Checking a K memebers not bent

[tommygun]

Hi all,

How can i verify my k memebers not bent? Are the 2 sides supposed to be parallel?

Im doing front frame rails and im having issues lining the rails up. Should i put the rails where i want them and bolt k memeber on after its all welded up?

Can a k memeber be twisted to where i need it.? When i have the rails at 13 5/8 from the datum line and i bring the k memeber up to the rails one side of the k member arms is an inch below the rail. When i tighten it it pulls the rail down. My rails are new AMD ones. One was 1/2 inch too long at t bar mounting point. Had to bent the tabs out more.

 

[dukeboy_318]

Hi all,

How can i verify my k memebers not bent? Are the 2 sides supposed to be parallel?

Im doing front frame rails and im having issues lining the rails up. Should i put the rails where i want them and bolt k memeber on after its all welded up?

Can a k memeber be twisted to where i need it.? When i have the rails at 13 5/8 from the datum line and i bring the k memeber up to the rails one side of the k member arms is an inch below the rail. When i tighten it it pulls the rail down. My rails are new AMD ones. One was 1/2 inch too long at t bar mounting point. Had to bent the tabs out more.

If I was a betting man, I'd say your replacement rail placement was off

 

[tommygun]

The car was straightened in the 80s i didnt trust the straightened origional frame rails. All my measurements seem to line up from the torsion cross member back. I have the x-6 points lined up by lazer level. Well the front x-6 is thr torsion cross memeber holes. Which is 1/8 of an inch higher than the front rail gauge hole

 

[67Charger]

Yes, they are commonly bent. I bought one at Spring Fling that looked perfect - no dents or scrapes in the bottom. I powder coated it, mounted the engine and suspension, and lowered the car on to it only to find one corner hit first and one would NOT line up no matter what. Turns out the front left corner of the K was bent UP over an inch. I held the old slant K up to verify, and it laid flat on all four with no effort. I tossed the bent one.

 

[gkent]

Set it upside down on a flat surface with 4 same length spacers under each mounting point. They should all touch. You don't need anything fancy - a flat table and 4 pieces of 2 x 4 will be sufficient.

 

[eldubb440]

not sure about your specific K frame; but if rails were "straightened" back in the day, it could be bent......... if holes don't line up, I'd think a bend would be obvious.........

that being said, when I've done front rail(s); I do one at a time, with K frame still bolted to the other one, using it a kind of a jig........ I bolt the new rail to the "in place" K frame, mate it to the body; if all looks good weld it up........ now it becomes a jig for the other side

 

[tommygun]

Set it upside down on a flat surface with 4 same length spacers under each mounting point. They should all touch. You don't need anything fancy - a flat table and 4 pieces of 2 x 4 will be sufficient.

I used my laser and it looks like the 68 k frame is out 1/4 of an inch. The 70 one i took off the charger was even worse. Thr 70 k member measured 33 1/4 between 2 front k bolts. Thats why i bought a 68 k memeber its 33 3/4 center to center on front bolts. Frame spec says 34 center to center but i cant get either k memeber to 34 . I read somewhere thiers wasnt 34 center either just under. Im going to try and square it all up using just some thick c channel between the first 2 k member bolts . Get the measurements right on height and most importantly the distance between the rear leaf spring front mounting point to the center of the lower control arm so the car is square and will track right

 

[tommygun]

I

not sure about your specific K frame; but if rails were "straightened" back in the day, it could be bent......... if holes don't line up, I'd think a bend would be obvious.........

that being said, when I've done front rail(s); I do one at a time, with K frame still bolted to the other one, using it a kind of a jig........ I bolt the new rail to the "in place" K frame, mate it to the body; if all looks good weld it up........ now it becomes a jig for the other side

Was debating that option but with both my origuonal rails tweaked i figured no sense bolting new rails 1 at a time to the k memeber as if i did it that way the rails would end up just as crooked as they were before just with new frame rails where the old used to sit

 

[Richard Cranium]

Someone's got to be the voice of reason. Doing that kind of work without a jig table is a major problem. My advice; Unless this is a high dollar Hemi car, cut your losses and bail out of this project before you really end up with a mess and an empty bank account.

