Stiffening the chassis of...
Stiffening the chassis of your LX Mopar just became a lot easier thanks to the subframe connector kit from Razors Edge Performance. Follow along as we show you how easy this kit is to install.
Modern technology has really made the new LX-platform cars from Chrysler fun to drive. Chargers, 300s, and Magnums all share this platform, which has proven to be quiet riding and comfortable, while not sacrificing handling and performance. The new Hemi engine has power to spare, and the drivetrain of these new Mopars is very refined when compared to the musclecars we normally feature in Mopar Muscle. Like most new cars, however, the LX Mopars are built as much for their luxury as their handling, so the true performance enthusiast may prefer a slightly stiffer, better handling suspension. Until recently, this meant the somewhat expensive SRT package needed to be ordered from the factory. Now, thanks to Razors Edge Performance, the handling characteristics of any LX Mopar can be improved by adding their subframe connectors and shock tower braces.
It has long been known that a rigid chassis in a car equates to better acceleration, braking, and handling performance. If you want proof, take a look at a purpose-built, full-chassis race car. In addition to the protective rollcage, there are bars and crossbars welded in place specifically to prevent chassis flex. This allows the suspension components like shocks, struts, springs, and sway bars to do their job, keeping the tires firmly planted to the pavement during all phases of driving. While the new LX cars are designed with some semblance of performance in mind, their unitbody construction makes them prone to chassis flex.
Knowing the LX's propensity for performance and its handling limitations, the engineers at Razors Edge Performance decided to do something to greatly improve the way these cars handle. What they came up with is a triangulated subframe kit that connects the front and rear subframes together, and shock tower braces for the front and rear.
In our two part series, we'll install the subframe connectors in this issue, and the shock tower supports in an upcoming issue.
Connecting the subframes together is nothing new in the automotive performance world. We've been stiffening our A-, B-, and E-body Mopars by connecting the front and rear subframes for many years. Though most musclecars were built for acceleration, and tying together the unibody certainly helps with that, a side benefit of adding frame connectors has always been improved handling, and to a lesser extent, improved braking performance. Although the LX unitbody is an engineering masterpiece when compared to the older Mopar unitbody designs, there is still room for improvement. Instead of simply building simple connectors for the front and rear subframes, the folks at Razors Edge went the extra step of designing their connectors to be right and left side specific, with multiple welding points for extra support. Once installed, these connectors tie the front and rear frames together and connect to the factory center chassis bar to support the frame side-to-side as well.
The best thing about this modification is the fact that handling is improved, while ride quality and comfort are not sacrificed as long as the rest of the suspension components are left alone. For the hard-core performance enthusiast, this alteration, along with the shock tower supports we'll install next month, is a great first step to accomplish prior to other modifications. By strengthening the chassis at these points, the frame will serve as a better platform for future improvements such as heavier springs, thicker sway bars, and stickier tires.
Follow along as we show you how these frame connectors can be easily installed in less than a day, and be sure to watch as we further improve the handling of our Dodge Charger by installing front and rear shock tower braces in a future issue.
The subject of our project...
The subject of our project is a Hemi-powered, Plum Crazy Charger Daytona R/T. We'll add the Razors Edge Chassis Matrix subframe connectors to this car in this issue, then further improve it with front and rear shock tower braces later.
Anytime you're welding on...
Anytime you're welding on a vehicle, especially a highly electronic vehicle like the new Charger, it makes sense to disconnect the battery. This will prevent the welder's high-voltage from entering the car's electrical system through the chassis ground.
With the car on a lift or...
With the car on a lift or jackstands, the two plastic covers on either side of the undercarriage near the rear of the car can be removed. These will later be modified to clear the subframe connectors and re-installed.
On the driver side, the metal...
On the driver side, the metal support tab must be removed from the cable and discarded.
The center support bar in...
The center support bar in the middle of the chassis can now be removed. It will be re-installed later after the connectors are welded in place.
The subframe connectors can...
The subframe connectors can now be held in place, using the hardware from the center brace and jackstands for support. the areas that will need to be sanded for welding can be marked with a Sharpie.
Using a Scotch-Brite pad on...
Using a Scotch-Brite pad on a pneumatic grinder, the paint and coating can be removed from the chassis of the car. This will ensure clean metal is exposed for welding.
The frame connectors are cleaned...
The frame connectors are cleaned with the Scotch-Brite pad as well to remove...
...any surface rust or rust...
...any surface rust or rust inhibitor from them before welding.
After everything is cleaned...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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,...
Be sure to tune in later, when we further improve our Charger's handling by adding front and rear shock tower braces.