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Topic: Tubular K-member preference?? (Read 1799 times) previous topic - next topic

Tubular K-member preference??

In a week or two I should have the engine bay entirely prepped for the new motor.  But while I'm still working I'd like to research the possibility of installing an aftermarket tubular k-member.  UPR and QA1 seem to be prominent.  What are folks using??
1988 T-Bird Sport Coupe--5.0 HO, MAF swap, 1-5/8" shorties, BBK/Flowmaster exhaust, Explorer intake, 70mm Edelbrock TB, T5, B&M short throw, Centerforce clutch and PP, disc brake TC rear w/ 3.55's, TC front brakes, '98 Cobra springs, DIY SFC's, other misc .  14.05 @ 98mph with launching too low and shifting too high.

Tubular K-member preference??

Reply #1
What's your intended use for the car??


86' T/C 4.6L DOHC
16' Chebby Cruze 1.4L Turbo
17’ Peterbilt 389 600hp 1850ftlb Trq 18spd

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“Heavy Metal Mistress”
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Tubular K-member preference??

Reply #2
Touring, occassional drag strip and windy roads.......little bit of everything I guess you could say.
1988 T-Bird Sport Coupe--5.0 HO, MAF swap, 1-5/8" shorties, BBK/Flowmaster exhaust, Explorer intake, 70mm Edelbrock TB, T5, B&M short throw, Centerforce clutch and PP, disc brake TC rear w/ 3.55's, TC front brakes, '98 Cobra springs, DIY SFC's, other misc .  14.05 @ 98mph with launching too low and shifting too high.

Tubular K-member preference??

Reply #3
I don't have an aftermarket k-member yet, but what I've heard and read is that one doesn't really want to use either the QA1s or the UPRs for anything more than strip use and a some street use as they're not designed for windy roads. Touring...... non-spirited maybe. But I'm sure someone with one of those will correct me if I'm wrong.


86' T/C 4.6L DOHC
16' Chebby Cruze 1.4L Turbo
17’ Peterbilt 389 600hp 1850ftlb Trq 18spd

[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

“Heavy Metal Mistress”
[/COLOR][/SIZE]

Tubular K-member preference??

Reply #4
Good to know....we have tons of winding roads in PA!  Maybe I'll just stay stock and plate the lower a-arms to stiffen them.
1988 T-Bird Sport Coupe--5.0 HO, MAF swap, 1-5/8" shorties, BBK/Flowmaster exhaust, Explorer intake, 70mm Edelbrock TB, T5, B&M short throw, Centerforce clutch and PP, disc brake TC rear w/ 3.55's, TC front brakes, '98 Cobra springs, DIY SFC's, other misc .  14.05 @ 98mph with launching too low and shifting too high.

Tubular K-member preference??

Reply #5
For what you're thinking about, stock k-member is more than sufficient.  If I were planning to use my car for very spirited windy roads, I would go with a Maximum Motorsports unit.  But there is Griggs racing and others also.

Tubular K-member preference??

Reply #6
I have the Griggs unit on my 83 T-Bird and its a nice unit.  I also have the Maximum Motorsports unit on my 93 Coupe and its heavier.  If you are going to predominantly drive the car on the street I would go with the MM unit.

Also, both of these tubular units will require tubular lower control arms and coil overs.  See here:

http://www.maximummotorsports.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=514_2_76&products_id=206

http://www.griggsracing.com/index.php?cPath=4332_4312_4359_2015_3245&osCsid=b90c68947f5ffdc6893f769171a5b2d2

Griggs does make Thunderbird specific parts so calling them would be your best bet.

Darren

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

Tubular K-member preference??

Reply #7
i have a QA1 in my capri and blue TC.. i wouldn't say it's not suitable for touring, but it's not really the greatest in the bird.. it's great in the capri, i guess because of the weight difference and shorter wheel base.. never drove either with the stock k-member, so i can't really compare them to stock
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R.I.P. 'Zump' 8/29/86 - 11/11/11
3- 87 TC's / 1 really mean 83 Capri RS / 94 Sonoma SAS Project on 37x12.50 TSL Radials / 88 S10 that's LITERALLY cut to pieces / 84 F150 SAS, 351M, 39.5 TSL's / 85 Toyota regular cab, 22R 5spd, 3/4" drop, my little junkyard save/daily driver