tubular k-members

[disturbed67]

mustang people, which brand of tubular k-member do you prefer? im going to buy one for my coupe and am unsure which brand to buy. ive had a d+d motorsports and a pa racing in my other cars. the pa racing was very nice but expensive. the d+d was nowhere near the quailty of the pa racing. just looking for opinions. im leaning towards a pa racing or a teamz. thanks

[IMAGE]

Well if you are leaning towards it already then go with Team Z..

I still have no complaints from all the UPR ones I have seen over the years either..

[blown90]

I have ran the upr one for years and love it its a very nice piece

[RLS Racing!]

Check out www.Racecraft.com ...Mark & co. are great to deal with and make super-nice parts. I run their K-member and A-arms in both 'stangs.

[onlyownfords]

Originally Posted by RLS Racing!

Check out www.Racecraft.com ...Mark & co. are great to deal with and make super-nice parts. I run their K-member and A-arms in both 'stangs.

I am under the assumption that the Racecraft K-member does not require an oil filter relocation kit?

[RLS Racing!]

Originally Posted by onlyownfords

I am under the assumption that the Racecraft K-member does not require an oil filter relocation kit?

I don't know about the terminator cars, but the mach didn't require one (or the '93 for that matter).

I'm doing an oil filter relocation kit with the Aluminator swap though... it'll be a cleaner oil change and the kit allows you to run a full quart filter. Combined with that and the lines, you also benefit from the extra capacity (on top of the extra filtering media).

[Sohcgt96]

Originally Posted by onlyownfords

I am under the assumption that the Racecraft K-member does not require an oil filter relocation kit?

I've never heard of one that did but Terminator's have the alternator mounted near the oil cooler/filter/coolant outlet and that might push it out further.

I've heard Racecraft stuff is top notch, I think that's what Bruce Hemminger runs.

Maximum Motorsports piece is very sturdy but heavier and won't give you the clearance some others probably do... it'll take a beating though.

My Granatelli one is a knock-off of the MM one which I didn't really realize when I bought it. So far no problems but it kind of had some gorilla welds on it.

[onlyownfords]

Originally Posted by RLS Racing!

I don't know about the terminator cars, but the mach didn't require one (or the '93 for that matter).

I'm doing an oil filter relocation kit with the Aluminator swap though... it'll be a cleaner oil change and the kit allows you to run a full quart filter. Combined with that and the lines, you also benefit from the extra capacity (on top of the extra filtering media).

I want to do a tubular k-member, but i am not sure if i want to relocate the oil filter. I know if i run the UPR setup, it is really tight where the oil filter currently is. I figure since i am doing longtubes, i might as well do the k member also and it will take a little more weight off the front end.

[onlyownfords]

Originally Posted by Sohcgt96

I've never heard of one that did but Terminator's have the alternator mounted near the oil cooler/filter/coolant outlet and that might push it out further.

I've heard Racecraft stuff is top notch, I think that's what Bruce Hemminger runs.

Maximum Motorsports piece is very sturdy but heavier and won't give you the clearance some others probably do... it'll take a beating though.

My Granatelli one is a knock-off of the MM one which I didn't really realize when I bought it. So far no problems but it kind of had some gorilla welds on it.

Did you do the tubular a-arms as well Dave?

[disturbed67]

thanks guys now im really unsure.

[Sohcgt96]

Originally Posted by onlyownfords

Did you do the tubular a-arms as well Dave?

And coilovers!

Long story short, JR Granatelli offered a members-only deal on modularfords.com a couple years back on the whole front end package (K-member, A-Arms, Coilover kit) for dealer cost. So I jumped on it, threw some strange 10-Ways and UPR Caster/Camber plates in the mix, and well... that's what I've got. Corners just as well (with the struts cranked and no strut tower brace) without the sway bar now as it did stock and its *awesome* with the swaybar on.

Now my rear suspension... that's still full of 145,000 rubber bushings. That needs dealt with this summer.

[n2ocobra]

Racecraft here as well. I've got a great story about their customer service. When I bought mine 5 years ago, I had major fitment issues, oil filter wouldn't clear, passenger side header was touching the k-member motor mount pad, and there was no way the hood would come close to closing. Called Racecraft, they said at that point they had only sold about 3 total for mod motors, and only 1 for a 4 valve. The owner of Racecraft , Mark Wilkinson, actually drove to my house in Pekin to see where all the problems were, took the k-member back w/ him ( this is when they were still up by Chicago), fixed it, and drove back to my house to return it and verify fitment. Fit like a glove after that. They have a customer for life in me.

