Bob Wilkie
Well-Known Member
Removing SB V8 K-member from 70 Dart to install independent front suspension. Have an extra 318 I’d like to swap into my 65 Barracuda S/6 car if the K-member will bolt in. Has anyone here done it already?
Will 70 Dart V8 K-member fit 65 Barracud?
- Thread starter Bob Wilkie
- Start date
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motorpirate
serial mopar owner
no, won't fit. too wide.
a '65 K frame isn't motor specific. /6 and V8 the same.
All you need is 273 motor mounts
a '65 K frame isn't motor specific. /6 and V8 the same.
All you need is 273 motor mounts
You can always sell V8 K frames for 67 up A Bodies. No change needed for 66 down A Bodies, as posted above.
Bob Wilkie
Well-Known Member
That’s good news. I just assumed I’d need a stronger Kmember for the V8. So it’s just a bolt in if I have the 273 mounts?
mopowers
Well-Known Member
Yes.
All these cars have independent front suspension.
To increase strength, Have the entire perimeter of the "K" member welded. It is 50 + years old.
Yeah, that kinda tripped me up, too. lol
Dartnut
Don't hate me because i'm beautiful
You will also need a V8 center link for the steering.
mopowers
Well-Known Member
He's got an early A body. There isn't a defined perimeter that can be welded on the early-A k-members as there is with a 67+ version.
***Edited to remove a blatant inaccuracy on my part.
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I did not realize that early K members was a single plate.
They’re not. They don’t have a perimeter seam like the later K’s but there are plenty of seams that can be welded and reinforced
From Firm Feel’s website
I see.
Being that old I would confirm all of the welds have no cracks.
My 75 Swinger had 9 cracks after cleaning all the crud off. Hence the reason I had my K member cracks welded, plus the complete perimeter.
Being that old I would confirm all of the welds have no cracks.
My 75 Swinger had 9 cracks after cleaning all the crud off. Hence the reason I had my K member cracks welded, plus the complete perimeter.
Sorry, Evan....
The A body was originally designed for the slant six so there actually are 2 types of center links. The shallow offset one is the slant six version. The deeper offset works on both slant six and V8 models.
mopowers
Well-Known Member
You're right! Sorry for the confusion. Not sure why I had a brain fart on that one. Here's a photo I took many years ago. I was actually able to use the slant 6 centerlink on a V8 '66 Barracuda I had a while back. Rumor has it that some factory slant cars came with the V8 centerlinks from the factory too. Go figure!
Totally agree. I reinforce all of my K members. My ‘74 K had cracks at the steering box mount that was allowing the steering box to walk back and forth by a good 1/4” to 1/2” when the wheel was turned.
I go over all of the factory welds, weld all of the seams (the entire perimeter on the 67+ K’s), and gusset the steering box mount and LCA pin tubes. I also install a skid plate on the bottom to further gusset the K frame as a whole.
The steering box was the main thing. When dismantling the 75, I found that the two bolts securing the trans to the crossmember were gone.
Bob Wilkie
Well-Known Member
You are correct, I didn't think to break it down when I wrote the original post. I bought the entire aftermarket tubular IFS from Control Freaks with coil overs and new brakes.
Bob Wilkie
Well-Known Member
I'll have to look again, but I don't remember the K-member under the slant six looking as beefy as the one in your photo. Yours seems more boxed in where I was thinking mine was more angled steel with less enclosed "boxy" areas.
Its not my K member in the picture, it’s from Firm Feel’s website and it has been reinforced. So some of the open areas have been gusseted.
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