K member stiffening

[Cranky]

I went the opposite way with mine....started by cutting off the pinch well flange and solid welding the K.....32 lbs now.

Hi all, what’s the best way to stiffen these k members up? Man mine on my 69 charger been through hell had to weld it up where it bolts to frame and motor mounts bolt loose.welded holes etc I’m thinking to weld it all up to make it stronger the factory welds looks like a beginner welded them. What do you think mopar group?
Tony

Later on here, I added in reinforcement pieces around the steering box mount. Also finally had the chance to trim off the excess material from the engine mount brackets. Partially just because and the other to gain more clearance for the oil line from the pump to the pan. Milodon external pickup road race pan. So, have your pick of ideas. There is plenty to do and is all up to you on how far you go, or how much time you spend.

View attachment 1834907

View attachment 1834908

View attachment 1834909

View attachment 1834910

View attachment 1834911

View attachment 1834912

View attachment 1834913

Did you weigh it once you were done with the reinforcement or did you not want to know how much it was once it was done?

 

[B-Body 70]

QA-1

What is everyone’s views on the QA1 suspension?

 

[ckessel]

No, didn't weigh it.
On the QA1 and others, I'm watching for long term daily driving, especially on rough roads, to see how their stuff holds up compared to oe.

 

[Kern Dog]

I went the opposite way with mine......32 lbs now
Did you weigh it once you were done with the reinforcement or did you not want to know how much it was once it was done?

That looks like 44 lbs for me.

 

[B-Body 70]

No, didn't weigh it.
On the QA1 and others, I'm watching for long term daily driving, especially on rough roads, to see how their stuff holds up compared to oe.

I watched a you tube on comparison QA1 is way stronger and can lower body quit abit but it looks stiff as hell claiming oe is like riding on a couch. LOL

 

[Timmayy]

How should this one be stiffened up?View attachment 1835051

Did you dig that one off the Titanic?

 

[ckessel]

Just for general info, when QA1 first hit the market some years ago, I stopped by their booth when I attended the SEMA show. I asked the rep a basic Mopar question that affects many including me. The question: how well does the unit do when you put a floor jack under it to raise the car? Answer: as long as you bridge both tubes, you should be ok.
"Should be ok" is a deal breaker for me. Putting a floor jack under the K is the usual jacking point for me and many others.

 

[Kern Dog]

I have the QA 1 upper control arms and front sway bar. They seem like quality pieces.

 

[matthon]

3 years ago on my a-body, among other mods to the k-frame, I cut access holes in it and welded the rear of the LCA 'tubes' to the K.
It just hangs inside there, with only the outer k-frame for support.
At that time, none of the reinforcement kits address this.

QA1 suspension on 3 cars for a number of years, all with the stock k-frame, no complaints.
My a-body had a fully rebuilt factory suspension and a factory sway bar, swapped to QA1 stuff with no sway bar and it handled better, and drove as straight as an arrow.
Have since added an aftermarket swaybar and rebuilt the steering column and it is a pleasure to drive.

 

[eldubb440]

Plus a skid plate. From the factory, the K had around 40 or so plug welds. I added in over 120. Used a Blair Rotabroach[ hole cutter] set to cut through one layer with the exception of the Idler Arm mount. Two layers there with different sizes. Cut pockets below the lower control arm shaft sleeve so I could get both ends of it welded as much as possible. On the control arm side of the sleeve and the nut side, added structural steel washers to give more contact area and welded them all up. Where the strut rod goes, I boxed that in on the sides and top. Top you can see where I plug welded to the boxing pieces. Nut side you can see where I added plug welds to the oe reinforcement plate. At the ears where the K bolts to the front rails, punched holes there too to plug weld the two layers together. Skid plate is self explanatory. I had that K tanked twice and there was still grunge in the seams which would boil out when welding. Thats when I got the torch out. Burned the rest out so I could finish.

View attachment 1834902

View attachment 1834903

View attachment 1834904

View attachment 1834905

View attachment 1834906

you are officially the FBBO "Stiffmeister"

 

[Cranky]

View attachment 1835104

That looks like 44 lbs for me.

Is that the one you modified? IIRC, mine was around 43-44 lbs before I started. I also did some trimming in other areas and opened up the openings even more. I've always been hard on my cars even to the point of getting most of them in the air and bottoming the K on the pavement. Bent the front of the pinch weld flange on one car but didn't look like there was any other damage after that. It still drove straight and true so I kept on driving it.

 

[B-Body 70]

Is that the one you modified? IIRC, mine was around 43-44 lbs before I started. I also did some trimming in other areas and opened up the openings even more. I've always been hard on my cars even to the point of getting most of them in the air and bottoming the K on the pavement. Bent the front of the pinch weld flange on one car but didn't look like there was any other damage after that. It still drove straight and true so I kept on driving it.

LOL!!

 

[6872n73]

I went the opposite way with mine....started by cutting off the pinch well flange and solid welding the K.....32 lbs now.

Do you have any pics of this Cranky?

 

[Cranky]

Do you have any pics of this Cranky?

Not on this computer....should be some on my old one. I would take some pics of it but the car is being used as a storage shelf at the moment.

 

[SeabeckRedneck]

I also went through Firm Feel for the K member gusset kit, skid plate and LCA stiffening plates. The LCA's were worn and a little sloppy, but after cutting them loose and welding back together with the stiffening plates, much better. The K-member kit was a fun little puzzle with all the little pieces and support washers. I bead blasted the K-member and set up to start welding. I didn't rota-broach the edge, although that is a good idea, but I did stitch weld around the edges. Then I had the whole unit powder coated. I turned out alright. Now it sits in the car awaiting it's power plant.

 

[B-Body 70]

I also went through Firm Feel for the K member gusset kit, skid plate and LCA stiffening plates. The LCA's were worn and a little sloppy, but after cutting them loose and welding back together with the stiffening plates, much better. The K-member kit was a fun little puzzle with all the little pieces and support washers. I bead blasted the K-member and set up to start welding. I didn't rota-broach the edge, although that is a good idea, but I did stitch weld around the edges. Then I had the whole unit powder coated. I turned out alright. Now it sits in the car awaiting it's power plant.

I’m getting ready to melt all the under coating off as we speak already did some welding yeah getting it cleaned up before what a bitch too dirty will get powdered when I’m done but this is a fun job if you like metal work as I do.
Thanks!!

 

[67RTblue]

For what most of us do with these cars is it really worth it? I mean the engineers were pretty good back then. Most k members lasted 60yrs without cracking. If your right there and have a welder have at it. Won’t hurt anything.