Stress Point Crack? • The Dodge Challenger Message Board

by **SteveO** » 13 Nov 2001 19:07

I just noticed a crack in the quarter panel on my Challenger. It starts in the aft lower corner of the driverside passenger rear quarter window and propagates outward and down. Its about an inch and a half long. Is this a stress point on Challengers? Does anyone else have this problem?

by **dave-r** » 13 Nov 2001 20:41

Sounds like your car has been raced with slicks. This is the area under stress without frame connectors.

by **SteveO** » 13 Nov 2001 21:50

Thanks Dave, That is what I suspected. I am guilty of racing with BFG drag radials, But I had to do it and it was fun.
I am eager to see how it feels in corners with frame connectors. I'm having them put on next week.
I read your comments on that subject. Sounds like the ticket.

by **Von** » 14 Nov 2001 0:48

are you talking aboout directly below the rear window where there is a grove? where it kind of lines up the corner of the window with the corner of the trunk? my green challenger and my dads yellow challenger both have done it. we dont race our cars and the green one has an excellent professional paint job. I assumed it was a stress point, no? or is this something totally different? Also, explain to me about frame connectors please. I'm ignorant. thanks

by **Christer** » 14 Nov 2001 7:26

My Challenger also suffer from these kind of problem.

by **dave-r** » 14 Nov 2001 8:46

No. Not in the 'groove'. That is just where the panels are joined together. We are talking about a crack in the metal in the top of the rear quarter or bottom of the roof panel that forms when slicks are used because the rear "chassis" stops below here and the forces that try to lift the front of the car cause it to 'bend' at this point.

Imagine if you jacked the front of your car up off the ground. Imagine if you then strapped the rear bumper to the ground so that when you take the jack away the front wheels are left in the air?
Now knowing that there is little in the way of chassis forward of the rear wheels where do you think the stresses will be? The car will try to bend down like a banana and cracks will open up on the top of the car at the base of the roof.

A car does not need to be lifted right in the air to stress this point. Just very good grip and a powerful engine will do it.

If you want to know about chassis connectors do a keyword search using the utility in the left frame. We have discussed this topic in the recent past.

by **Von** » 14 Nov 2001 15:24

steve, are you having them built or buying pre-formed ones? also, what was the price of getting them installed?

by **SteveO** » 14 Nov 2001 19:51

Mopar Performance offers bolt-in type frame connectors. Part Number P4286870 for $99 or less if you get a discount like I do.
I'm going to tryout these bolt-in ones first. If I don't like them I will have some fabricated and welded on.

by **dave** » 14 Nov 2001 20:59

The bolt-in ones are next to useless. Don't bother. Making them is a no-brain deal. I think I describe them in another thread. They are just two lengths of 2x2. I will have to take some photos when I am back at work and can borrow a digital camera. That will be a few weeks yet though.

by **SteveO** » 14 Nov 2001 23:49

Thanks Dave, I would like to see the pictures of your frame connectors. I saw your description of them in the other thread. They sound pretty simple.

by **Alan (Sean)** » 22 Jul 2002 22:48

I have the same problem here with the cracking. The body shop will not paint my T/A until they can figure out how to stop the cracking.What ae frame connectors and can somebody email me pics. We even went as far as to replace the read quarter. I wish I could havee found a full quarten instead of a new skin.Can anybody help? My email address is alanlotarski@alltel.net You all have been a big help in the past.

by **Hans (72challenger)** » 23 Jul 2002 10:45

The bolt-on frame connectors from manciniracing, are these useless because they're bolt-on? I'm asking this cause I bought them also, but I welded instead of bolted them on. Is this useless too you think? I have to say they look pretty simple to me and I would never buy them again, just take a 2" piece of iron, cut them to length and weld them on.

by **Dave-R (Roppa440)** » 23 Jul 2002 11:08

Welded should be fine Hans. As long as they are welded to the chassis just in front of the rear sprinds and welded at the other end to the transmission mount chassis crossmember. They will also help to transfer more weight to the rear wheels during 'launch'.

by **Alan (Sean)** » 23 Jul 2002 12:03

Thanks guys. I will be going to the body shop today. I will get with the owner and see what we can do.

by **Dave-R (Roppa440)** » 23 Jul 2002 14:26

There is a message thread in this section were I posted images of my chassis (frame) connectors. Click on the word 'chassis' at the very top of this page and look at the list of subjects.

For some reason a lot of the images are not loading today. I don't know it it is just me or something up with the server.