K-member install...

...has anyone ever done before? I ordered a set of tubular a-arms from BMR..and I was just thinking if I replace my k-member at the same time I'll lose a total of 100 pounds...what exactly is involved with that swap?


Thanks;


Mike:)

Mike (LT1Z28) is about to do this on his car...maybe ask him

:mad: Bastard !!!

Yeah Id get the K member , you have to lift and suspend the motor I think . Theres a good writeup somewhere with pics over on ls1.com . . . . I remember looking through it . Fwiw g2 is coming out with a k member that should put shame to the rest , I would wait for that one as its going to be STRONG :)

Originally posted by Tw!tchb!tch
:mad: Bastard !!!

Yeah Id get the K member , you have to lift and suspend the motor I think . Theres a good writeup somewhere with pics over on ls1.com . . . . I remember looking through it . Fwiw g2 is coming out with a k member that should put shame to the rest , I would wait for that one as its going to be STRONG :)

100 lbs? I thought the total weight savings was more like 40 :confused: :confused:

If so that sounds like a very worthwhile mod!

Actualy Draco it can be close to 100 lbs with new control arms and such.


As for install not hard mike just suspend the motor undo 6 bolts screw around with some dumb stuff in the way and drop her out
Later
Mike


If you need a picker its at shawns your more then welcome to use it
:)

Originally posted by LT1Z28
Actualy Draco it can be close to 100 lbs with new control arms and such.


As for install not hard mike just suspend the motor undo 6 bolts screw around with some dumb stuff in the way and drop her out
Later
Mike


If you need a picker its at shawns your more then welcome to use it
:)

Thanks Mike...I've seen some Cobra's with Tubular K-members and what a difference..I just hope it's worth the money and effort..:)

OMG hehe, this is funny, I bring up the fact as to why this guy didn't change it & he's already looking for one :) yeah I was told 120 pounds on the website & some guy confirmed it on the board that it was around 120 when he weighed his car, fergot who & when it was exactly.

Damn that is awesome weight savings.... gunna have to give that some thought :D

Originally posted by bunker
OMG hehe, this is funny, I bring up the fact as to why this guy didn't change it & he's already looking for one :) yeah I was told 120 pounds on the website & some guy confirmed it on the board that it was around 120 when he weighed his car, fergot who & when it was exactly.

Think we can do it? Man, this car wiill never be done:mad:

Fwiw I was told 36 # - 38 # for the bmr K member alone . . . about 50 # with arms , more with drag brakes , coilovers, manual flamer rack yata yata . ;)

Yes we'll sertainly try :)

Mike is getting ready to join team JACK STAND....is there room for 2 Mikes?;)

Originally posted by oldschool
Mike is getting ready to join team JACK STAND....is there room for 2 Mikes?;)

andy represents team body shop here :rolleyes:


:p :p :p :p :p :p

yeah baby

I rock the body!

Andy;)

Originally posted by oldschool
Mike is getting ready to join team JACK STAND....is there room for 2 Mikes?;)


..hey don't be that guy:) ...when you have access to a garage it's easy to leave things half done and being able to do it right...it a good thing were not on the road yet...because we'd be kickin yo ass:D ...soon my friend soon:)

Mike, where did you buy your BMR parts. Things are no going well on my problem.

Sent ya a PM...:)

I can get a-arms for you for 500.00 bucks (usd)..upper and lower..black powder coat with all bushings installed..that's 100 bucks off retail..

Mikey Mikey :)

U going to have one of the baddest azz rides up north ..

Originally posted by LT1Z28
Actualy Draco it can be close to 100 lbs with new control arms and such.


As for install not hard mike just suspend the motor undo 6 bolts screw around with some dumb stuff in the way and drop her out
Later
Mike


If you need a picker its at shawns your more then welcome to use it
:) \


Hey Mike, would I have to unbolt the tranny and FLP's to do this mod? What do you think about using a jack to hold the motor in place while I unbolt the mounts...I'm at the point where I'm gonna order one but I'm hearing the brake lines have no where to attach...have you swapped your's yet?

Thanks again;

Mike

Kinda hard to support the engine with a stand considering there is no place to stick it other then the oil pan. Like i said you are welcome to borrow my picker but you could prbably get away with a jack and a block on the pan just will be kinda a pain. as far as unbolting flps and tranny answer is they can stay on without any probs. As far as installing mine havent got around to it but have removed k members before and tehy are pretty straight forward :)
later
Mike

yeah don't worry Mike it should be interesting :) I'm pretty sure we can do it like Mike says hehe got that Mike? :)

See all Mikes are different, Mini Mike loves chocolate, Mike don't!

Thanks Mike....I will take you up your offer regarding the picker...this is one install that I think is worth it:)

Originally posted by sideways_Into_3rd
andy represents team body shop here :rolleyes:


:p :p :p :p :p :p


AHAHA HANDY ANDY!

Oooh andy, you caaame and you found me baaaaalgonie, and i'll never forget..

Ohh ANDY

Ordered...:( ...more money...Matt, you better enjoy those brakes...your certainly gone work for em:D

Originally posted by sleeperZragtop
Ordered...:( ...more money...Matt, you better enjoy those brakes...your certainly gone work for em:D

If you need an extra set of hands let me know and I will help. Someone needs to keep an eye on Matt :D

How are you going to secure the hard brake lines on the K member? I installed the K member while the motor was out and it was cake. I still haven't decided on the way I will secure my brake lines. I was thinking of cutting the bracket and maybe drilling a new hole if needed.
Im also curious if I installed the lower a arms correct. Hopefully the shop doing the alignment will kow what he is doing with this aftermarket set up. :)

I have the cherry picker. Thanks Mike :)

I can drop it off to you Mike.

