I am sure someone else has done this already, and has done it better and more informed than myself. I would like to lighten a stock K-member. I know there are tubular K's but they tend to lighten the wallet .

I plan on welding all the seams completly for added strength then drilling (swiss cheesing) the K-member. The thing I don't want to do is ruin the structural integrity of the crossmember.

Does anyone know where the K-member is the most stressed? Where shouldn't I attempt to take out material? Where can I drill to my heart's content?

Anyone with experience here?

BBB

 

http://www.smithperformance.com/cata....html#Firebird Front Sub-Assembly

You can see here they just cut out the center and put a bar across.

Steven

 

Do you really want to do this?

Drilling 25 2 inch diameter holes, or 100 1 inch diameter holes in .140 thick metal will lighten it about 3 lbs., about the weitht of a couple quarts of oil. However you'll compromise the chassis strength substantially.

Much of the torsional rigidity of the chassis comes from this front crossmember. Weakening it is really the wrong way to go, IMO.

If you really want to make a change in front/rear weight distribution, relocate the battery into the trunk....or you could just run lighter weight oil (just kidding, of course).

 

I'd just get the BMR k-member. Wait until someone has a GP on BMR stuff and get it for a little cheaper. It'd be a lot easier and safer than hacking on your own k.

Thanks for that link Steven. Found some stuff I might use in the future.