Assuming I can fab up engine mounts, is there ANY reason what so ever that I cannot use the 5.0 k-member in my 88 hatch?

I'm gonig to go with kooks swap headers. i've looked at ALOT of pictures and it seems as long as I can come up with motor mounts, the stock kframe shouldnt be an issue(except for oil pan clearance, maybe? I've heard that H2 or H3 pans would remedy that, though...)

Other than that I have literally just about everything else figured out!

 

I used a stock K member and an LQ pan. There will be alot of measuring and I would suggest getting a spare lsx block for mock up. It will make things alot easier on you. The stock k member I would assume would also be a PITA in your case. I am running a turbo so I didnt have to put headers back.. thats the only reason I used it. I have heard of people using a 4.6 K member it puts the wheels a little bit further forward. You may have to modify your steering colum w/ that k member also. Honestly, if I were you I would save up for the AJE because it bolts right in and isnt that expensive. I think it would save you alot of head ache personaly.

 

Hmmm.

Well My issues with the AJE is that they dont appear to be as strong as the Maximum Motorports piece, which is of concern to me as this IS a daily driver that will see potholes, and heavy cornering, without daily chassis inspections...

Thats why the stocker seems a safe bet.

But...I'm willing to listen to anyone that runs the AJE k member on the street...and corners alot..

You might say buy the MM piece....well I'm doing all of this ona shoe string budget...so....ya.

 

There are a few here and there that street there cars an I have not heard anything bad outa them as far as breaking,But mine is not done so I really cant comment. But I am with Slow5.0 if your wanting to run bigger tube headers with the stocker you will prob run into clearance issues.

 

We have a MM tubular K for a 5.0 in my brothers car. With the KOOKS swap headers we had to notch and reinforce a good portion on the K member to get the headers in. I seriously doubt you will be able to make a stock K member work. I do agree with you on the "appearance of weakness" with the AJE k-member, but can not tell you for sure as I have no first hand experience with that part.

 

i have the aje and have only put about 100 miles on it, but i beat the snot out of it and havent had any problems yet. just my 2 cents, but this is mostly a straight line car.

 

my car has 3500 miles with the AJE and no problems.

 

Also close to 3000 miles on my AJE with no issues.

 

i have an aje mild steel piece, but i have yet to get the car on the road, the problem i heard were the guys running the Chromoly k member on the street and the welds at the seems would crack, but i havent heard such a thing on the mild steel k m member

 

We had an issue running an LQ oil pan with a ford tube k Member. The front part of the pan is 3/4" deeper than an F body pan and didnt allow the motor to sit all the way down where it needs to be. The issue was the rack sits higher than the tube and hit the pan. Swapped to an F body pan and no problems since.