Are subframe connectors like the ones Stillen used to sell legal? Are the stage 1 tubes welded to the frame rails street legal?

 

Wait, Stillen use to sell these? I thought only warpspeed did?

 

I never heard anything about them being illegal. I've passed MD inspection with them as well. What makes you think they're illegal? BTW, you're probably thinking about WSP, not Stillen.

 

I've never heard anything to suggest that they're not legal anywhere. Besides, they likely make the car significantly more crash-worthy.

 

yes, they are legal. Foxbody mustang guys have installed ladder SFCs for years and years (and many other cars for that matter)

Hell, even a full roll cage is street legal as long as the car's other safety features remain intact (seatbelt, etc)

 

Well some of the mechanics around here have suggested that the tubes I have welded to the frame rails of my 240 are not street legal. And Im out to prove them wrong. Basically there like the Stage I (Warpspeed, my bad) connectors, except they tilt UP at both ends (front and rear) instead of toward your rocker panels. And I dont have the X brace just two roll bar-size tubes. The car is insanely strong now. With the engine out you pick up the front end and move it around and it feels like a solid one-piece.

 

got pics?...

 

Not yet. But its a pretty good description. Only thing is that they are UNDER the frame rails. But I got big tires for ground clearance.

 

Do the SFCs show a good difference on the S13? I thought I had read that the 240SX's frame was already pretty strong, but I guess it can't hurt.

 

JClaw just said he noticed a huge difference on his S13 with the longitudinal rails alone....

Also, here's a great thread about chassis foaming an S14. The guy noticed a big difference. I think with any car older than 2000 model year (to make a generalization) you would notice big stiffness improvements with either SFCs and foam (or both), since automakers only recently started focusing on stiffening the chassis. Also, with a car as old as an S13 the chassis metal is probably weakened due to age and stress.

 

The car notes a date production sometime in late 1988, meaning its been through 19 canadian winters and was severely weakened by rust when I bought it (it was a beater). Even a top shape S13 would benefit from this. Yes the S13 chassis and suspension is way better than my previous 95 maxima, and even in its condition handled much better than my max, but ANY unibody car will benefit greatly from this. For the 20 lbs it adds anyway...

 

I'm still thinking about about seam welding my Max... I probably will do it at some point.

JClaw did you get my last PM about that file you wanted? I can't remember if I already sent it or not..

 

I see absolutely no reason why they wouldn't be street legal.

 

only thing i coudl think of is that certian parts of the car are supposed to bend/deflect/break/deform during a crash, int eh 5th gen sales brochure"02" it even mentions that the hood bends in a certian patern as to not go into the car via the windshield. so i guess if the "law" wanted to be strict theyd prob use soemthing like" the frame would be stronger and change the way the cars supposed to/intended to act in a collision"

 

That point has been covered before. SFCs are entirely between the front and rear wheels. They do not extend into either the front or rear crumple zones. Stiffening the passenger compartment area relative to the crumple zones should improve crashworthiness, although I know it's a complex topic.

The sides of the car obviously have no crumple zones and so having the extra tubing along the frame rails would likely decrease intrusion into the passenger comparment in the event of a side impact. Unless you get hit by a SUV or truck, which are going to be way above the SFCs.

My conclusion is SFCs can only help safety. I doubt we'll ever have hard facts to back it up so I'm just going on my reasoning.

 

a stronger car doesnt always mean a safer car, look at alot of the "boats" in the 70's little of the car "Gave" during an accident and more of the impact was transfered into the occupants.

ur point is well recived and i feel that sfc would have little or no negative impact in most accidents. its just that our cars wern't designed for the mods that we do to them in mind.

 

They came from the factory on both of my Saleens that I have owned.