alterkation front end? how are they?

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bayyum

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I'm looking at the AlterKation front end coil-over system for a dart sport I may be building. Are they great front ends? worth $3750? I want a street/ strip car.
 
I don't have one but I have seen many posts on them. They are a great unit, well built and well designed BUT most likely un-needed and over kill for a basic street strip build (unless you have extra cash that you don't need).
 
I don't necissarily NEED it, but I think it would be cool to have =p thanks a bunch for the info.

Mike
 
installed one on my 69 Dart, haven't driven yet, but the quality of the workmanship is top notch!
 
They alter k is worth every penny IMO. I have installed and driven this kit in an A body and E body and they drive amazing. The handling is light years ahead of the torsion bar suspension and the steering feel is amazing. You will not be disappointed.
 
It's worth it to me. Not over kill at all if you want your 40 year old car to feel like a modern car.
 
They are what they say they are... absolutely the best! At 116MPH on the track the stock steering tends to be a bit... well, I guess the best way of saying it is loose. You'll find it wandering and a bit less than super reactive to input even thought I had installed all new parts and urethane everything it still tended to be a bit loose at high speeds with skinny front tires. I always had the car aligned with the nose up 2" to compensate for the body lifting while on the track. But it did what it did.
I put on the Alter-K-tion set up and VIOLA! No more wandering. It goes where I point it, input is precise and deliberate. We're now running 125MPH and it is still a fantastic investment in control and stability. Bill really did his homework on these and he doesn't get the credit his stuff deserves. I also run the same car with a different engine on the street for GP (General Purpose) driving and it still has wonderful street manners.
Disclaimer: Mine is in a 69 RR all manual with Wilwood brakes and no sway bar (one of Bill's early B body models). Had I been making the same money I was then, my Dart would have the same set up too.
Just for giggles, I weighed the parts going on vs the parts coming off and I lost 86 lbs in the upgrade. I got gobs of extra room for getting at things too, It's not nearly as cramped in the engine compartment so dealing with bad starters or headers is soooo much nicer.

...and unlike some other brands I've heard of, I had no fitment issues what so ever on the install
 

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They are a well desinged and built product. However, the only area where they are superior are in the clearance dept, and the "look what I bought" department. They will not be superior in handling, unless you try to compare one to a 40 year old worn out torsion bar suspension. Properly built factory suspension, with correct torsion bar rates, and a decent set of shocks, tied to a moderen wheel/tire combo, will handle better than what 99.9% of people can even use... BUT, if your gonna blow that kind of cash, there are NO better products out there than the alter-k
 
They are a well desinged and built product. However, the only area where they are superior are in the clearance dept, and the "look what I bought" department. They will not be superior in handling, unless you try to compare one to a 40 year old worn out torsion bar suspension. Properly built factory suspension, with correct torsion bar rates, and a decent set of shocks, tied to a moderen wheel/tire combo, will handle better than what 99.9% of people can even use... BUT, if your gonna blow that kind of cash, there are NO better products out there than the alter-k


I don't know. Even all new stuff in a stock style suspension ( tie rod ends, idler and pitman arms, steering box...etc.) has got to have more play in it compared to a rack. Then you have the weight savings.
 
I don't know. Even all new stuff in a stock style suspension ( tie rod ends, idler and pitman arms, steering box...etc.) has got to have more play in it compared to a rack. Then you have the weight savings.

X2 I cant imagine Stock stuff feeling as tight as the rack and pinion does. My factory K member was trashed so I had to replace it any way. Yes its more expensive than a factory setup but it money well spent JMO. Also Bill is a great guy to work with.
 
Put one on my Demon. Great fit, finish, and handling. Also went with the rear end set up from him however did not use his bolt on brackets instead welded everthing in place for a much cleaner look. Worth the little extra effort.
 
I don't know. Even all new stuff in a stock style suspension ( tie rod ends, idler and pitman arms, steering box...etc.) has got to have more play in it compared to a rack. Then you have the weight savings.

Exactly. Think of all the places the OEM can have slop: Steer box, pitman, idler (in two areas: the pivot AND the joint itself), 2 inner and 2 outer tie rods vs. rack and 2 tie rod ends.
Also, the OEM K-member is only spot welded together and, if you look at the bracing for the steering box, it's not all that secured either. Which says nothing about the lower control arm points cracking and breaking out, which is fairly common place in these older cars. Lots have been welded and many more will be too.
If you were going to try to use the OE cross member for hi perf cornering, I'd say to fully weld it up and reinforce the steering box structural bracing at the very least. Which is to say nothing about the upper control arm adjusting ears that tend to crack under heavy driving.
For me, there was just too many little/annoying issues to leave to, ' ...hope this 40+ year old engineering holds together for another "X" amount of years...' while I'm doing high speed driving. JMO
 
Last Saturday my daughters newest boyfriend rode with me in the 67, about 15 miles to the store. One of his many comments was about the body roll in turns.
When we left the store I tossed the keys to him and said "Drive her home".
he was just one of numerous folks who enjoyeed the experience of driving a classic.
i tell them all that I do have sway bars, disc brakes, and all sorts of parts for the car piled up here. The majority of them say "I wouldn't change a thing. It drives like it's supposed to."
I sometimes wish I had left the manual steering and large diameter steering wheel in it.
That too took away from the overall experience of driving yesterdays vehicle.
It's all about personal prefernce. If I wanted the car I'm driving to feel similar to my brothers 93 Mustang I would trade my 67 for something much newer.
 
There's something to be said for technology and along with it comes safety and piece of mind. My #2 daughter's ex has an early Comet (6 cylinder 4 dr). I recommended to him to put disc brakes on the front and get rid of the single reservoir master cylinder to improve safety and reliability, especially during rainy weather. (For those who have never experienced wet drum brakes; you're almost better off opening the door and putting your feet down on the ground to stop). I was floored at his response: "I want to keep it original..."
He made it sound like I told him to throw away all the old parts! Really? That's what benches in the garage are for, hiding all the 'take off' stuff. I couldn't believe he was trying to preserve that... that... Comet, by keeping it OEM. It's not going to increase in value as it is not a 'stang or something even remotely special. Preserve it by not wrecking it!!! I'm so glad they split up.
 
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