Anyone mini-tubbed a space duster?

[68snewpy]

I'm looking at doing this but there are some special brackets on the space dusters (fold-down rear seat) that must be dealt with.  I'm not going to use the back seat so should I just cut the brackets off and install a cross brace like "normal" cars.  I'm not planning a cage yet.  Some pics would be great.

[73swinger]

 

[west]

i would install frame connecters now,then rip out the inner junk.

[68snewpy]

I'm thinking more along the lines of supporting the upper structure of the car (roof and rear quarters).  Without the bracing couldn't it become a little floppy?  I'm not yet convinced that frame connectors provide much frame twisting support either, physics tells me that a boxed structure is stiffer than any 2-dimension frame could ever be.  Take a bare flat-deck trailer frame and shake one corner, you'll see what I mean.

[super70bird]

If these are the brackets you're referring to (see pics) they are pretty flimsy and only there to add a bit of strength to the cargo area between the back seat and trunk panel.  Notice the lovely factory welds   I'm putting a roll bar in mine (keeping the fold down seat) and I'm going to be cutting mine for the rear struts (cutting where the square is marked).

[CudaDon65]

Thats the same in my 1965 barracuda. I cut the welds on the bracket and split the tubs and moved the whole thing.

[68snewpy]

Thanks for the responses.
If I want to race this car (NHRA rules) do I need to seal the trunk off for a relocated battery? 
Anybody have finished pictures of a space duster setup this way?

[west]

Thanks for the responses.
If I want to race this car (NHRA rules) do I need to seal the trunk off for a relocated battery? 
Anybody have finished pictures of a space duster setup this way?

no,but it does have to be in a box

[68snewpy]

I've read that but what do they mean by having the box vented to the outside?  Can you just drill a hole through the floor?  I certainly don't want a vent line drilled through my quarter panel or deck lid.

[sbmopar]

If you run a new sytle optima or similar spiral gel battery, I believe you don't even need a box due to no vent or acid in the battery .  Depending on how fast you go, you may not get bothered. I have been running my car with a standard battery in a box in the trunk of my Dart and have never been bothered. I don't even run a battery cut off switch. Sooner or later I will get caught though.