To new muscle car owners going to the drag strip for the first time, quarter mile runs are usually seen from a single point of view: horsepower. A lot of dudes out there think that the more horsepower you have got, the faster you can go, plain and straightforward. Of course, over time, if they stick with the sport most drivers come to realize that there are actually a number of different factors that come into play when trying to get your car down the 1320 as fast as possible. Power might be important, but the more power you have, the more control you are going to need.



When you are ready to get serious about drag racing, that means it is time to start researching about suspension and chassis development, and how that can affect the ability of your muscle car to put power down to the ground and effectively launch down the track. All the horsepower in the world is not going to help you if you just sit there at the starting line spinning your tires.

Once you have gotten your suspension setup all planned out, and chosen the right type of tires to mount to your car, you might still be looking for an extra edge when it comes to keeping your horsepower under control. Have you ever noticed how some of the high-horsepower drag racers lined up at the track seem to have a staggered ride height that lifts one side of the car up higher than the other? This is to counter the twisting of the chassis that occurs when a huge amount of torque is released all at once. This chassis movement can be a serious impediment to traction, as it can lift the rear wheels off of the ground and cause them to hop and skitter, slowing you down and possibly causing damage to your diff.

Now, you probably do not want to end up having your street-driven hot rod looking like some Frankensteins monster with a bizarre suspension that you have to explain to everyone you meet. Fortunately, there is an alternative that is more than capable of handling daily-driver levels of power and chassis flex. By implementing components called subframe connectors, you can keep twisting to a minimum.

How do subframe connectors work? These small plates of steel bolt or weld onto areas of your cars frame in order to provide extra stiffness against the rotational force of your cars torque. There are quite a few different types of subframe connectors as some of them are simple to install, while others require you to tear out your floor and do some heavy welding. Ultimately, the type you will need will be determined by the original strength of your cars chassis, and the level of horsepower that you are running.

Subframe connectors can be a great way to get even more out of your ride by harnessing the horsepower that you are already generating and putting it to better use. It can also help tighten up your car for the street, giving it slightly better handling and smooth power delivery.