aftermarket k-member

[runamuk86]

i just installed an aftermarket k member in my '84 svo. now the control arms sit out 1" too far. does anyone know if the 94'-and new arms are a little shorter? i would like to do the front cobra brake upgrade any way. any help???????

[CP86SVO]

The SN95 arms (1994 and newer) are roughly the same length as the stock SVO arms, so going to those arms will make little to no difference.

You'll need to go to the Fox body front control arms (pre 1993) to bring the front track back to normal. The Cobra front brakes will work on a Fox body front control arm, but you'll have to make a spacer to go underneath the ball joint nut. You could also replace the Fox front ball joint with a SN95 ball joint, so you won't need the spacer under the nut.

HTH

WS

[SVO4PWR2]

what brand K-Member did ya buy -RICH-

[runamuk86]

one from p.a. racing. i got the one with the removable center section so you can drop the oil pan with the engine in the car. only thing they didn't tell me was that it only works with a manual rack. so i now have a manual steering rack as well. i guess you can get it without the removable section and keep the power steering but i already had it mounted in the car and it's a bugger to put in. i did have to go to coilovers to keep the ride height-something to do with the way the svo crossmember sits in their originally in relation to the stock a-arms.

[SVO4PWR2]

Good to know...i was thinking of a new k-frame, now i know to stay away from the removable center ones. How is the car with a man. rack? What do you do with your SVO? street, drag, road race? What strut do you have, and spindel? -RICH-

[runamuk86]

it's okay with the manual steering. it's the flaming river kit with the good steering joint and all. I auto cross for the most part. i am using monroe formula g.p.'s until i can buy some new koni's(probably yellows if they make them for the svo.) stock spindles for now, but i am upgrading to sn-95 spindels so i can do the cobra front brakes. I just need to figure out the correct a arm length first.

[svobud]

Originally posted by runamuk86
i am using monroe formula g.p.'s until i can buy some new koni's(probably yellows if they make them for the svo.) stock spindles for now, but i am upgrading to sn-95 spindels so i can do the cobra front brakes.

They don't make 'bolt on' yellows for SVOs. You can have some Reds 'revalved' to yellow specs, but I would just hold off on new struts/shocks until you do the SN95 stuff. Make life easier on yourself.

[runamuk86]

thanks for the info-by the way i have the original koni's that someone changed over to a replaceable cartridge. any one know where i can get new cartridges. The ones i have died. thanks.

[svobud]

http://www.koni.com/

[SVOtaxi]

aftermarket K-member, my 2 cents

I put a QA1 front K-member in my '86, after noticing the same thing (control amrs out 1"), I called QA1 and they said "Yup, that's the way it is". I ended up with the '94-up control arms and rolled the fender lip for tire clearance.

If you decide not to find shorter control arms, I would like to share with you a couple of my other experiences with the aftermarket K-member:

1. the SVO stock inner tie rods are about 1.5 inches shorter than the '94-up units. You may not have sufficient thread engagement after you align the car. As an added bonus, the '94-up inner tie rods are NOT compatible (thread wise) with the SVOs, so you will be stuck buying '94-up outers.

2. with the aftermarket crossmember, you are widening the suspension by 2" total, however, you are not widening the body of the car (namely the shock towers). This creates a major negative camber situation. I am using Granatelli caster/camber plates, and even sliding them as far positive as they will go, I am still over 1 degree negative, which isn't bad, but just so you know.

My 2 cents (more like my 20 cents).