Flex in k-frame?

[ChallengerHK]

How much is there. I see Firm Feel offering a service to weld up the seams for $450, which seems kind of steep. It strikes me as something that would yield little improvement. Am I wrong?

[BIGSHCLUNK]

I've heard and read about K frame welding. Dont know if it make much difference on a street only car tho.......... 

[Chryco Psycho]

Anywhere that the seams can be welded will help , also bracing the engine & steering box mount will help as well . I would not pay $450 for it though , I would invest in my own welder at that price !!

[shawge]

I found it was easy to do.  I just copied what FF had on their web site (cleaned w/ a pressure washer, added continuous welds around the k-frame, added welds/braces around the steering box, added welds around the engine mounts, added braces around the LCA holes.)  My car was going from a 318 to a BB stroker so I figured I needed all the structural improvements to account for the additional torque.

[burdar]

For a car that is going to see some higher HP numbers and for someone who is going to really drive their car, yes it is a good idea.  I did NOT do it but I wanted the stock look.  I did have the powdercoater double check all the steering box welds just to make sure they were good.  Those seem to be the most critical. 

For $450 I'm guessing the K-members are hot tanked and completely cleaned first.  I've heard the big problem, once you start welding, is the oil in the seams contaminating your work.  You have to make sure all that junk is cleaned out first.

[dutch]

I didnt weld the frame either. The factory welds actually made me laugh      I figured they would hold up a few more years.  I would recomment using a stick welder though.  The seams are a real pita to clean. Mine was in an industrial degreaser for 3 or 4 days and crap was still coming from the seams     I backed it before powdercoat to get rid of the last bits.
I would weld it flat to the workbench before starting also, better be safe than sorry  ,but that`s just me.... 

[ChallengerHK]

Thanks for the info, guys. Good stuff.

[brads70]

I found it was easy to do.  I just copied what FF had on their web site (cleaned w/ a pressure washer, added continuous welds around the k-frame, added welds/braces around the steering box, added welds around the engine mounts, added braces around the LCA holes.)  My car was going from a 318 to a BB stroker so I figured I needed all the structural improvements to account for the additional torque.

Ditto! I did the same. It was a fun project!

[ChallengerHK]

Anybody have pics of braces they've added? Particularly steering box mount braces, but LCA bracing is interesting as well.

[brads70]

Anybody have pics of braces they've added? Particularly steering box mount braces, but LCA bracing is interesting as well.

I don't have very good pictures of the k-frame but here is some of the LCA? Look at firm feels site for great pictures!

[bandt]

Sorry no pics,
but while my K-frame was out I welded up what I thought could be rewelded or extended. The ones to watch are the power steering box braces. They are a joke. On the other hand they have held up for 40 years so I guess they were good enough. Its true my k-frame was a grunge mess. Heat, degreaser, and a pressure washer worked well.


BTW Brad your drawing of the sway bar brackets for the lower control arms was right on the money!

[brads70]

BTW Brad your drawing of the sway bar brackets for the lower control arms was right on the money!

  good stuff but I didn't make it, found it somewhere ?

[ChallengerHK]

I misunderstood you, Brad. I thought you were saying that you had braced the LCA pivot in the k-frame. My bad. My LCAs are already braced.

[brads70]

I misunderstood you, Brad. I thought you were saying that you had braced the LCA pivot in the k-frame. My bad. My LCAs are already braced.

 

[shawge]

The LCA pivot point and some of the steering box reinforcement can be seen in this pic


I used some large washers from Home Depot for the LCA reinforcement.