Modern K Frame - QA1

[Cazbah362]

I am looking towards the future on my project.  I have a Gen III swap and want to look at lightening the front end more, stiffen it, make more room, as well as possibly adding a modern rack and pinion.  I would like to also do this on a budget.  To date I have done many of the general upgrades, reinforced lowers, new bushings, sway bar, PST bars, etc.  What I am looking at is the QA1 K frame as the next upgrade. 

Questions are, who has used the QA1 setup and what was their experience?  Has anyone used a similar setup with success, if so what was it?  What would you do.  The car is a driver, straight line as well as drift/track. (Drift is a relative term - figure 8's when its fun)

What are your all thoughts and what direction would you go?

Thanks in advance

CP 

[cudabob496]

heard the QA1 frame was good, but there was no weight savings.
others save weight.

[burdar]

Look into the Hemi Denny K-member.  He has had one of his suspension setups at the Mopar Nats for the last few years.  His K-member seems to be popular with the A-body crowd but he makes them for E and B's as well.

[Cazbah362]

Thanks folks, I will look into that.  I am surprised on no weight savings with the QA1 

[Killer_Mopar]

There's weight savings but you'll save about the same by not drinking a bottle of water....

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=112437.msg1103179#msg1103179

I never did a review, but I like it - no more messy oil changes and makes getting to everything far easier. Feels like a stronger piece vs. stock. Not exactly sure how the K itself contributed to the feel of the car as I did the whole front suspension at the same time and know the lowers, uppers, and torsion bars added a lot.

[brads70]

I spent some time talking to this guy at Carlisle. His stuff looked nice/well designed?
http://gerstsuspensions.com/products/front-suspension/

[Cazbah362]

Killer_Mopar, nice write up! and thank you.  So question, if you where to do it again, would you go the same route?  I agree with the openness of the QA1, really that, the stiffness and module abilities/approach may be its selling points.  I really like the others, like the Gerst (thanks Brad), Hemi Denny, and others, but there prices are a bit out of my reality at this time.

One issue I have is I installed a Gen III, getting to the headers and filter are a PITA!!!  So wondering if a QA1 may solve a bit of this problem as well. 

V/r
CP

[70chall440]

CP - I cannot really tell you which one is the best but I can tell you which one isn't; Magnum Force... I assisted with installing one in a Cuda and it was not only a PITA but just not well engineered. Additionally their customer service was horrible. I am sure someone will disagree with me, but that was my experience. I thought a lot about this on my Cuda for all the same reasons you brought up and after talking to a number of racers and performance enthusiasts; I decided to keep the stock stuff, reinforce it and build more HP. NASCAR and all other motor sports have used the stock K frame for many years; good enough for them, good enough for me. Also, I talked to the 2 Mopar Hotchkiss drivers at MATS several years ago and they were running the factory K frame without issue and they beat on those cars (Challenger and Roadrunner) furiously all weekend.

just my 

[brads70]

CP - I cannot really tell you which one is the best but I can tell you which one isn't; Magnum Force... I assisted with installing one in a Cuda and it was not only a PITA but just not well engineered. Additionally their customer service was horrible. I am sure someone will disagree with me, but that was my experience. I thought a lot about this on my Cuda for all the same reasons you brought up and after talking to a number of racers and performance enthusiasts; I decided to keep the stock stuff, reinforce it and build more HP. NASCAR and all other motor sports have used the stock K frame for many years; good enough for them, good enough for me. Also, I talked to the 2 Mopar Hotchkiss drivers at MATS several years ago and they were running the factory K frame without issue and they beat on those cars (Challenger and Roadrunner) furiously all weekend.

just my 

  My car outhandles most other classic cars and a few new ones all with the stock K-Frame.

[GoodysGotaCuda]

My car outhandles more other classic cars and a few new ones all with the stock K-Frame.

This is the conclusion I came to as well. I prodded on what areas the new Ks improved upon other than packaging and a rack.

Bump steer, camber curve, roll center changes, KPI, what did they change and how did the validate it? The responses and the backup behind the design were non-existent.


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[Katfish]

I spent some time talking to this guy at Carlisle. His stuff looked nice/well designed?
http://gerstsuspensions.com/products/front-suspension/

$4500?  Yikes, that's more than my car is worth.......

[Aracer]

Magnum Force Campbell CA, address is in a shop strip, using only 2 garage doors to house some stock. Only one guy at the counter and one on the phone in the back office. I don't see how this can be a major manufacturer. Service is o.k. if you walk in they're polite. I have to go back and see if any thing other than, walls of upper control arms is on display. Parking is in front of other body and repair shops, so don't bring a good vehicle. They don't care. It seems too busy to get any help discussing plans for future purchases. They're WEB marketing, man!

[Cazbah362]

Katfish - I agree, I can't see spending that many hard skinned frog skins just for that, way out of my price point.  70 et-al, thanks for the insight on the install as well as reliability and use.  I agree, I see the factory K as durable, but with the 5.7 swap something is going need modification for "ease of service." Very nice to read everyone's insight.  Goody has a great point, I don't see any of the new K member folks expressing what improvements are made.  Only one I derive is clearance, but I believe I will loose a bit of rigidity gaining that clearance plus my wallet will be $550 lighter -   

[HP2]

QA1 is claiming a double digit increase in rigidity with a very minor weight savings. Since they  designed it to integrate with stock control arms, steering box, t-bars, etc, it does retain stock geometry.

[GoodysGotaCuda]

.  I agree, I see the factory K as durable, but with the 5.7 swap something is going need modification for "ease of service."  -

I have a stock K with a 5.7L. It's not really limiting me and I pulled the heads with the engine in the car last week...


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