K-member question

[Troy]

Ok, I tried to do my research but I'm still a bit unclear. I am toying with the idea of dropping a 383 into my 73 Barracuda. The Barracuda is a 318 A/C auto with no sway bars... and it's gutless. I have a "spare" 68 383 HP that I have very little money in and ran really good when pulled (as far as I know). It only needs accessory brackets, cam, and an intake/carb to be ready to go. I also have a "spare" 440 (or two) in pieces but they will cost more than what I want to spend on this little project. I don't own any other small blocks either. So, the 383 is the best solution at this price point. I have read that the k-members are "the same for all V-8 engined cars" so the only thing I need to change for it to fit are the motor mounts and transmission. I have a 68 Charger parts car with a 383 HP (seized) and 727. My Chargers all have a sway bar. Can I use the motor mounts and K-member from my 68 Charger on a 73 Barracuda to get a big block and sway bar all in one swap? I found a listing for 1970 E-body cars that shows the same motor mount part numbers as the Charger but the K-member can't exactly be "the same" if one has sway bar mounts and the other doesn't. Will I need lower control arms or anything else to make the sway bar work or should I just skip it for now and purchase an after market bar later?

Troy

[Moparal]

K frame will work that's in your car, control arms and every thing, sway bar won't, the charger engine mounts will, if you have a 904/318 you need a different shaft too. The swap is easy, even the oil pan will work. Ask as you go and everyone here can help you with easy tips.

[Chryco Psycho]

you could swap the whole Charger K frame in with the lower control arms & sway bar but the disc brakes get tough to fit that way
 the prefered way would be to weld the tabs you need for the sway bar onto the lower control arms& swap ion the big block on your existing K frame , the extra brakets for the sway bar just bolt onto the K member

[Troy]

Hmmm, the brakes aren't exactly "stock" but they require the e-body spindles. If I have to swap out the entire front suspension to use parts that I already have then it sounds like it would be easier to just swap the motor and add an after market sway bar. Do all k-members have the mounting holes for the sway bar? If so, then I'm not about to disassemble the entire front of two cars to use a different one - this is a low buck/low time project for me since I'll have 4 cars apart and the Barracuda is currently the only one I can drive. I suppose the front end could stand a rebuild though.

Troy

[Chryco Psycho]

yes all K frames have the mount holes for the later sway bars

[Bullitt-]

might want to use the big block torsion bars as well

[Troy]

As for the rest of the swap, I already plan on a 727 trans (have a spare), torsion bars to go with the front sway bar, rear sway bar, big block radiator, shorter drive shaft, engine wiring harness, and some better shocks. I may be missing a few engine brackets though. My car originally had A/C (non-working at this moment) so that would be handy to add back on if I can find all the bracketry or after market stuff. I can wait until later for that.

Any idea if I have to weld tabs onto the lower control arms for an after market sway bar? Has anyone done this upgrade and have any advice?

Troy

[Chryco Psycho]

more than likely you wil have to weld the tabs on , it has to hook to the control arm somehow

[Troy]

I figured out that most aftermarket sway bars include bolt-on tabs. I may buy an entire Cuda front suspension this weekend but an aftermarket bar is only $150 and a LOT less work to install. I'm not concerned with originality too much. If I get a good enough deal on the front end though I can just swap LCAs and add the factory bar. I could also use the spindles for a disc brake conversion on my Charger so it could end up as a better deal.

Troy