 

[tommygun]

Someone's got to be the voice of reason. Doing that kind of work without a jig table is a major problem. My advice; Unless this is a high dollar Hemi car, cut your losses and bail out of this project before you really end up with a mess and an empty bank account.

Its a 70 plum crazy charger . Ive repaired worse than this just takes time and patience to get it right. I did 23 panels on my 73 stang 2500hour job did it all myself

 

[eldubb440]

sorry Cranium....... been doin this for 35 years...... what is required is common sense


things only fit one way, if you need to enlarge holes you have a problem...... all the exterior panels will dictate positioning of inner structure

I could put any job I cobbled together on a frame table after the fact, and it would be pretty much "dead on balls accurate" ....... fancy equipment is nice and it looks good, but matters not in the wrong hands; and the right hands get it done either way

many times things do need to be bent, pulled or jacked back into shape

 

[eldubb440]

I

Was debating that option but with both my origuonal rails tweaked i figured no sense bolting new rails 1 at a time to the k memeber as if i did it that way the rails would end up just as crooked as they were before just with new frame rails where the old used to sit

you could also bolt K to both rails and jack the entire thing into place and see where that lands you

 

[Richard Cranium]

sorry Cranium....... been doin this for 35 years...... what is required is common sense


things only fit one way, if you need to enlarge holes you have a problem...... all the exterior panels will dictate positioning of inner structure

I could put any job I cobbled together on a frame table after the fact, and it would be pretty much "dead on balls accurate" ....... fancy equipment is nice and it looks good, but matters not in the wrong hands; and the right hands get it done either way

Frame rails being a couple degrees off starting at the torsion bar mount can translate to quite a bit off at the other end, both left & right and up and down. I'm not doubting your skills, but not everybody has those skills. When I see the remains of a Charger sitting on a portable dolly-jack with everything forward of the firewall is MIA and asking about a K frame being bent, it just makes one wonder. No insult meant toward anyone, I'm just saying.

 

[eldubb440]

Frame rails being a couple degrees off starting at the torsion bar mount can translate to quite a bit off at the other end, both left & right and up and down. I'm not doubting your skills, but not everybody has those skills. When I see the remains of a Charger sitting on a portable dolly-jack with everything forward of the firewall is MIA and asking about a K frame being bent, it just makes one wonder. No insult meant toward anyone, I'm just saying.

I don't trust anyone other than myself to do this stuff, so you do make somewhat of a point......

 

[Richard Cranium]

I don't trust anyone other than myself to do this stuff, so you do make somewhat of a point......

So, what you're saying is that even you don't trust the OP's skill level.

 

[eldubb440]

So, what you're saying is that even you don't trust the OP's skill level.

can't rule it out

 

[tommygun]

Well im still waiting for pass side inner fender. Once i get that ill mock it all up and mount hood and fenders see where im at

 

[tommygun]

If I didnt think i could do it Id knit sweaters or grow a big beard to hide behind, this shits my life nothing beats a challenge. Even better is its a iconic beast. My 70 GTX is next on the list. Makes checking measurements easy with another b body sitting next to the charger. Anyone on here ever do front frame rails on thier own without a frame jig?

 

[eldubb440]

you got this....... I always like to start with at least one known, good part........lol

you have another car right there, If the K frame you are using is questionable, swap it out and be sure

 

[tommygun]

you got this....... I always like to start with at least one known, good part........lol

you have another car right there, If the K frame you are using is questionable, swap it out and be sure

Its complete so be quite a bit of work getting to it but i have a buddy that's got 2 more i can try. But i think i just nees to fine tune my torsion croas memeber mount location on the new rails