K-member swap with engine in car

zenboy99

Founding Member

May 12, 2002

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47

Madison, WI

Nov 15, 2007

#1

• Nov 15, 2007

• #1

I'm thinking of doing this to lighten up my car this winter. A local guy is selling an AJE k-member for my car for cheap, and I'll have the time to put it in this winter. I'm a little scared to mess around with the front end and suspension. I'm assuming this isn't just a simple bolt in and getting the old rusty bolted k-member out might be a challenge with hand tools.

Do most of these just bolt right up, then you get an allignment to straighten things out? Or is it much more involved then that.

A few local mechanics told me I can just put a brace between the shock towers and attach the engine to it.

 

ProKiller

Founding Member

Apr 26, 2002

3,064

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78

PA

Nov 15, 2007

#2

• Nov 15, 2007

• #2

i personally wouldn't just use a brace. i'd get an engine lift so if i did need to fanagle the engine around i could. but then again, i've never done a k-member so i could just be talking out my arse

 

black50

New Member

Sep 22, 2006

36

0

0

Nov 15, 2007

#3

• Nov 15, 2007

• #3

not sure about that k member might want to look @ the specs on it, some k members moves the front tires a 1/4-1/2 inch up closer to the fender well, my brother has a 89 with a k member with weld rims and has terrible tire rubbing turning.

 

Blackened302

Active Member

Jul 21, 2005

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36

South TX

Nov 15, 2007

#4

• Nov 15, 2007

• #4

when my brother-in-law put in an aftermarket K-member in his brother's 88 coupe, he used a hoist to hold the engine in the air during the swap, whatever that's worth to you =)

 

YEAHLOH95

Founding Member

Nov 19, 2001

1,249

3

39

EVERETT,PA

Nov 15, 2007

#5

• Nov 15, 2007

• #5

I put mine in with the engine in the car, just support it on the pan too and i used my strut tower brace and ratchet straps , its only 6 bolts and the engine mounts after the struts are off .

 

88-378

Member

Aug 10, 2007

14

2

16

Alpharetta, GA

Nov 15, 2007

#6

• Nov 15, 2007

• #6

The AJE Racing K Member does not alter the front end. That's the one i bought and will have my mechanic install.

 

PUNISHER RACING

Active Member

Aug 27, 2007

1,124

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36

FORD CITY, PA.

Nov 15, 2007

#7

• Nov 15, 2007

• #7

that method will work just fine and the AJE kit is top notch stuff

 

gcomfx.com

Founding Member

Oct 22, 2002

3,690

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Republic, MO

Nov 15, 2007

#8

• Nov 15, 2007

• #8

They have a good special right now on their site:
All AJE Racing Complete Kits are 10% off with free shipping in the United States excluding AK and HI.

How good of a deal are you getting?

What is the minimum you can get on a setup like this? I assume you need to get the A arms with the K-member?

 

PUNISHER RACING

Active Member

Aug 27, 2007

1,124

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FORD CITY, PA.

Nov 15, 2007

#9

• Nov 15, 2007

• #9

I am too partial to UPR though they take of me, the complete kit from them is only $649.00 and its chromoly. Thats a pretty good deal though!

 

gcomfx.com

Founding Member

Oct 22, 2002

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Republic, MO

Nov 16, 2007

#10

• Nov 16, 2007

• #10

ZenBoy you are bad... bad... bad. I just got off the phone with Jim at AJE. He had a couple of exchanged k-members at the shop. Owners upgraded for different setups before they finished their cars. He is headed to a event and packing all of them up to sell.

I now have a k-member headed my way. I couldn't afford the A-arms yet, but he said I can use the stock A-arms for now. $275 shipped with spring perches. It would have been $413 shipped.

I guess while I'm pulling the engine. I might as well do this, right? I doubt I ever change more than this and the A-arms.

 

gcomfx.com

Founding Member

Oct 22, 2002

3,690

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Republic, MO

Nov 16, 2007

#11

• Nov 16, 2007

• #11

PUNISHER RACING said:

I am too partial to UPR though they take of me, the complete kit from them is only $649.00 and its chromoly. Thats a pretty good deal though!

Click to expand...

I looked at that... it would be great. But it's $699 on their site not $649. Plus shipping, plus they recommend C/C plates (I don't have them) and a bump steer kit. (Uh, nope don't have that either.)

 

HankyGT

Member

Jan 15, 2006

81

3

6

Warren, OH

Nov 16, 2007

#12

• Nov 16, 2007

• #12

It will def be something on my list to install on mine

All we do at work is mess with suspension stuff, and after driving around the 2000 Cobra R for a bit, I'm so terribly jealous it isnt funny.

Handling kicks ass!

 

SVT32VDOHC

waiting for the next hack atta

Founding Member

Nov 22, 2001

3,501

28

119

Motor City

Nov 16, 2007

#13

• Nov 16, 2007

• #13

You can do it. I would just support the engine front the bottom while holding up top. The 5.0L guys are lucky...their engines have hooks...4.6L you have to get creative. Look at specs as stated...and definately get an alignment. The hand tools are goiing to be the hardest part of the job. Air tools work wonders but sometimes I have trouble using air tools with teh stubborn bolts that go into the rails.

 

94Silverbullet

Member

Jan 3, 2003

488

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17

MD

Nov 16, 2007

#14

• Nov 16, 2007

• #14

how much weight are you saving with a k-member?

 

MysteryMachine

Active Member

Jun 21, 2003

1,835

2

39

Parkesburg, PA

Nov 17, 2007

#15

• Nov 17, 2007

• #15

I thought the stock ones had to be cut out or am I just retarded?

 

fastgtfairlane

New Member

Apr 7, 2006

266

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0

Nov 17, 2007

#16

• Nov 17, 2007

• #16

no your just retarded. jk. nah they are bolted in. i could be wrong but i think the weight savings is around 40-50lbs off the front end.

 

Yobi1Kanobi

Member

Apr 9, 2003

559

0

16

Nov 17, 2007

#17

• Nov 17, 2007

• #17

I actually put in the Griggs racing Kmember...The weight savings are big I would say like 75LBS right off the front including A-Arms.

The Nice feature is that I was able to set my Motor back 1" so now I have better wieght distribution and alowwed my TKO to line up with my X-Member without notching it.

Bad feature I had to Space up the Motor like 3/8" since my Canton Pan was touching my Flaming River Rack.

Just giving you my experience so incase you have similar parts you know what to look for.

 

B

baglock1

The Bartender

Founding Member

Aug 25, 2001

6,612

1

78

Space Coast, FL

Nov 23, 2007

#18

• Nov 23, 2007

• #18

I used some heavy duty ratcheting straps and secured the engine to the strut tower brace. Once I unbolted the engine mounts and was able to raise the engine an inch or two, I dropped out the K-member. No problems.

 

PUNISHER RACING

Active Member

Aug 27, 2007

1,124

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36

FORD CITY, PA.

Nov 23, 2007

#19

• Nov 23, 2007

• #19

You can get away without the bumpsteer kit I would recommend c/c plates to anyone, that $649.00 is with the NMRA racer discount but they will give it to anyone.

 

BlackPearl955.0

New Member

Jun 8, 2007

126

1

0

Blashyrkh, Wisconsin

Nov 24, 2007

#20

• Nov 24, 2007

• #20

With a new k member and new a arms would struts and springs be usefull or can you only use coil overs?
also gcomfx.com what guy were you talking to about the k member cause I want one!!!!!