Who makes a Early-A Narrow Aftermarket K-member

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MonkeyMadness

MonkeyMadness

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I'm looking for an early A after market k member that fits stock style suspension.
The only two I've found requires a complete suspension change "ie coil over and upper and lower A arms...
 
70Sbird said:
Talk to Bill at RMS. I believe he offers an AlterKtion setup for the early A-bodies
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yes RMS offers a early Alterkation as does Gerst (now QA1) but MonkyMadness is looking for a upgraded stock style not coil over
 
Just curious, what's wrong with the stock one if it's boxed and reinforced? If you're not interested in coil overs, you can get Qa1 LCA and UCA's
 
I have a later slant six one I narrowed to fit a '63 Valiant. Sectioned it in the middle and moved the motor mounts forward and out to match the new mounts. Then I scrapped the car.

I wanted spool motor mounts, a double shear idler arm mount and the better (in my opinion) sway bar. All seemed to work fine, but was going to need new sway bar mounts on the LCA to move them out. Got a sway bar bolted in, but never got it attached.

K-Frame001-1.jpg
 
stock is fine if you bolster the steering box mount and generally box anything in that you can. They are pretty light for what they are, just made of formed sheet metal. If your a fabricator, you can make a tubular one like the other guys, just get some good welds.
 
Cuda416 said:
Just curious, what's wrong with the stock one if it's boxed and reinforced? If you're not interested in coil overs, you can get Qa1 LCA and UCA's
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What's wrong with it stock, period? I ain't ever seen a K frame wadded up from drivin.
 
@RustyRatRod I personally cracked the steering mount on mine, that why I said bolster that area as that's the only place I know that could fail.
 
pishta said:
@RustyRatRod I personally cracked the steering mount on mine, that why I said bolster that area as that's the only place I know that could fail.
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I wouldn't mind seeing an example of that reinforcement if you have some pictures. I might consider doing that to mine. Thanks.
 
I'm doing a gen3 hemi swap and was looking for a after market K-member. I can do it with the stock K was just looking for a bit beefier....
 
I would try Hemi Denny right here on FABO or just Google HDK front ends. I use one of his K frames under my 6.1 Hemi in a 72 Demon. Saved me literally days of toil and trouble. His quality and customer service are excellent. He answers his own phone! Not saying Gerst or QA1 are not worthy but Denny is on here and has a wealth of folks using his products in this forum. He walks what he talks.
 
RustyRatRod said:
What's wrong with it stock, period? I ain't ever seen a K frame wadded up from drivin.
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Oh I don't disagree but we've all seen the one that was welded on Friday at quitin' time. A little reinforcement is all it takes to overcome most worries about them.
 
Cuda416 said:
Oh I don't disagree but we've all seen the one that was welded on Friday at quitin' time. A little reinforcement is all it takes to overcome most worries about them.
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I tell you what I HAVE seen.....I've seen some K frame flex in a B body with manual steering. I'm sure you could measure flex in mine with a dial indicator. That's why I'd like to see how to reinforce in that area. Since I plan on keeping this car and I don't plan on a k frame "upgrade" I wouldn't mind seeing how to upgrade "what's there". I'm sure I could look at it and figure it out, but I'm always open to ideas.
 
To be honest, that was in my younger days of "just buy another one" instead of my current "Fix it to be better" mindset. So I drove 5 hours 1 way to pick a good one up for $50. I had just bought a new truck and it was a great drive. Just weld up a few triangles where there is an unboxed void under the steering box bracket as well as the seam that is not welded but just folded over and spot welded. Basically anywhere you see a crack, stitch and then seam weld it to prevent deformation. This is a good set of internet pics. This guy went crazy and seam welded everything.
steering%2520box%2520mount%2520reinforcement.jpg

410.jpg

416.jpg


How to reinforce the K-frame
 
You could also add some triangular gussets around the steering box bracket and idler bracket.
 
pishta said:
To be honest, that was in my younger days of "just buy another one" instead of my current "Fix it to be better" mindset. So I drove 5 hours 1 way to pick a good one up for $50. I had just bought a new truck and it was a great drive. Just weld up a few triangles where there is an unboxed void under the steering box bracket as well as the seam that is not welded but just folded over and spot welded. Basically anywhere you see a crack, stitch and then seam weld it to prevent deformation. This is a good set of internet pics. This guy went crazy and seam welded everything.
View attachment 1715768277
View attachment 1715768278
View attachment 1715768279

How to reinforce the K-frame
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Thank you!
 
RustyRatRod said:
I tell you what I HAVE seen.....I've seen some K frame flex in a B body with manual steering. I'm sure you could measure flex in mine with a dial indicator. That's why I'd like to see how to reinforce in that area. Since I plan on keeping this car and I don't plan on a k frame "upgrade" I wouldn't mind seeing how to upgrade "what's there". I'm sure I could look at it and figure it out, but I'm always open to ideas.
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Ultimately K frames are pretty simple to beef up. It's a box and a poorly constructed one sometimes. Mostly you're just doing what the factory should have done.
 
RustyRatRod said:
What's wrong with it stock, period? I ain't ever seen a K frame wadded up from drivin.
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The K frame in my 65 Barracuda was cracked around both strut rod bosses.

K frame 1.jpg


So I pulled the one out of my 65 Dart parts car and reinforced that area and also the steering mount.

K frame 5.jpg
 
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