Hi guys,
I haven't gotten around to making an intro thread, and I've been meaning to.
But in the meantime, I'm trying to get this damn s14 rear subframe into my s13 coupe.
I will be using the spl offset solid subframe bushings.
I have a couple of questions though:
What should I do to prepare the subframe before installing it?
I noticed a bit of surface rust here and there - shouldn't I grind that off and then use something to seal it and repaint it? I'm guessing I can grind off the rust, then pressure wash the subframe, let it dry, then prep and primer + paint it? What kind of paint and primer should I use?
What else should I do? Dimple die gusset it? Reinforce it for strength/ rigidity in certain key areas? Fill it with foam?
I intend to install this at the same time as my q45 rear end - so should I also use the solid spl diff mount bushings? Or can I wait on that and do it later? (Or is it better to do it with the subframe out of the car?)
Also, when I purchased the subframe, it came with all the arms on the right side except for the lca. And on the left side, it only came with the lca and rear arm. So could someone please clarify what arms are physically similar dimensionally from the s13 that I can reuse? I understand so far that the s14 rlca's are different, so I will try to source the right side s14 rlca. Or should I get all s14 arms just to be safe? Or should I go ahead and get aftermarket parts?
Also, since I'm going to be using the q45 rear end and aluminum uprights/ knuckles, z32 and q45 axles, I'm kind of confused which arms will be ok to use whether those be q45, s14 or s13...
I'm also a little worried whether the balljoints from the s14 rlca's are of the same type as what it needed to work with the q45 aluminum uprights...
I know some of this was gone over in the s14 subframe into s13, but there was some conflicting or uncertainty regarding this - and I won't be using the s13 uprights so I'm a little confused.
Anything else I should think about or be concerned about?
Tips on getting the stock bushings out of the subframe?
I'm sure I'll have some more questions, but in the meantime here's a couple pics of the subframe in question (which was only $37 btw!)

I haven't gotten around to making an intro thread, and I've been meaning to.
But in the meantime, I'm trying to get this damn s14 rear subframe into my s13 coupe.
I will be using the spl offset solid subframe bushings.
I have a couple of questions though:
What should I do to prepare the subframe before installing it?
I noticed a bit of surface rust here and there - shouldn't I grind that off and then use something to seal it and repaint it? I'm guessing I can grind off the rust, then pressure wash the subframe, let it dry, then prep and primer + paint it? What kind of paint and primer should I use?
What else should I do? Dimple die gusset it? Reinforce it for strength/ rigidity in certain key areas? Fill it with foam?
I intend to install this at the same time as my q45 rear end - so should I also use the solid spl diff mount bushings? Or can I wait on that and do it later? (Or is it better to do it with the subframe out of the car?)
Also, when I purchased the subframe, it came with all the arms on the right side except for the lca. And on the left side, it only came with the lca and rear arm. So could someone please clarify what arms are physically similar dimensionally from the s13 that I can reuse? I understand so far that the s14 rlca's are different, so I will try to source the right side s14 rlca. Or should I get all s14 arms just to be safe? Or should I go ahead and get aftermarket parts?
Also, since I'm going to be using the q45 rear end and aluminum uprights/ knuckles, z32 and q45 axles, I'm kind of confused which arms will be ok to use whether those be q45, s14 or s13...
I'm also a little worried whether the balljoints from the s14 rlca's are of the same type as what it needed to work with the q45 aluminum uprights...
I know some of this was gone over in the s14 subframe into s13, but there was some conflicting or uncertainty regarding this - and I won't be using the s13 uprights so I'm a little confused.
Anything else I should think about or be concerned about?
Tips on getting the stock bushings out of the subframe?
I'm sure I'll have some more questions, but in the meantime here's a couple pics of the subframe in question (which was only $37 btw!)


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