K-Member / Rack & Pinion Steering Suggestions
I'm not disagreeing that the factory setup can be made to work well but it takes a lot of mods to do so. Boxing lower control arms, upgrading tie-rods , removing , gussetting and welding up the K-Member, modifying or replacing the steering box for a firmer feel, experimenting with swaybars, torsion bars and shocks to get the performance / feel you want. I , much like you don't have the kind of time to do that any more but much props to the members here who have the tech know-how , time and patience to sort it out.
The problem is this is bad information, it's simply not true. You don't have to weld up the stock K if you don't want to or don't have the ability, you can just buy a QA1 K frame. You don't need to box the lower control arms, you can buy tubular LCA's. You don't need to rebuild or modify the steering box, you can just buy a new one. And you don't have to "experiment" with a sway bar, you can just buy one of several that are proven to work.
The thing that really irritates me is the idea that modifying the torsion bar suspension is somehow different than bolting on an RMS. An RMS is just modified
PINTO suspension. And nowadays you can just buy and bolt on
everything you need to upgrade the torsion bar suspension.
Upgraded torsion bar suspension, 3/30/22 pricing. This list has the QA1 K frame and sway bar added, no welding, all bolt on.
Front :
QA1 tubular K frame - $722.65
1971 DODGE DART QA1 52313 QA1 Mopar K-Members | Summit Racing
QA1 Adjustable strut bars - $243.95
1974 DODGE DART QA1 52311 QA1 Dynamic Adjustable Strut Bars | Summit Racing
QA1 LCA’s - $476.95
1974 DODGE DART QA1 52307 QA1 Mopar Control Arms | Summit Racing
QA1 sway bar - $256.25
1971 DODGE DART QA1 52861 QA1 Sway Bars | Summit Racing
QA1 tie rod sleeves- $68.95
1974 DODGE DART QA1 52325 QA1 Heavy-Duty Tie Rod Sleeves | Summit Racing
Proforged tie rod ends- $174.52 (all 4)
1974 DODGE DART Proforged Chassis Parts 104-10157 Proforged Tie Rod Ends | Summit Racing
1974 DODGE DART Proforged Chassis Parts 104-10156 Proforged Tie Rod Ends | Summit Racing
Proforged lower ball joint (driver)- $47.59
1974 DODGE DART Proforged Chassis Parts 101-10129 Proforged Ball Joints | Summit Racing
Proforged lower ball joint (passenger)- $43.63
1974 DODGE DART Proforged Chassis Parts 101-10128 Proforged Ball Joints | Summit Racing
Viking double adjustable shocks-$338
Viking Performance Stock Mount Front Shocks
Proforged upper ball joints- $39.60 (both included)
1974 DODGE DART Proforged Chassis Parts 101-10126 Proforged Ball Joints | Summit Racing
PST manual steering box - $339.00
Manual Steering Box 16:1
Moog pitman arm (manual) - $49.99
1974 DODGE DART Moog Chassis Parts K7075 Moog Replacement Pitman Arms | Summit Racing
Moog idler - $33.99
1974 DODGE DART Moog Chassis Parts K7086 Moog Replacement Idler Arms | Summit Racing
Bergman Autocraft SPC UCA’s (1st gen)- $375
BAC SPC Upper Control Arms - Bergman Auto Craft
Bergman Autocraft 1.08” torsion bars- $319
Mopar A Body Torsion Bar Set 1.08" - Bergman Auto Craft
Proforged polyurethane control arm shaft kit w/bushings- $110.95
1974 DODGE DART Proforged Chassis Parts 120-10003 Proforged Control Arm Shaft Kits | Summit Racing
Proforged Camber bolts - $34.32 (2 sets)
1974 DODGE DART Proforged Chassis Parts 120-10009 Proforged Camber Bolts | Summit Racing
DoctorDiff 73+ disk spindles- $155
Mopar Reproduction Disc Brake Knuckles for A/B/E Bodies
Total: $3,879.13 (manual to manual)
Savings of
$160.87 vs AlterK w/manual steering (and no sway bar on that AlterK, so it would be more if you add it)
Or add power steering-
Borgeson box from BAC $889
Borgeson Steering Box Kit Large Sector - Bergman Auto Craft
Total: $4,429.13 (power steering, pump and lines not included just like the RMS)
Savings of
$310.87 vs AlterK with power rack
And here's AlterK pricing with links so you can check it, all above board.
Street/Strip RMS AlterK (manual rack,
no sway bar, no engine mounts)- $4,040
AlterKtion Coil-Over System, Street/Strip, 67-76 A-body, No Mounts
Street/Handling RMS AlterK (power rack, sway bar, no engine mounts)- $4,740
AlterKtion Coil-Over System, Street/Handling, 67-76 A-body, No Mounts
