How to build a SuperStock k-member
drag racers don't turn , load a car with 4 people , hit large pot holes and other things that affect a street driven car . Cutting a section will change where the k member is stressed , not just the area you modified , just sayin .
Might be no problem with what was done , don't have te time to run simulations to check ot what was done . A lot of work goes into design , small changes often have big consequences .
And not knocking your design/work , just questioning .
Jerry, you make some valid points here and, to your points, Super Stock-type mods are not intended for road/rally racing or challenging the twisites - though I wouldn't hesitate to run such with my k-member mods. The main reason for the mod is for guys running very large pans and those wanting to simplify maintenance in a street/strip car.
Also, when you do a comparative analysis, and compare it with tubular units from other mfgs, it's still a much more beefy (and heavier) unit - and there are a lot of Mopar folks running those systems on the street.
On "stress analysis"; I'm perfectly comfortable running k-members with such mods, since I've done it for the past 30+ years, and because no one can point me to a k-member failure within the, notoriously, wheel standing myriad of (9-second) cars who've been successfully racing them (modded k-members) since the 60's.
If you think the mods posted here are radical, go back through the archives and look at many of the 'hole saw' mods performed on k-members (and bodies and frames) back in the 60's and 70's. In fact, Bill Maverick Golden attributes the crashing of his first Little Red Wagon to the overly aggressive approach/use of a hole saw - it was literally swiss cheesed from top to bottom !
Not trying to start an argument here, as I know it's not for everyone. So, if you don't feel comfortable with the mod - nor require such a mod - enjoy what you've got. Stock is great and reliable too.
But to many of us, Super Stock is tops. My 'how to' was posted for guys that just can't seem to leave anything stock, but I'd never compromise safety, since my family and I routinley cruise in my hotrods as well... ~{:>)
Southernman