Does anyone have a contact # for Bill Fredericks. Need a BBC front motor plate for a '02 Undercover. Thank you.

You can call Larry Strickland, he and Bill work together.

352-303-0645

And welcome to the forum!

Thanks Brian, My sons 07 undercover has a cracked mid plate as well...I will call today!

I just got one for my Stepfathers O6 from Bill and fit like a glove. was a little beefier up around the top mount area also with a little more material. and was done very quickly.

Bringing this back for an update…

Discovered yesterday that my non chromed, non coated mid plate is cracked after 6 seasons. This was the replacement for the original that I got from S&W and installed for the start of the 2017 season. It’s never been removed since I installed it so no telling how long it’s been cracked at the top bolt holes as the original one did.

I’ll be calling S&W tomorrow and will order 2, one for a spare.

The one I made myself back in 2015 using 6061 aluminum plate still hanging in there, even with 5 seasons holding a blown TD motor in place.

I had to make a custom plate and used a 3/8" plate from S&W that had bolt holes for block and trans but blank every where else. I used 3/8 because I wanted it a little stronger there. They make them in 1/4 to. Easy to do if you can not get what you want made.

quote:

Originally posted by Big Steve:
The one I made myself back in 2015 using 6061 aluminum plate still hanging in there, even with 5 seasons holding a blown TD motor in place.

I’ll find out what aluminum they normally use.

quote:

Originally posted by 1320raceriscovered yesterday that my non chromed, non coated mid plate is cracked after 6 seasons. This was the replacement for the original that I got from S&W and installed for the start of the 2017 season. It’s never been removed since I installed it so no telling how long it’s been cracked at the top bolt holes as the original one did.

Do you use the mount on the transmission tail shaft housing?

6061-T6 is most common but 7075-T6 is substantially stronger and used in aircraft

Thanks Steve

Mark, no

I have several from undercover but for some reason they are not for sale..like their gone be worth something one day lol

Just ordered 2 mid plates from Randy at S&W, will ship later this week.

Did they say what material they use?

quote:

Originally posted by Big Steve:
Did they say what material they use?

You can safely bet they are 6061

if the chassis wasn,t flexing so bad the plate would be a no issue .... 15 plus year old tubing flexing might be nearing the end of its service life.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: 67TSCHEVY2,

I made my undercover mid plate out of steel, NEVER had an issue again...ran for 2 years after changing aluminum mid plate twice. Bill refused to make a steel one as a matter of fact. All my American dragsters have steel mid plates in them for years, no issues.

quote:

Originally posted by TORQIN:
I made my undercover mid plate out of steel, NEVER had an issue again...ran for 2 years after changing aluminum mid plate twice. Bill refused to make a steel one as a matter of fact. All my American dragsters have steel mid plates in them for years, no issues.

That is a good call. I've machine quite a few aluminum plates for friends and nobody every wanted to run a steel one.

a steel mid plate is not the answer, that will only cause something else to crack

quote:

Originally posted by 67TSCHEVY2:
if the chassis wasn't flexing so bad the plate would be a no issue .... 15 plus year old tubing flexing might be nearing the end of its service life.

my tubing is 9 years old and they all flex by design. original chromed mid plate was found cracked after season 3 and this one found cracked after 6 seasons.

NBD, new mid plate will be installed and car & driver will continue to turn on lamps and collect checks.

They are 6061 aluminum and should be 7075. Dan Page Race Cars just made one for a friend of mine, so he now has the program to make one if you need from 7075!

Whether the problem is 6061 vs 7075 or the back portion of the chassis is not stiff enough or other remains to be up for debate. I do know there is an issue with these cars and that my 04 Page car has never had this issue nor have any others.

BTW 7075 has almost twice the strength as 6061.