skills as well.

jimlab

Should be finished shortly. 2 engine mounting options, complete replacement (no core required), thick gauge boxed suspension mounting points, professionally TIG welded, and the only cradle to my knowledge that will allow using an LS7 dry sump oil pan. More room for exhaust as well, since it takes advantage of the lighter and more compact GTO/Corvette aluminum motor mounts.

I still haven't decided whether I'm going to be offering them in quantity, so for now, we're just doing a very limited run.

wptrx7

And cause you don't know me from a can of paint, YOU WILL PM ME WHEN I CAN PLACE MY ORDER. I still never found anyone selling your cradle, but that's ok, I don't think I will ever have that muh power to need it or need to get up to that kind of speed to take advantage of the gearing options.

Luigi

jimlab

If you're referring to the Cobra IRS cradle, contact Alex Hagedorn (TT_Rex_7).

Punished

Cool thanks. I guess when it comes to my safety I might as well just pay another 500 to someone to weld it properly for me.


I'll keep an eye out for this then. I want a LS swap done to the FD. I just don't want to die shortly after doing the swap because I bought a shitty product. I just want to make sure I do it properly.

93silverbullet

iTrader: (7)

Hi Jim,

Let me know if your going to make a production run on these or you need someone to help you prototype! Let me know I'm very interested in helping out or better yet buying one from you . I have a '06 LS2 just waiting to dropped into my FD.

Crash Test Joey

iTrader: (1)

I didn't have any problems with my Hinson setup but having been on TC for quite some time the biggest thing I see is quality control. While Lane may or may not be an excellent welder (I reserve judgment because my opinion on that is irrelevant) I find it scary that each piece is not strength tested in some way before shipping.

Having "a new employee" has nothing to do with quality control, and I agree that the volume of subframes being shipped is nowhere near high enough to let something like that leave the shop unchecked.



I wouldn't be in for the first round, but if it turns into a larger run I'll put myself on that list. I sold my FD but I'll be looking for another one eventually. There has to be a runner out there in better condition than the roller I spent all my time on and just never could be satisfied with. And yes, I even sent the new owner a link to all the "controversy" on TC and advised him to slide under the car with a flashlight for peace of mind.

DHorner

Have you looked into building a cradle for the cobra IRS for the FC?

wingsfan

We've got that part covered. I've sent Jim almost enough LS7 parts to put a motor together.

Why would he do that considering
A) Jim doesn't own an FC
B) He's just a guy working on building a better mousetrap, not a performance shop looking to build a parts catalog.

Those of us with FDs are just lucky enough to tag along for the ride.

gracer7-rx7

iTrader: (16)

Friend of mine with an LS1 FD had the tranny brace break at the weld also. Add that to the list.

88IntegraLS

No way man! I remember you from about 2 years ago at a rotary meet in eugene, with that immaculate FD with "a brand new engine harness that I paid $5xx.xx for". Remember my friend who was trying to talk you into using a Haltech instead of the stock ECU? Abbey's with turbojeff?

It's good to see that you have decided to keep the car on the road by upgrading the drive train.

jimlab

Thanks! The count so far, to the best of my knowledge, is 5 engine cradles, 2 transmission braces, and 4 torque arms.

KaoticFdR1

So when i get my Kit from Hinson should i take it down to my family's welding and fab shop and have it all reinforced and rewelded?

I'd make a kit myself but i just don't know enough about making it all work together.

Crash Test Joey

iTrader: (1)

If your family has a welding and fab shop, you probably could have done it yourself easier than you realize. But if you've already ordered your parts and plan to use them, just inspect them thoroughly. If you don't know what to look for, have one of the welders in your shop check it over and if they fine anything they don't like, have them reinforce it. The problems with Hinson aren't "shoddy work" for the most part - it's poor quality control.

jimlab

Unless you have access to a facility that can perform ultrasonic testing of the welds, the next best option would be to strip the paint and inspect the welds and surrounding metal for full penetration.

jimlab

Isn't that the same thing?

Rx-7$4$me

Second that! I'd definitely be interested in one as well. I'm basically waiting on a cradle now as these reports have swayed me away from the two "mainstream" subframe companies.

oorx7

iTrader: (2)

I am in need of a cradle also. I have been doing quite a bit of research. The more info I find the more undisided i get. I had my mind made up on Hinson. Then all this stuff arose and now I am looking into Granny's. But I don't want to modify the hood and there service seems to be lacking.

Jim if you make a run of parts to do this I would be interested. I know I have offered you my services before, but I am a machinist for injection plastic molds and have a side business machining billet aluminum parts for fuel systems and such www.cj-motorsports.com

Brandon

Crash Test Joey

iTrader: (1)

Yes and no. And you know what I meant

jimlab

Next time I talk to Ryan, I'll ask him if he has any interest in making more engine cradles. We still have to finish the first 3.

Rx-7$4$me

I'd appreciate if you could keep us updated Jim, I'd definitely wait for yours if I knew they were going to be built.