K Member Question /6 to 340 Disc Brakes

[ADHD426]

What I have:
1. Currently in my 71 Duster is a /6 K member.
2. I have a spool v8 K Member, just the member nothing attached.
3. I have the Upper Control Arms, Spindles, Calipers, Caliper Mounts, rotors from 1975 Valiant. Big bolt pattern obviously.
4. 904 Transmission (I don't think that matters)


Questions:
1. If I take out the /6 K member and put in the V8 spool K member can I use all the other stuff from the /6 or will I have to get new pieces, if so which ones? i.e. torsion bars, sway bars...?
2. How difficult is it to do a swap of K members from /6 to spool V8?
3. If I leave the /6 K member in and get one of the Schumacher kits will I still be able to use all the above pieces to change to disc brakes?

Thanks! You guys are the best!

Andrew

 

[RedFish]

It will get confusing, you have been warned. The pre 73 model sway bar goes around the K. 73 up sway bar goes through the K. If you have the pre 73 bar that goes around, it will go around either type of K. That sway bar wil work with the late model disc brakes too if you switch the spindles and calipers left to right so the caliper doesn't hit the sway bar.
If you dont plan to change the steering gear box, leave the center link, idler arm, pitman arm all original pre 73.
Torsion bars for a slant with a/c are the same as the standard V8 bars. Stronger bars are a nice option but not absolutely required.

 

[72bluNblu]

So, to answer your questions...

1. You'll need a V8 steering center link, the /6 version will not clear the pan on a V8.

The '71 sway bar MIGHT fit if you use the '71 LCA's, although, you lose the advantage of having the '73 up sway bars with more clearance. I'm not sure if the '71 sway bar will fit with the '73+ K, the 73+ bar WILL NOT fit the earlier K member or LCA's. I think the mounting tabs on the K member are different, so it might take some work.

Check the size of the torsion bars. /6 bars won't be fun with a V8, although, it can be done if money is tight. Even the stock V8 bars are too small, but you can always upgrade later.

2. Depends. Is the engine still in the car? There's two ways to do this, either pull the engine separately, or lift the body off of the K member and over the engine. Either way, at some point you'll have to unscrew the torsion bar adjusters, remove the shocks, hammer the roll pin out of the steering column to steering box link, and unbolt the upper A arms. If the engine is still in, you'll also have to drop the transmission crossmember and unhook the driveshaft and shift linkage. Then unbolt the K and lower the whole mess down or lift the car off of it. If you're lifting the body off the K, you should pull the torsion bars first. If you're just lowering the K, then you can pull it forward with the torsion bars and they'll drop out. You can leave the strut rods and all the suspension stuff hooked up except for the shocks and UCA's. It'll take more than a couple hours.

3. Yes. You'll still need a steering center link.

 

[RedFish]

The center links are different for slant 6 and V8 in early A.
I dont think there is a difference in 2nd generation A until 1973 when the links flipped.

 

[72bluNblu]

The center links are different for slant 6 and V8 in early A.
I dont think there is a difference in 2nd generation A until 1973 when the links flipped.

Good to know! I thought all the /6 center links were different...