using 14ga steel for motor mount horns

[WSSix]

I haven't even started mock up. I am just thinking and researching at this point. My plan is to move the motor(LT1) back towards the firewall on my TA which will necessitate me building my own frame horns to support the engine. My Lincoln 110v machine can weld up to 14ga steel. So, if I build a simple box structure similar to how the factory did it on so many cars, will that be thick enough to use to support the engine? I'm not even sure how thick the metal is on the subframe for a 2nd gen. Any other suggestions or anything else I should think about in general?

Thanks

[gearheads78]

Originally Posted by WSSix

I haven't even started mock up. I am just thinking and researching at this point. My plan is to move the motor(LT1) back towards the firewall on my TA which will necessitate me building my own frame horns to support the engine. My Lincoln 110v machine can weld up to 14ga steel. So, if I build a simple box structure similar to how the factory did it on so many cars, will that be thick enough to use to support the engine? I'm not even sure how thick the metal is on the subframe for a 2nd gen. Any other suggestions or anything else I should think about in general?

Thanks

I would think 11ga at absolute minimum for what you want to do. 14ga is just thick sheet metal.

[JRouche]

Originally Posted by WSSix

My plan is to move the motor(LT1) back towards the firewall on my TA which will necessitate me building my own frame horns to support the engine. My Lincoln 110v machine can weld up to 14ga steel. So, if I build a simple box structure similar to how the factory did it on so many cars, will that be thick enough to use to support the engine? I'm not even sure how thick the metal is on the subframe for a 2nd gen. Any other suggestions or anything else I should think about in general?

Thanks

Hmmm. Good question. 14ga is about .0750" thick. I just measured my stock frame rail sheet metal (62 Nova) thickness and thats what it is. So apparently thats close to what they used back then. And the structure of it will give more stiffness. Its not just a box welded together. Im sure you wouldnt do that either. There are flanges in place. But more importantly its not a welded box. Its a channel welded to a bottom plate. The formed steel has more strength than what you are gonna weld together.. Why not just go the easy route and buy some rectangular tube (2x3") in 1/8" wall and make that up. Thats the route I would go. JR

Oh yeah. And yer not just talking about supporting the engine, its the entire front end right, front frame rails. The whole front (heavy end) of the car will be on those rails. So yer talking about an entire cross member swap out too right? I may be lost in what you are doing???

[frankenstang]

My first instinct (damn internet) was to bust your balls and ask what kind of weak suck welder only welds 14ga metal? I can solder thicker!! But then I realized that this was a civilized site (not Chitown Racing) and that I have to be P.C.

No 14ga is not thick enough for motor mount horns. Unless you build bridge trusses and stuff. Use 3/16ths, your welder should be able to handle it? If yours is the flux-core only style, then, not so much. I have a 20yr old miller 110v gas shield and it can handle 3/16th with no issues.

[WSSix]

Thanks for the replies guys. The welder is a Lincoln 110v SP 10002 or something like that. The inside cover only shows that it goes up to 14ga. It has solid core .025 wire in there now. I have a Lincoln Precision Tig 185 at my disposal. I need to learn how to use that thing as I'm sure it would do better.

The more I look into it, the more I think I need thicker than 14ga even if I design it to be strong. I need to verify the power of the Tig and learn to use it. I think that one would handle 3/16" thick steel easily or square tubing.

Rouche, I'm only relocating the engine within the sub frame. So the horns I'm wanting to build would only hold the engine up. Second gens hold the engine at the front crossmember so I would be building horns for this sub frame. Once I start mock up, then I'll be able to know how long the horns will have to be to reach from the rails to the engine.

Any more suggestions? Thanks. I do appreciate it.