K FRAME UP GRADE

[ckessel]

No clue as to what year it's supposed to be for, got it from a friend who worked at a Mopar shop some years ago. It is on a 70 k-frame though. Did that on purpose, my car is a 65, to move the engine back/have the better idler arm mounting/sway bar through the k. I also prefer the bar in as opposed to being in front of the k. Here is a shot of the front so you can see what I have for clearance to the filter. I thought I covered the k work on my thread, updating the super street mopar, in the members ride area but it looks like it was pretty minimal on pics. Do have way more, just must have brain farted back then. I can throw more pics on here if anybody want them for ideas.

 

[Tony Tee]

No clue as to what year it's supposed to be for, got it from a friend who worked at a Mopar shop some years ago. It is on a 70 k-frame though. Did that on purpose, my car is a 65, to move the engine back/have the better idler arm mounting/sway bar through the k. I also prefer the bar in as opposed to being in front of the k. Here is a shot of the front so you can see what I have for clearance to the filter. I thought I covered the k work on my thread, updating the super street mopar, in the members ride area but it looks like it was pretty minimal on pics. Do have way more, just must have brain farted back then. I can throw more pics on here if anybody want them for ideas.

View attachment 1416030

I like your k-frame mods. I'm. Working on my 70 k frame now. Here are a few gussets added to mine that I believe i found on Dodge Charger .com long ago. that i didnt see on yours. They are just tacked. Will weld it up solid later.

 

[ckessel]

The mods are pretty easy unless you have squat for equipment and supplies. On mine, I probably have almost a solid week into the work that I did. My thought on the welds I added in were like the nailing pattern on a shear wall if you have ever done or know about construction work. I think it's done on aluminum monocoque construction too. Aircraft, old race cars etc.

 

[Cheapsunglasses]

Everything you need here

B Bodies and Road Courses - My Super Bee Setup

 

[1 Wild R/T]

It's an E body not a B... Couldn't find a good video of a B but Hotchkis has B bodies covered too...

 

[JR_Charger]

On FABO there is a utube video of a 4 door B body with factory suspension upgrade beating a BMW3 on Tire Rack test track. Even Tire Rack test driver can't believe how it handles. I think it has Hotchkiss suspension.

I'd like to see that. I've been looking for it, but no luck so far.

 

[ckessel]

The driver of that car, Kevin Wellsley?, was also the driver for the Green Brick.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

I'd like to see that. I've been looking for it, but no luck so far.

Took a little while but here ya go....

 

[Stucat]

whats the opinions on torsion bars? 1.1 or 1.3 bars? Just cruising on nice twisting mountain roads, like hot rod power tour stuff

 

[RemCharger]

whats the opinions on torsion bars? 1.1 or 1.3 bars? Just cruising on nice twisting mountain roads, like hot rod power tour stuff

I think you mean 1.01 or 1.03. Not much difference, get what's available or cheaper

 

[JR_Charger]

If considering the Alter-K-tion, rack and pinion steering is supposed to be superior to ball and trunion. You can't get rack and pinion for the stock k-frame. You may want to get an opinion on whether rack and pinion is worth it or not. I can't tell a huge difference but neither of the vehicles I have available to compare are sports cars. One of them is even a truck.

You might also want to add up the cost of replacing all the front end suspension and steering vs the cost of the Alter-K-tion, which includes that stuff in one package. I didn't do that myself, because I have stumbled my way into a more extensive build than I'd originally intended. If I had to do it all over again, I might have found a couple grand more for the Alter-K-tion.

 

[1 Wild R/T]

If considering the Alter-K-tion, rack and pinion steering is supposed to be superior to ball and trunion. You can't get rack and pinion for the stock k-frame. You may want to get an opinion on whether rack and pinion is worth it or not. I can't tell a huge difference but neither of the vehicles I have available to compare are sports cars. One of them is even a truck.

You might also want to add up the cost of replacing all the front end suspension and steering vs the cost of the Alter-K-tion, which includes that stuff in one package. I didn't do that myself, because I have stumbled my way into a more extensive build than I'd originally intended. If I had to do it all over again, I might have found a couple grand more for the Alter-K-tion.

So you would spend more money to put a Pinto suspension on your car.... Sometimes I wonder about the choices people make...