He also brought me a couple t-shirts as well. LOL

[onlyownfords]

Originally Posted by Sohcgt96

And coilovers!

Long story short, JR Granatelli offered a members-only deal on modularfords.com a couple years back on the whole front end package (K-member, A-Arms, Coilover kit) for dealer cost. So I jumped on it, threw some strange 10-Ways and UPR Caster/Camber plates in the mix, and well... that's what I've got. Corners just as well (with the struts cranked and no strut tower brace) without the sway bar now as it did stock and its *awesome* with the swaybar on.

Now my rear suspension... that's still full of 145,000 rubber bushings. That needs dealt with this summer.

I want to purchase everything as a kit: k-member, a-arms, most come with the coilovers(Eibachs), but the caster/camber plates are seperate. Do you have a bumpsteer kit too?

[onlyownfords]

Originally Posted by n2ocobra

Racecraft here as well. I've got a great story about their customer service. When I bought mine 5 years ago, I had major fitment issues, oil filter wouldn't clear, passenger side header was touching the k-member motor mount pad, and there was no way the hood would come close to closing. Called Racecraft, they said at that point they had only sold about 3 total for mod motors, and only 1 for a 4 valve. The owner of Racecraft , Mark Wilkinson, actually drove to my house in Pekin to see where all the problems were, took the k-member back w/ him ( this is when they were still up by Chicago), fixed it, and drove back to my house to return it and verify fitment. Fit like a glove after that. They have a customer for life in me.

He also brought me a couple t-shirts as well. LOL

They seem to have a great product. I checked out the link Ryan posted up. I am going to read more into them definitely!!

[disturbed67]

what are you guys running 4130 or mild steel? difference in weight?

[n2ocobra]

Originally Posted by disturbed67

what are you guys running 4130 or mild steel? difference in weight?

4130 here. Been awhile since I had it off but it was around 15-20lbs. or so.

[RLS Racing!]

Originally Posted by n2ocobra

Racecraft here as well. I've got a great story about their customer service. When I bought mine 5 years ago, I had major fitment issues, oil filter wouldn't clear, passenger side header was touching the k-member motor mount pad, and there was no way the hood would come close to closing. Called Racecraft, they said at that point they had only sold about 3 total for mod motors, and only 1 for a 4 valve. The owner of Racecraft , Mark Wilkinson, actually drove to my house in Pekin to see where all the problems were, took the k-member back w/ him ( this is when they were still up by Chicago), fixed it, and drove back to my house to return it and verify fitment. Fit like a glove after that. They have a customer for life in me.

He also brought me a couple t-shirts as well. LOL

That's awesome, man... Mark's a great guy.

[onlyownfords]

Originally Posted by disturbed67

what are you guys running 4130 or mild steel? difference in weight?

The UPR is 4130 also

[RLS Racing!]

Originally Posted by disturbed67

what are you guys running 4130 or mild steel? difference in weight?

both of mine are 4130 ...unsure of difference

Racecraft offers both now, so they could tell you.

[Sohcgt96]

Originally Posted by disturbed67

what are you guys running 4130 or mild steel? difference in weight?

I don't know the exact weight on mine but its mild steel I'm sure. Lighter than stock but I'd bet weighed a good 35 pounds if I had to go based off my "arm scale" from 3 years ago.

Originally Posted by onlyownfords

I want to purchase everything as a kit: k-member, a-arms, most come with the coilovers(Eibachs), but the caster/camber plates are seperate. Do you have a bumpsteer kit too?

I still need a bumpsteer kit, but brand to brand they're all about the same, it won't be an issue of matching, same with the plates too. The bumpsteer kits are all about the same design and the same price, CC plates vary a little but I've never heard of anybody really having trouble with any brand of them.

The front coil-over kits are also mostly generic, same exact parts anodized different colors. Maximum motorsport's and QA1 are about the only ones I've seen that didn't look just like everybody else's unless you get into the really expensive stuff. One difference I have seen though is my setup uses the threaded load plate, then a second threaded "jam nut" basically behind it. The UPR kit I installed for a friend of mine just had the one ring, but then a nylon tipped set screw through it. I kind of like elements of both, mine has a 2nd ring supporting the weight, his has something threaded putting tension on it to keep it from spinning. They never have gone out of adjustment though as far as I can tell on either car.