DJ - To each their own but I don't have any doubts on the strength of this frame. There is internal gusseting included which the pics could not show well. The welding is not expensive unless you get some chassis shop with high overhead to perform it. The key is to hire an independent welder with their own rig. The guy I used for the stressed member welding is an ASME certified welder not a hobby guy. The cost for an experienced welder runs between $32 and $45 an hour including materials around here with a four hour minimum. As for total cost I am positive my subframe cost me much less than an IFS kit and the sway bar, brake lines and steering hookup were included while those are typically extras for kits.
The simplicity of a kit is great. If you can afford that method I would recommend it. If you have the time, the patience, and the skill to do a good subframe job then there is really no reason not to do it if that is what you want. It was a challenge I accepted when we drug the truck home.
