K-Member - Install - Any guides [Archive]

Nasty93

08-04-2009, 10:13 AM

Getting ready to do my kmember, anyone have a write up on this? id like to save as much time and aggrivation as possible

BLOWNDFIZ

08-04-2009, 10:16 AM

Me too.... K member and lower A-Arms are my next projects.

AChotrod

08-04-2009, 11:52 AM

Lol I picked up a UMI road race k-member lastnight. I need this info too!!!

OutCast

08-04-2009, 12:36 PM

it's not too bad, just be careful of brake lines, wiring harnesses, etc that may be attached. The k-member itself is only held on with three bolts per side. It's been a few years since I did mine but below are the basics.

support the engine from the top with a hoist
disconnect tie rod ends from the knuckles
unbolt or fully remove the lower control arms from the stock engine cradle
disconnect steering rack
put a jack or jack stands under the stock engine cradle
remove motor mount bolts
remove the 3 large bolts on each side that bolt the stock engine cradle to the body/frame.

installing the new k-member is just a reverse of the steps above. Have a bunch of tie straps available to strap wiring back as needed.

Nasty93

08-04-2009, 02:20 PM

I dont have an engine hoist....
so i was thinking, let me know if this will work.
Drop the 2 struts out of the mount, put my STB back in place and bolt it to the body.
Hang 2 ratchet straps from the STB around the 2 middle primary header tubes to support the engine. You think that will work?

OutCast

08-04-2009, 02:46 PM

I can't guarantee that your STB or header primaries can hold the weight of the engine. It's a risk. If I were going to try that I would also put a jack under the tranny as far forward as possible.

I would highly suggest trying to get you're hands on a hoist whether renting or borrowing one.

AChotrod

08-04-2009, 03:20 PM

I would be worried about the heads cracking.

Ninety5PoloZ

08-04-2009, 05:58 PM

I agree that sounds sketchy. You would be better off with a large block of wood and a jack under the oil pan IMHO, but I'm not suggesting that either.

Good luck with the K member installs guys, I may end up with one, but can't decide if I should invest anymore into the LT1 anymore. But aren't the k members them selves the same its just the motor mounts that are different?

AChotrod

08-04-2009, 06:02 PM

Fastbird

08-04-2009, 06:27 PM

Get a lift plate, attach it to the top of the manifold using the fuel rail bolt holes. I know is sounds crazy, but I've removed and installed engine/tranny combo's using just those four bolts and a happpy Hooker.

Ninety5PoloZ

08-04-2009, 11:37 PM

Im keeping mine for a long long time. So I have no probs putting money into my car. I guess Im lucky since the motor is already out of the car!
This is a pic of my k-member
http://www.umiperformance.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=7_137_104&products_id=177

Oh, I'm keeping my car, but don't know how much longer it will be gen II powered. Hopefully I can find a good deal on a 6.0 block and start a new build.

UMI makes some really nice stuff, but are fairly expensive. But you got a killer deal on yours. I'm probably getting a PA racing K member, I have talked to the guys at UMI and PA and PA is where my money will be going if I ever get any of it LOL

Good luck on the installs guys

AChotrod

08-05-2009, 11:24 AM

BLOWNDFIZ

08-05-2009, 01:50 PM

I think spohn(sp?) has some pretty good prices on k-members, check them out. I did get a great deal! I paid the reg k-member price and got the road race plus upper a-arms. Just wish I could afford the lowers right now.

I decided to keep the stock uppers after a few PM's with Larry. That way I felt OK about going ahead and taking advantage of the UMI discount back on the 4th of July Sale on the adjustable lowers.

Next purchase is QA1's on all 4 corners...

Does the spending ever end????

AChotrod

08-05-2009, 02:03 PM

The spending never ends!!!! My uppers were just a bonus with the k-member. I wish they were lowers.

MeanGreen94Z

08-05-2009, 10:04 PM

i would use a lift plate or a ratchet strap around the motor... those 4 bolts held my T56 setup attached to the motor EASILY lol... its sketchy but it takes a LOT of force to pull the bolts out... at 3/4 thread engagement in aluminum, your more likely to break the bolts, the tensil strength on the bolts that size in a grade 8 is rather high compared to the actual weight on them :)

Ninety5PoloZ

08-06-2009, 12:52 AM

I think spohn(sp?) has some pretty good prices on k-members, check them out. I did get a great deal! I paid the reg k-member price and got the road race plus upper a-arms. Just wish I could afford the lowers right now.

If I was to spend the money on a Spohn I would just get the UMI, the spohn is $465 without motor mount plates.

The PA K member looks very similar to the Spohn and is $320 and the LSx and the LTx k members from PA are the same, and the motor mounts are different. Which is great for someone like me planning an LS swap in the future.

I'm still looking, but I don't think you can go wrong with any of them IMHO

AChotrod

08-06-2009, 12:10 PM

I never looked at the PA. Does sound like a good deal though. So the mounts are removable??

OutCast

08-06-2009, 01:36 PM

I have a chromoly PA k-member. 10 years, no problems.

Ninety5PoloZ

08-07-2009, 09:30 AM

I never looked at the PA. Does sound like a good deal though. So the mounts are removable??

As far as I can remember the LS1 Ks and the LT1 Ks are the same and you just bolt on the different motor mounts.

Plus I think the chromoly Ks are around $450 IIRC and they cut 35# with the regular mild steel Ks, so I'm sure the chromoly is a little lighter.

MeanGreen94Z

08-08-2009, 02:12 PM

the LS and LT is NOT the same, the motor mount plates are different. you cant use them without adapter plates if you swap a LS onto a LT... i have a LS1 PA k member, it looks nothing like the LT1's

AChotrod

08-08-2009, 03:17 PM

thats what I thought, I dont think there is a universial K-member

Ninety5PoloZ

08-09-2009, 09:05 PM

the LS and LT is NOT the same, the motor mount plates are different. you cant use them without adapter plates if you swap a LS onto a LT... i have a LS1 PA k member, it looks nothing like the LT1's

The way I understood it is that the LS1 ks and LT1 ks are the samething and you just bolt on whatever motor mounts you needed.

But thanks for clearing it up :D

MeanGreen94Z

08-09-2009, 09:11 PM

the only one that is universal is the one for motor plated cars. the k's have different bolting plates and some have stands that delete the factory motor stands every k is different from vender to vender, i cant see why they couldnt make one with bolting holes for both?

AChotrod

08-10-2009, 12:18 PM

So if your doing just the k-member are you guys leaving the a-arms in the car like Merv did in this link
http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/lt1-lt4-modifications/1161141-k-member-swap.html

MeanGreen94Z

08-11-2009, 04:54 PM

yup no need to take everything out.

AChotrod

08-11-2009, 05:47 PM

Thats got me thinking about just putting my motor back in the same way I took it out. Out the top.....

AChotrod

08-13-2009, 10:52 AM

I put my K-member in last nite. I just left the a-arms in like the link I posted.
Now will I need to get an alignment?

Nasty93

08-13-2009, 06:26 PM

I put my K-member in last nite. I just left the a-arms in like the link I posted.
Now will I need to get an alignment?

You use an engine hoist to hold the engine up?

AChotrod

08-13-2009, 06:41 PM

I use an engine stand in the BR to hold the engine up........motor is out right now.
If it was still in the car I would have used the cherry picker. Took about 2 hrs on jack stands by myself. Easy job.