Tubular K member

[Silver R/T]

why are the ones available so high in price? anywhere from $2500 to $3800+ I can get same thing for my Cobra for $600

[Chryco Psycho]

 
more customers for mustang parts

[GMachineDartGT]

That really depends on what you are getting for the $. Our level II kit has a ton of engineering behind it, along with all aluminum parts = $$$

[Rolling_Thunder]

well your $600 piece...    does it come with control arms ?  brakes ? spindles ? motor mounts ? steering rack ? coild over shocks ? sway bar ?         anyone can make a tubular K frame for $600...    its all the other things that make them expensive.     

[Silver R/T]

Brakes already upgraded (13" rotors come from factory)
$600 includes
Kmember, A-arms, and Coilover kit, you reuse whatever struts are on your car, this just makes them into coilovers. (already got koni shocks and Saleen springs.
So ya basically companies are screwing Charger owners with the high prices. I dont think I can get same deal for Charger for same price, not even going to mention lower price.

[Rolling_Thunder]

you telling me you want me to start making Tubular K-members for <$1000     I got a tubing bender at work....     got a tig welder....   

[Silver R/T]

Hey if you want to, more power to you. If its great quality, I'll even buy a set

[Chryco Psycho]

I would love a tubualr K member that has the tubes so I can still use the LCA & T bars

[BrianShaughnessy]

I would love a tubualr K member that has the tubes so I can still use the LCA & T bars

werd 

Choice of mild steel or chrome moly... I'd just use the mild steel for mostly street use.    Stock steering, sway bar mounts, etc.  Options for upgrades to R&P steering, blah blah blah.

[Blakcharger440]

I would like to buy a strong lightweight tubular K-member also! If someone came out with an affordable tubular K-member that you could use all your current parts with they would sell a ton of them. i would use my upgraded front suspension pieces on it and not have to buy a whole assembly. Makes sense too me. 

[Chryco Psycho]

I would use the more adjustable tubular upper C arms BUt i guess i need to buy a welder and start making a tubular K with a front rack steering that uses a Mustang II spindle & the T bar & LCA

[Blakcharger440]

I would use the more adjustable tubular upper C arms BUt i guess i need to buy a welder and start making a tubular K with a front rack steering that uses a Mustang II spindle & the T bar & LCA

Yep,that would be the way to go! 

[Ghoste]

Would it be overly difficult?  All you have to ensure is the lca fits right?  It's use would automatically mean the t bars come with the package?
I'm sure it's not fabulously easy either or everyone would be doing it, but...

[Mike DC]

Interesting thread guys.

I don't think I'd be trying to do a total aftermarket setup any cheaper than the currently are.  Mustang guys have the rediculous production-number advantage, pure & simple.  For what they're actually gonna sell, I don't think the Mopar kits are that expensive. 

The XV kits are the best I can picture anybody ever doing for these cars, and the AlterKtion kits have better price & reversibility.  The MagnumForce kit looks like mostly a drag-racer deal to me.  All these kits are priced in the thousands, but all these setups also had to be clean-slate engineered & tested out the wazoo.  Somebody could start popping out copies of a stock K-frame in tubular steel, but that's not the same thing.
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------

I think the big question (for this thread) would be how much you really stand to gain over the stock K-frame by just replacing it with a tubular steel copy. 

Weight?  IMHO the stock K-frame itself isn't all that heavy for what it does.  Most of the weight is in the components.  There's room for improvement, but not a TON.

Motor mounts?  Schumacher's got that issue pretty much sewed-up already.

Suspension Geometry?  Not likely.  Moving the LCAs means completely abandoning the stock T-bar setup, and moving the UCAs means cutting/welding on the car's unibody.  Moving the ball joints means abandoning the stock spindles (and possibly wheels, brakes, etc).  This one is pretty much an all-or-nothing deal; keep everything stock or completely start over.

Steering?  Maybe a valid idea here.  Depends on whether there's an affordable off-the-shelf R/P setup that could be utilized for a B/E-body's dimensions & power/durability requirements.  (Sure you could get something custom-built, but isn't this operation supposed to be cheaper than the existing aftermarket K-frames?)  I don't know if there's a possibility for gains here or not.  Maybe.

   

[Silver R/T]

Ford guys save 30 lbs with Granatelli tubular k member

[Ghoste]

Isn't the complete AlterKation kit supposed to be on the order of a hundred or so pounds?

[Silver R/T]

Probably, but that's with lightweight wilwood brakes vs cast iron stock drums.

[Mike DC]

   
The stock PS cast-iron steering box is something like 40 pounds.  The stock lower control arms (with the torsion bar adjuster deal and the strut rods) are a pretty heavy set of pieces too.  So is the stock center steering link & idler/pitman arms. 

That's a lotta thick heavy stuff to replace with lighter/smaller pieces when you switch to the AlterKtion setup. 

       

[Big Sugar]

I would love a tubualr K member that has the tubes so I can still use the LCA & T bars

Neil...I knew I saw this somewhere. Canadian as well !! Check it out.

                                                 Coming Soon!
Coming soon is the latest in CAP designs. The "A" body Tubular K frame designed for street and strip applications. This product will utilize the latest advancements while utilizing the stock lower control arms and factory torsion bars! Keep posted for more details.

http://www.capautoproducts.com/


Ron

[Big Sugar]

Are there any Advantages to running the original LCA's with the Torque Rod's ?
Other than possible Cost savings ?



Ron

[10secondart]

HI everyone, I am the owner of CAP Auto Products......www.capautoproducts.com
If I could weigh in on the discussions of the cost and functionality of a Tubular K frame.
First off we approached the market fromt he prospective of offering a lower cost K frame to the car enthusiasts that simply can not afford a Top of the Line Alterkation system. If you can afford it Alterkation is the way to go! Of course this also means vering far from stock. I chose to design and build a system for an A body and soon to be B body that replaces the factory K frame and offers the option to use the factory lower arms and torsion bars OR switching to coil over shocks. The system I am offering provides weight savings, additional clearence, new motor mounts, Tubular Control Arms and adjustable aluminum strut rods all for $2100 plus shipping! The system does NOT use a rack but instead utilises the factory steering box. I could go on for hours as to why the rack has good and bad to it. The bottom line I am lloking for the guys who don't want to spend a fortune and be able to use mounts NOT a motor plate and keep the cars looking stock.

Thanks for the opportunity.

Ray C.
email me if you have any questions!
B - K frame expected to hit the market by May 07

[Chryco Psycho]

Awesome
I would still like to use a rack with a proper front steer spindle but retain the LCA & T bar design
Thanks Ron
& Ray too

[BrianShaughnessy]

Thanks Ray!   I'll be interested to see this.

[Steve P.]

I would love a tubualr K member that has the tubes so I can still use the LCA & T bars

Give me time Chryco. I'm working on it..

[PA Dodger]

I remember seeing this place at the Mopar Nats. I couldn't remember the name of it. I found their business card the other day. I think they have what you're looking for. They don't have any pics on their site but it seems to me they were pretty nice pieces at the Nats.        http://www.ajeracing.com/mopar.php 
Dan