Which Rear Frame Rails??

[gearhead1186]

My rear frame rails on my 69 camaro need to be replaced. Im planning on using DSE's deep tub kit and their quadra-link. Since Im replacing them should I step up to some more serious rails from 21st century or competition engineering? I know I need to cut up my trunk. This is fine as its being replaced anyways. Or should I get a set from yearone, weld em in and then box em up? Thanks in advance

[freebird]

i got a set of 21st century frame rails. My plan is to purchase a cross member for the from of the rails. I also will be running the art morrison tri 4 bar with DSE tubs. I will be placing the frame rail 42" apart.

[gearhead1186]

how much hacking is required to put in aftermarket rails??

[fesler]

We use Competition all the time and love the way they fit, you have to cut out the tubs and if you are going to change your frame rails I would build my own set of tubs as you can go wider and make them cleaner. here is what we just did in our 69 Camaro

If you look in the 1st picture you can see where the stock frame rail was and we move the new rail over as far as we can to clear the larger tire and still fit the fuel tank. The rest kind of give you an idea of what it takes to put these in with the tubs and how it will look.

We can fit a 345 in the back with lots of room to clear and thats a wide tire on a 19-inch wheel. Hope this helps in some way

[gearhead1186]

man that looks good.. but it also looks like alot of fab work and I dont know if I can do all that. I dont need to go more than 335. What did you have to do to make those rails fit. I know they dont go in the stock location and they are contoured to the body. I also want to use my rear seat.

[j68bird]

I got my frame rails from this place. http://autoweldchassis.com/
The quality was excellent. They do require alot of work for the install, but I'm not a pro either. The back seat will need to be cut down, but I'm not sure how much yet.

J. Clear

68 Firebird Conv.
455/4spd under const.

[gearhead1186]

did you get the regular rails or the profiled ones?
looking for strength with the least fab possible..

are you using DSE tubs and a quadra link?

[Perry Mitchell]

I had 2''x3'' frame rails bent for me at Art Morrison's shop. I provided them with a template that I made from the bottom side of the floor pan after I removed the sheetmetal frame by drilling out the spot welds. I don't know if they kept a computer drawing of it when they were done or not. Might be worth a call. Don was the salesman that helped me, however, the last time I was there, I heard he retired. It fit perfectly. I simply welded it to the sheetmetal for a 100% connection. You can see pictures of the rails with the suspension installed to them before the assembly was welded in, on this link. www.lateral-g.net/members/mitchell

[gearhead1186]

im assuming the AM bent rails would be equivalent to autowelds' profiled rails.. if this is correct how much did you pay for the morrison rails?
I want the exact factory shape(i want minimum fab) but with strong 2x3 11gauge steel.

[Perry Mitchell]

It's been about three years now but I think it was around $150. I cut my floors because I ran the rails long and connected them to the front sub-frame while I was at it. You don't have to though, but I don't know why you wouldn't.

[gearhead1186]

wow thats really good compared to the other websites 600. I sent art morrison an email asking for it to be done. hopefully he still has the measurements.

[Silver69Camaro]

I don't know if they kept a computer drawing of it when they were done or not.

I keep all the drawings I can. If you have an order number, I could look it up. I have all the details on these rails anyway.

A note on Camaro rear rails: The profile of these are very difficult. I am not aware of any mandrel bender in the country than can bend one in one piece, seeing as there is a compound bend at the rear (a hard and easy way bend in one location). But there is a way around it, and that's what we call a "cut and weld". This is where we bend two pieces of tubing, trim, and weld them together. This is an expensive process. But really, you only need to do this if you want to keep the stock gas tank. If you're willing to go a different route (I always say "never let the rear seat or gas tank design your vehicle") and do a narrowed tank/fuel cell, you can run the rails completely straight. You'll gain lots of tire clearance, and just make the process easier and cleaner.

[Perry Mitchell]

Matt, you are right. Now that you mention it, my rails are straight. I have a fuel cell in the trunk so the additional bend was not a concern.

[gearhead1186]

I keep all the drawings I can. If you have an order number, I could look it up. I have all the details on these rails anyway.

A note on Camaro rear rails: The profile of these are very difficult. I am not aware of any mandrel bender in the country than can bend one in one piece, seeing as there is a compound bend at the rear (a hard and easy way bend in one location). But there is a way around it, and that's what we call a "cut and weld". This is where we bend two pieces of tubing, trim, and weld them together. This is an expensive process. But really, you only need to do this if you want to keep the stock gas tank. If you're willing to go a different route (I always say "never let the rear seat or gas tank design your vehicle") and do a narrowed tank/fuel cell, you can run the rails completely straight. You'll gain lots of tire clearance, and just make the process easier and cleaner.

I wouldnt mind running straight rails but I called up DSE and I was told the panhard bar was engineered to fit factory width frame rails and if I used straight rails measurements and fab wuld be more complicated. I rather pay a couple more buck and keep the guesswork out of lining up a suspension.

Mark, if you could quote me on how much it would cost to profile rails exactly to GM specs and have them extend to meet the front subframe I would appreciate it.

[freebird]

when i talked to DSE a couple months ago, they told me i would have to shorten the panhard bar. They told me i would have to take off the amount that i moved that frame rail inward.

[gearhead1186]

now would you remove a piece from the center or cut off the brackets and take off a piece from the end? depending on how much it costs to fab up exact rails this might be worth it

[freebird]

my understanding was to cut the side that is adjustable. It has thread bung in it, cut that off and shorten the rod and reweld bung.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Much easier to get the bar itself modified. The brackets are designed to work and add strength so I wouldn't mess with them. But you may have to tweek it abit to fit a straight frame.

[gearhead1186]

thanks guys.. ive been hunting around forums for rear suspension options. since i might do straight rails, DSE isnt my only option. How does the quadra link comare to a 3 link or a tri 4 link? Im lookin mostly for handling but I want it be able to run low 10's.

[freebird]

i have talked to the AME guys and have done some rsearch and i have decided to go with the tri 4 bar. The problem with me on the 3 link is you cant have a back seat unless you go with 3rd / 4th gen seats.

[gearhead1186]

yes I was talkin to matt of AME also and he suggested the tri 4 bar as it has about 98% of the handling characteristics of a 3 link and there is less cutting and fab.

Any opinions of how AME tri 4 bar compares to DSE quadra link?
this is what im between right now as i can just get the entire clip from AME instead of just the frame rails.

[freebird]

i really havent got much info on each other to compare.

but there is a AME kit for sale on ebay. check out 130181403906.

frame rails, 4 link, and housing

[Silver69Camaro]

i really havent got much info on each other to compare.

but there is a AME kit for sale on ebay. check out 130181403906.

frame rails, 4 link, and housing

Wow, for that price, it's a steal.

I have no idea what the ride height is set up at though. Could be in the weeds, or way up in the air. Good question to ask...

[gearhead1186]

still lookin for opinions on AME tri 4 bar vs DSE's q-link if anybody has them

[gearhead1186]

matt, do you have any pics of a tri 4 bar clip installed on a 69 camaro?
i think im decided on it

[Silver69Camaro]

matt, do you have any pics of a tri 4 bar clip installed on a 69 camaro?
i think im decided on it

Gosh, I'm not sure if I do. Let me see if I can round some up.

[gearhead1186]

any luck with any pictures? if you stumble across a 3 link clip send em my way as well so I can compare them. thanks.