Rabitz

has anyone used the v8 roadster tubular subframe for a for 302? it looks pretty awesome, and you can get one for 100 bucks cheaper with no motor mounts so that you can make your own for whatever application i guess. seems like it might be a quick and painless solution to many problems?

what are your thoughts...

i want to build my own, but it seems like 3 kids arent enough and another is on the way!!

Rabitz

i know that sending my frame to Martin only costs around $450 ( if he will do just that-last time i talked to him he said yes, but that was a while agao), but I was wondering if this would open open header options too...

charchri4

I'm going to flip this over to Ford engines and see if we can get some Ford experts to chime in.

I know Mike built his own tube frame for a Ford but not sure of anyone using a V8R frame.

mikde

I'm doing one right now. I will try to take some pictures. It was fairly is to do. I'm doing it because I live in california and our smog rules suck. I know people have used martin's exhaust headers and passed smog. My car was an east coast car and had martins conversion. I personally think that martins manifold are poorly designed(elephant tusks). Anyway I was able to fit 94 tbird manifolds and a smaller gear reduction starter and use the stock steering shaft. Also fit the rear egr crossover tube.
mike

Rabitz

adds a lot of room you are saying mike?
did you just fab your own engine mounts then?

thanks btw

mikde

it helps with the room and manifold choices. I used the same diameter tubing straight up from the frame with a flat angle piece weld and drilled

Rabitz

Any pics?

mikde

pics

Rabitz

Awesome. Thank you

movieboy4fun

mikde - Wow that's some hardcore motor mounts, serious power!!?

Rabitz
I am hoping to tack my mounts in this weekend, I can verify that you will need to re-bend the power steering piping on the rack to clear the V8 Roadsters sub-frame. I also notched the front of my stock 5.0 oil pan so I can mount the engine lower and as close to the firewall as possible. Will post pics in my build thread once I complete the TIG welding on the pan and engine mounts tacked in.

Movieboy4fun

mikde

my was already notched. the power steering tubes need a tiny bit of bending but not much. I tend to over build things. good luck

charchri4

Don't suppose you would want to whip up a couple more of those frames while it is fresh in your mind? I have homes for 2 of them if you'll make them.

mikde

I used a v8 miata crossmemeber without motor mounts. add just added a tower and a plate

charchri4

LOL when I saw the photos I thought wow that looks as good as a V8R frame well now I see why! Thanks!

Rabitz

what headers did you use? trying to figure out cost savings this might grab me if I go this route. Headers are one of the snags I am hitting on research the most around.

is the motor hard mounted on to the angle iron? or do you put in some rubber or some such? (sorry for stupid questions...just trying to see it in my head)

the pictures really helped a lot. that subframe is still very beefy.

mikde

I live in california and must meet smog. I used 1990's thunderbird, passenger side modified. the motor is hard mounted for hood clearance. keeping it low in the crossmember

Rabitz

okay, thanks. does hard mounting affect the car at all?

mikde

with the old setup (martin style hack job) it was hard mounted as well. didnt seem to be a problem to me.