1970-81 DSE Frame "Extras"

[GregWeld]

Funny -- building a car actually takes some skill.... there's no catalog that lists all the parts numbers and suppliers for your particular build. Sometimes you buy parts and then you must modify them to fit your application -- or for clearance... or maybe it's because nobody really makes a part for your combination.

I'm not trying to be mean or rude or pick on you... I'm just making an honest statement here.

Building these cars is HARD.... it costs WAY more money than you'll imagine. It takes WAY more time than anyone can allow for. Sourcing and waiting for parts is all just a part of the process. Suppliers can't possibly know everything there is to know. Sometimes you have to mock stuff up - measure the hell out of it - and then find some part (or combo of parts) that is close... without knowing measurements etc - that's nearly impossible. You won't have measurements or know what you're going to run in to until you've mocked stuff up about half a dozen times. Even then something will go sideways that you didn't allow for or see or think of.... That's when you get to undo the modification you made to some part and do it over a better/different way.

If it was easy - everyone would do it and their car would only take 6 months to build and cost half as much as they told their wife it was going to be.


Don't get frustrated -- it's a hobby.... enjoy the trip... pat yourself on the back when you mastered some stupid little "problem" -- don't make it a problem -- be the solution. You'll enjoy it more. Stand back and know that you solved for "X".

[jazz2069]

I have a dse subframe and agree with some in this thread that the subframe should come with a few more extras like crossmember and a second option for headers that are more affordable. My 2 cents nate

[Blake Foster]

And some just come with all that stuff

[Vegas69]

Everybody should pay taxes but they don't. It's not like this info isn't readily available when you buy the frame.

I can tell you this, the DSE subframe was one of the favorite aspects of my car. It made it feel modern and factory like. Big expenditure, I agree.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

We used a modified 1969 TH400 xmember on a DSE frame. We had to cut off the trans mount perch and re-weld it. Cheap and easy job.

[Chassisworks]

I don't think I saw this thread until today. DSE's first and second-gen clips both take the first gen crossmember. We found this out when we picked up the phone and called them after a customer was having a fitment issue.

Today, we offer solutions for the 67-69 and 70-73 F-Body and the 68-74 X-Body. Direct-fit transmission crossmembers are available for Turbo 350, Turbo 400, Powerglide, 700R4, 200-4R, 4L60, 4L65E, Muncie 4-speed, Richmond 5- or 6-speed, and many Tremec 5- or 6-speed transmissions.

Crossmembers are 1-1/4 x .120"-wall steel, dual-tube, fully enclosed structures that are stronger than OEM stamped designs and rigid enough for the vehicle to benefit from stiff polyurethane transmission mounts. Tubes are mandrel bent to provide 3" dual-exhaust clearance and to correctly position the mount for each model transmission.

Note: Installation on factory or DSE subframe requires additional adapter kit.

More Details Here:
http://www.cachassisworks.com/c-157-...irect-fit.aspx

[badazz81z28]

Originally Posted by Chassisworks

I don't think I saw this thread until today. DSE's first and second-gen clips both take the first gen crossmember. We found this out when we picked up the phone and called them after a customer was having a fitment issue.

Today, we offer solutions for the 67-69 and 70-73 F-Body and the 68-74 X-Body. Direct-fit transmission crossmembers are available for Turbo 350, Turbo 400, Powerglide, 700R4, 200-4R, 4L60, 4L65E, Muncie 4-speed, Richmond 5- or 6-speed, and many Tremec 5- or 6-speed transmissions.

Crossmembers are 1-1/4 x .120"-wall steel, dual-tube, fully enclosed structures that are stronger than OEM stamped designs and rigid enough for the vehicle to benefit from stiff polyurethane transmission mounts. Tubes are mandrel bent to provide 3" dual-exhaust clearance and to correctly position the mount for each model transmission.

Note: Installation on factory or DSE subframe requires additional adapter kit.

More Details Here:
http://www.cachassisworks.com/c-157-...irect-fit.aspx

PM sent.


This is exactly what was talking about in my last thread. I picked up the phone and called them too. I got the "huh" I don't know, we make custom applications,

They did not tell me the 67-69 crossmember works.

[GregWeld]

Originally Posted by badazz81z28

PM sent.


This is exactly what was talking about in my last thread. I picked up the phone and called them too. I got the "huh" I don't know, we make custom applications,

They did not tell me the 67-69 crossmember works.

So -- Carl comes on - helps you out.... and you don't even say so much as a THANK YOU.... instead you whine about having called them without success.

Maybe it's the way you go about asking the questions - or maybe you can't explain to someone what it is you're looking for. Or maybe after a little conversation they can't wait to get you off the phone.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

So -- Carl comes on - helps you out.... and you don't even say so much as a THANK YOU.... instead you whine about having called them without success.

Maybe it's the way you go about asking the questions - or maybe you can't explain to someone what it is you're looking for. Or maybe after a little conversation they can't wait to get you off the phone.

I think he was talking about DSE speedy

[rickpaw]

Originally Posted by jazz2069

I have a dse subframe and agree with some in this thread that the subframe should come with a few more extras like crossmember and a second option for headers that are more affordable. My 2 cents nate

Originally Posted by Vegas69

Everybody should pay taxes but they don't. It's not like this info isn't readily available when you buy the frame.

Agreed. DSE stuff is expensive, and there are other cheaper alternatives. But people still buying DSE stuff, so their stuff works, otherwise no one buys them. The information on what's needed for the frame is right on the web site. It's not a secret. I guess DSE can include a crossmember and jack up the price to cover the cost. But then there are some many different engine/tranny combo's out there, how can they know which one will work. They can't anticipate what the customers will use and design different parts for different combo's.

We're putting DSE front suspension with an 5.3/4l60e into my friend's 65 Mustang. Right off the bat, I will have to either mod the existing crossmember or build something to make it work. To me, that's the joy of car building. Did I expect DSE to come up with something that works, no. On the other hand, we bought DSE LS mounts for the Alumaframe, so I expect the LS will drop right in.