Subframe Connector Installment - The Cutting Edge

After everything is cleaned up, hold the frame connector in place once again to ensure there is bare metal showing around the periphery where it will be welded in place.

With everything double checked, all of the areas should be cleaned with solvent to remove any oil or dirt. This will ensure a clean, strong weld.

With the Matrix frame connectors in place and supported by jackstands, begin by welding at the front and rear, but not at the crossbrace. By alternating sides and welding small areas, you can keep from overheating the floorboards and setting the carpet on fire. We recommend a water bottle to keep the area being welded cool during the process. When welding around the fuel lines, be sure to shield them with a piece of sheet aluminum.

After welding the frame connectors in place, the crossbrace can be bolted back in, tying the frames together side-to-side as well as front-to-rear. These are well engineered pieces that triangulate the chassis, giving extra support for improved handling.

To prevent corrosion, the subframe connectors and welded areas of the chassis should be painted and/or undercoated after the connectors are welded in place.

The black plastic chassis covers can now be reinstalled and modified with a saw or cutoff wheel to clear the new subframe connectors. The car is now ready to come off the lift and hit the road. Though this modification is fairly simple, the results are very noticeable when the car is taken through the corners.

Be sure to tune in later, when we further improve our Charger's handling by adding front and rear shock tower braces.