many of you requested pictures of this when i got it so here's some pics of the Hawk's LS1 k-member , lightweight does not even begin to describe it . the powdercoat was very nice and this thing can't possibly weigh more than 20-30lbs.the main thing for me here was the fact i did not have to notch the old k-member and it just looks soooo tricky! i'm pretty sure i'm gonna have to buy front lowering springs due to the weight of this and the LS1 so my convertible doesn't look like a 4X4 a mile high in the air! close in design to the 4th gen BMR k-member , i like it.

 

another view, i had to add my LS1/T56 as a background in the first one

 

and one final pic so our beloved moderators don't yell at me(joking guys , JOKING!!!)

 

Very interesting - any idea in the weight difference between that and the stock one?

I was thinking of how much weight you are pulling off the front end - 150lbs for the motor and maybe another 50lbs for the new member and suspension.... sweet

 

Nice, It looks really good

Are you going to be running the tubular a-arms as well?

 

yup , i gotta have the tubular A-arms as well, i heard claims up to 200 lbs. weight reduction , i'm really not sure how it will be. the LS1 is about 100 lbs lighter than a cast iron small block so the car should definitely be a lot lighter.

 

:hail:

reminds me of something i gotta order pretty quick

hope it works with long tubes...

anychance you could bolt it up to the engine and take some pics id really love to see what kinda clearance it adds

 

i'll do that this weekend

 

It's over 100lbs lighter.....

Post those pics of the k-member on the engine, be interested to see if you have clearance for long tube headers after installing that k-member......

How long was the wait, or was it delievered right away?

 

he didn't have it in stock in the red but i stil got it in about 3 weeks from ordering it and this was with me mailing a money order so it was reasonably quick.

 

the LS1 is really that much lighter?

you mean 100lb less compared to an iron block, head, intake, exhaust manifold small block?

I know it has a plastic intake and it is all aluminum, but it has that deep skirted cross bolted bottom end, then those "pushrod box" things in the valley.

a Bowtie aluminum SB (just the block) is only about 80-90 lb lighter than an iron "equivalent," and that's when it isn't an extra-thick heavy duty one.

did you weigh them? both with accessories/whatnot?

 

I haven't weighed mine, but the LS1 is supposed to be MUCH lighter than the Gen I Small Blocks or the LT1s.


I've got the Hawk's K-member as well, although I got it in black. I ordered it right off the website, had it show up about a week and a half later.

We'll be taking the stock k-member out of mine in the next week or two. I'll weigh up that one against the Hawks and report back on the difference.

What are the benefits and drawbacks to using the tubular A-arms on a daily driver?

I'm hoping LTs will work as well - getting a set of PaceSetters, so we'll find out soon.................

 

Hmmm... Yes I am very curious as to if the Long Tubes will have clearance now... but I am also wondering about any strength issues it might had with reducing the strength on the right of the car... Obviously a STB would be needed, but even after that how would it be for strength...

 

I've contacted Bruce on this very issue since i want headers for the car and refuse to put shorties on it.....

I haven't had a chance to speak with him personally due to the fact i'm not back home and been really busy, but once i talk with him, I'll get back to you guys....

It's really hard to find people that are running tubular k-members, yet still use their car as a daily driver......

 

Bruce told me that he has the tubular k-member in his own car, and it's a daily driver. Although I'm not sure how many potholes they have down there?!

One of the guys at Texas-Speed&Performance told me he's got a friend who did a 3rd gen conversion with a tubular k-member made by Spohn, made some Long Tubes fit, and just re-inforced the k-member with a steel plate.

I'm not counting on anything until I actually get the k-member put into the car, though. We'll see what happens.

 

Every time I read about a tubular K-member I hear about how it might hold up.

If I were to get one I'd probably add triangle gussets at all the pipe intersections and be done with it.

 

somehow , i really don't think Hawk's would sell you something that is dangerous for street use and tell you it's ok for that.

 

You do realize all most all performance parts are labeled "Track only" so they don't sued right? I believe the issue of a tubular Kmember and daily driver was discussed in the suspension and chassis board. I believe the outcome is its not a good idea to run it with pot holes as they will eventually bend the A-arms.

 

I don't think they would either. But I don't think they did a 15,000 mile road test either. They, like probably most fabricators, judged the stress and made a pipe a little bigger than necessary to be on the safe side.

I'm not trying to knock anyone's craftmanship here or degrade their credibility, just asking questions and not getting conclusive answers.

When you are fabricating a whole new part, you have the freedom to make a quality design, weld, and pipe, that can be stronger and lighter, vastly superior to the factory compromise.

I can't wait for Spohn's K-member.

 

Me neither, but waiting for it has taken an eternity thus far! I'm beginning to wonder if they have canned the idea. However, last time I spoke to him he said it was just that they had been so busy manufacturing there torque arms etc that they hadn't had enough time to devote to future product development.

Much the same story as the Spohn Strut Tower brace that a lot of people have been waiting for.

I'm sure the products will be fantastic quality if and when they do arrive. And Steve Spohn will no doubt make sure it IS strong enough for daily driver duty despite the obligatory disclaimer of 'for racing use only'.

 

If spohn makes one, i'll definately get it, im impressed by his torque arm and wonder bar.

 

I keep hearing about the worry of breaking the tube K member. Does anyone really know someone that broke one?? I mean seen the damaged part. Not just some horror story.

 

I think V6sixtoy (dean) bent his A Arms. No one that I know of has broken the K-member, but the A-Arms are usually the weakest design flaw.

 

Hey guys,
to help clear this up I run this same Kmember on my 10 second LS third genI drive my car on the street I see both sides of the story,Technically they are for off road use only but I drive mine on the street and have had NO problems. This is what we tell all our customers so it is left totally up to the customer.Keep in mind we also offer motor mount kits and well as modified factory kmemebers that have already been notched if anyone has any questions feel free to call me at the shop.
Thanks,Bruce
www.hawksthirdgenparts.com

 

Nice to know you get on here to provide info Bruce! . That is one thing that will set you apart from the competition.

 

but who would buy a 3rd gen Fbody, intall the tubular K-member to fit an LS-1 engine and then take it off road?? As mentioned previous.. I assuem the "off-road use only" is just a disclaimer. If it was strong enough for "off-road" use, then it should be more than strong enough for daily driving. Most of us avoid a pothole like the plague just because of the stiff suspension natually assocaiated with a performance vehicle.

just my $0.02

 

I always thought " off-road use only" just meant that it wasn't street legal or as you say just a disclaimer.....

 

Well usually when you have an off road or track only vehicle, its only used 2-6 hours at a time maybe once a week at the most. That is where they get it at. But yes, it is mostly a disclaimer to help them as far as warranties and law suits.

 

Hahahahaha
no "off road use only" does not mean "offroading" guy.

 

LOL, that's right. "Offroad" does NOT = a 4X4, it just means for drag strip or race track use.

As to the pot holes, you can avoid 'em all you want, but if you come to some of the northern states, you're gonna run into some sooner or later; Winter, road salt, frost heaves, etc. all mean a bunch of really bad roads all spring and half the summer.