Z-Rated

I am thinking about getting a k-member, so how hard is it to install? Im guessing it is very involved. does anyone have some pics of install how toos or something like that? If you had one of these could you get costom headers to work with it and gain some power?

DONAIMIAN

iTrader: (18)

I dont know how to install it, but if you need any help with it ill be there.

Larry

iTrader: (4)

I intalled mine myself and it is fairly easy. Just be sure you buy the right brand. The PA has some definite problems. I have been waiting on a replacement passenger side a arm for weeks now. It came too short. Customer service is poor! There are other fitment issues with it too. The rod ends they send make mega noise. It is definitely not a streetable K member.

felton316

If you have an engine hoist, its a matter of just unbolting everything from underneath the engine. I was able to get mine done in a Saturday. I see that your in Friendswood too, so if you need to borrow an engine hoist, just give me a pm.

Z-Rated

Donaimian- thanks man, but you live so far away.

Larry- what is PA? im guessing that its a brand....

Felton- what brand is yours? what did you hold the engine up by?

Im lookin at a BMR one. Ill wait and do the a-arms later.

felton316

I have the BMR K-member. I bolted a chain to the front of each head. One where the EGR use to go, the other through one of the power steering bolts. Then I ran the chain through the engine hoist.

Larry

iTrader: (4)

Drew,

A PA is a Performance Automotive. Really a poor quality K member and A arms.

Ron@Vengeance

iTrader: (51)

my PA fits PERFECT. I did use stock A arms, after doing a weight comparison, the 400 bucks wasnt worth the 4lbs saved. Aside from that I love it. I can get to anything under the motor now and it works great with my Madman solid mounts

Larry

iTrader: (4)

By using the factory A arms you saved yourself a lot of grief. That is where the real problems exist. The only problem I had with the K member is the motor mount bolts wouldn't align on the drivers side. Would have been nice had they supplied the required bolts and motor mount nuts for mounting too. Or at least told me what length bolt to buy and nut size so I wouldn't have had to spend time figuring it out. There were no instructions.

Ron@Vengeance

iTrader: (51)

Gotta agree with ya on that one Larry, I wasnt paying much attention when bolting it up until I realized I had the bolts threaded all the way in and the K member was still 2 inches low. Replacement bolts and a short write up would make it alot nicer.

2001CamaroGuy

iTrader: (6)

its not all that hard.

- jack the front of the car up and put it on jack stands (as high as they would go)

- put a floor jack under the oil pan and pull the motor mount bolts

- lift the motor off the mounts some (just so everything is clear)

- place another jack under the factory K-member (this thing is HEAVY!!!) and unbolt

- let the jack lower the K-member SLOWLY!!!!!

- you can then install the BMR K-member by hand (its really light) and tighten the bolts down

- let the motor sit back down on the mounts and install everything else


it took me a day to do my install. The hardest part is getting the alighnment close enought that you can drive the car to a shop without burning the tires up.

Shane

Man, we had more steps than 2001CamaroGuy listed when we did mine:
- remove the steering rack & sway bar
- support the front suspension
- remove the starter
- fight to get motor mount bolt out around AC component
- loosen the alternator

then later,
- try to bypass problems with AC component by installing motor mount bolt from rear...remove dipstick for this to work...
- fight to get steering rack in new kmember..
- fight to get stock a-arms to fit in new kmember...

Still, it was a one-day job...just not fun... I'm dreading the day the guys that helped me call in that favor...

good luck,
Shane

2001CamaroGuy

iTrader: (6)

I was giving the basics of the actual K-member

I didn't try to fight with the AC and Alt, I just removed them from the start.

I also installed my motor mount bolt in from the rear (makes future mods easier).

Finally, I didn't have that much trouble with my rack or a-arms. They went right in (the a-arms have rod ends so that helped a little).


In no way would I call installing a K-member fun......even if it goes easy like mine did its boring (heads/cam/FI/etc....these things are fun....).

Shane

Cool...

Z-Rated

Wow thanks guys. The info is greatly appreciated