I've just linked a video where a professional driver took a 4 dr 70 Satellite out on a track he runs regularly in a 3 series BMW and he was able to cut a full second per lap off the times he runs with the BMW... And your first thought is "I think I could go quicker with a Pinto Suspension under my car...."

To Quote Bill Engvall... Here's your sign..

 

[Kern Dog]

If considering the Alter-K-tion, rack and pinion steering is supposed to be superior to ball and trunion. You can't get rack and pinion for the stock k-frame. You may want to get an opinion on whether rack and pinion is worth it or not. I can't tell a huge difference but neither of the vehicles I have available to compare are sports cars. One of them is even a truck.

Actually, the stock steering is not ball and trunnion, it is worm gear and sector. Secondly, there is a bolt in rack and pinion setup but it is horrible. The product is "Unisteer". I don't know if they still produce these units....they had terrible reviews.

 

[Stucat]

Yes I have an alterkation setup in my 70 Cuda convertible, did a few years ago. You have to do metal work in the upper control area, some cutting and fitting as i remember. I have driven my friends B body with a Hocthis setup, with a Borgeson steering box, was impressed for the money spent. That's why I was asking for input.

 

[Stucat]

Any pics on your build? What are you doing?

 

[JR_Charger]

So you would spend more money to put a Pinto suspension on your car.... Sometimes I wonder about the choices people make...

I've just linked a video where a professional driver took a 4 dr 70 Satellite out on a track he runs regularly in a 3 series BMW and he was able to cut a full second per lap off the times he runs with the BMW... And your first thought is "I think I could go quicker with a Pinto Suspension under my car...."

To Quote Bill Engvall... Here's your sign..

I'm not fully read up on the Alter-K-tion, as I never seriously considered it, but AFAIK only the spindles are Mustang II components (from your comment I'm going to assume the Mustang II and Pinto shared parts. I'm not a Ford guy. All I know about the Mustang II and Pinto is that they exist).

That said, Chad Vetter uses the Mustang II suspension and he's fast enough to beat an LS-swapped Porsche 914 at autocross -



I asked him a few questions about his build in the comments. I recall him saying he put the Mustang II suspension on to get rack-and-pinion steering, but I can't find that comment now, so maybe I'm misremembering it.

FWIW, I had not watched the Satellite video when I made my earlier comment, so "I could go faster with a Pinto suspension" was not on my mind. You could ask Chad about it.

 

[JR_Charger]

Actually, the stock steering is not ball and trunnion, it is worm gear and sector. Secondly, there is a bolt in rack and pinion setup but it is horrible. The product is "Unisteer". I don't know if they still produce these units....they had terrible reviews.

I'm sure I was told ball-and-trunion on another forum, but I stand corrected.

 

[Cheapsunglasses]

Wait a minute, all these great suggestions on how to make your k frame better, and now we’re getting rid of a good suspension to put shitty pinto suspension!?

I agree with @1 Wild R/T

 

[JR_Charger]

Took a little while but here ya go....

Thanks, I was imagining the BMW was a 90's 3 or 5 series. It's all the more impressive that it was a 2012 328i. All I know about BMW's, I learned from Hoovie's Garage, but I believe the "i" has more spunk to it than a regular 3. BMW lovers in the comments were butthurt that the Satellite wasn't being compared against an M3, or a modded M3, but an "i" isn't exactly a nothing car. A 4 door Satellite isn't the greatest performance car Chrysler built either. It's seriously impressive that a 70 Satellite was able to beat a 42 year newer BMW. It may have done it more on motor than suspension, but still, the overall package was faster. There may still be room for improvement in the Satellite's suspension too. If the Satellite only has the Hotchkis TVS system, then it still has the factory lower control arms and unbraced factory k member. I don't see torsion bars in the TVS kit either. Is there a full list of the Satellite's suspension and brake mods available?

 

[JR_Charger]

Wait a minute, all these great suggestions on how to make your k frame better, and now we’re getting rid of a good suspension to put shitty pinto suspension!?

I agree with @1 Wild R/T

Have you looked at what Chad Vetter did with his car?

I've seen a lot of "spirited discussion" on the question of reinforced k member vs tubular k member, and torsion bar vs coil over. Maybe one of you reinforced stock suspension guys should find out when Chad's next autocross event is, and be there.

I'm not knocking the reinforced stock suspension, especially for street use. If I had the extra time and was set up to weld, I would have gone the same route (as I originally intended). But I also think Chad knows what he's doing.