Originally posted by supermo26
How are you going to secure the hard brake lines on the K member? I installed the K member while the motor was out and it was cake. I still haven't decided on the way I will secure my brake lines. I was thinking of cutting the bracket and maybe drilling a new hole if needed.
Im also curious if I installed the lower a arms correct. Hopefully the shop doing the alignment will kow what he is doing with this aftermarket set up. :)


From what I hear, "zip ties"....or custom brackets..at this rate zip ties are cheaper:rolleyes:

Here's a cut-n-paste of an e-mail I sent out to the local f-body list after my k-member was installed. Looking back, it wasn't nearly as painful as this email made it out to be, but it does represent fairly well how I felt immediately after finishing... We were also installing lowering springs at the same time, so some of the things I did, you obviously won't have to do...


Here is my advice regarding how to install a k-member. It starts with "Go
look up the local install shop in the phone book..." You can guess where it goes
from there.

The whole day was summed up by a caption under a picture in the Haynes
manual regarding removing the engine mounts:
"Engine removed for clarity." If you ever see this in an instruction set -
RUN.

First off, "mad props" go out to the entire pit crew: Andy, Pat, Ruben,
Ryan, Troy, Turtle, and Wes. No way I could have done this without all of
their help. :two thumbs up: You guys f'in rock.

Started at 10am...finished at about 9:30pm...yep, 11+ hours.

Step one: place car on jackstands and remove all 4 wheels.

Step two: remove & replace rear springs, panhard bar, lower control arms,
and install LCA relocation brackets. Don't forget to cut off the mounting
bracket for the brake line. Also, don't put the rear bolt in the front of
the LCA - the front bolt is waaay too short to work in back.

Step 3: remove front spring/coil assembly. No simple task. Leverage and
pickle forks are involved.

Step 4: Support engine/tranny on floor jack with wooden block.

Step 5: Unbolt lower a-arms and steering assembly. Unbolt sway bar & fight
to get long a-arm bolts out around steering dust boots. Fight, scream, and
curse to get steering assembly out of k-member mounting slot. Support
a-arm/spindle/rotor assembly with zipties & prayers.

6: Unbolt k-member from body.

7: Unbolt passenger side engine mount. Attempt to remove Alternator to get
long bolt out. Remove belts to get Alternator loose. Remove long bolt.

8: Unbolt driver side engine mount. Realize that AC compressor is in the
way of removing the long bolt. Disconnect battery after volunteer shocks
self on starter.

9: Remove starter. Decide to unbolt the engine mount from the k-member.
See directions in Haynes manual - note picture that has *engine removed for
clarity* caption.

10: Unbolt engine mount from k-member. Hear everyone present cheer with
glee as it breaks free.

11. Unbolt engine mount from mounting on block. Drop down enough to pull
out long bolt around compressor. Reattach block mount.

12. Bolt up BMR k-member to body. "Encourage" power steering assembly to
fit & bolt in slot.

13. "Persuade" a-arms to fit in new k-member. Don't forget to cut off 'lip'
on the bolts, as the aftermarket k-member doesn't have a slot for it. It's
generally much easier to get the bolt all the way in once this is out of the
way.

14. Reinstall motor mount bolt on passenger side - put bolt in from rear
for easy access. Bolt alternator back on.

15. Reinstall motor mount bolt on driver side - attempt to put bolt in from
rear, as AC compressor is (surprisingly) still in the way. Realize that the
dipstick tube is in the way. Remove dipstick and bolt up.

16. Reinstall dipstick & starter.

17. Tighten all bolts. Don't forget the motor mount bolts. Or the
steering assembly nuts. Or the third alternator bolt.

18. Install front spring assemblies with new springs already on. Thanks to
team "B" working on this during some of the earlier steps...

19. Zip tie brake lines & power steering lines to new k-member.

20. Mount wheels, remove engine support, and lower car.

21. Don't forget to put the serpentine belt back on - and don't forget to
reconnect the battery.

Steps 5-11 took at least 6 hours, and 12-17 probably 3 or 4 hours...

There was a lot more, including pizza delivery, beer retrieval, consumption
& spillage; broken shop light bulbs, music fights involving country, techno,
and 80's flashback; Michael Jackson cell phones, and a ton of other crap
that I just can't remember right now. 11 hours is just too long to work on
a car. Now I know why you can't find directions on how to do this - if
people could read it first, no one would every buy one!


Good luck,
Shane

MOD PARTY WOOT!!!!!!!!!!!

Pick the day and lets show up :)

Originally posted by 97TA-WS6-Con
MOD PARTY WOOT!!!!!!!!!!!

Pick the day and lets show up :)

:)

WTF? You told me you didn't have the K-member yet, I said I was gonna install it for ya, now I feel bad :( you said you were only getting A-arms for now & K=memeber later, wtf next time call me before anything. :(

Originally posted by bunker
WTF? You told me you didn't have the K-member yet, I said I was gonna install it for ya, now I feel bad :( you said you were only getting A-arms for now & K=memeber later, wtf next time call me before anything. :(

I just ordered it...it will be in next week or so...cam, timing chain, valve train swap is next Sunday....the rest soon after....don't worry Matt..after all this you'll be the first to drive her:)

Ok now you lost me, so what did you guys install? I thought you just said that you guys installed the K-member had engine jacked up etc...? did you do all that? wtf you're confusing me :)

Bunker that makes two of us but just read the end of Mikes message and it says Shane i think thats someone elses story...

...no, that was a cut and paste of some idea of what's it gonna take to do this install..sorry for any confusion...:)

WAKE UP MATT


:)

OMG acctually I thought that you probably made that up to guess what its gonna be like, but two things made me conclude otherwise:

I wasn't in there
Andy was in there?
You wrote so much

:)