I need some help from you guys running tubular K-members. I am really concerned about strength since I will be running on the street from time to time. I have been focused on PA-Racing's K since they have the manual rack option as well as the road race option which would help on the street but I am unsure of there reputation and the quality of there work. Spohn seems to have a better rep but they offer no manual steering options... other than an S-10 box with 5 turns lock to lock...Yuck (I like there A-Arms better though). The BMR offers manual rack options but no moly steel or RR options and there rep seems to be marginal at best. The design of there K bothers me for some reason as well compaired to others. I have spent way to may hours on this computer trying to research all of these companies so I figured I would use my best resource (you) and just ask. What if any issues have you personaly had with any of these companies, and does PA-Racing have a decent rep for quality? (I really couldn't find much info on them)

 

I remember reading something about PA's k-member, or maybe the a-arms. Might want to do a search on them.

 

IMHO, Manual Rack and Street strength are mutually exclusive, you want one or the other, but not both.

FWIW, I just put in a full CM spohn Kmem and Aarms and had little problems. It's rugged for the street and RoadCourse/AX and only saved 35pounds even being all CM.

If you're putting in a manual rack and doing more racing than street driving, then go the PA/BMR route and just drive gingerly on the street.

 

UMI is working on one at the moment. Im definately waiting for it, already bought their a-arms. BMR pissed me off with their "Black Hammertone/Silver Vein" paint. I want it black damn you!

 

It will be mostly a drag car and I dont have any problems with a manual rack on the street or anywhere for that matter. I am just concerned about the strength of it all when I do run on the street. I still WILL drive it on the street from time to time. LS Aluminum block and heads as well as no A/C and gutted accessories, manual brakes, spohn coilovers, & Willwood drag brake kit should make it lighter and help the K live longer. Just need to verify the quality of the different companies out there so I can make a good decision and not have to do this two or three times to find the right one.
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I feel you! Their hammertone (whatever that is) looks like crap! UMI huh! They have been around for quite some time... Are they jumping in on the 3rd gen bandwagon now?

 

im still driving on my PA racing setup.

they dont make high quality stuff.. but overall, i dont expect it to break. mine has around 26,000 street miles on it.. no cracks.. ( i bought mine un-powdercoated, so i could keep a closer eye on it...)




but dont expect your motor mount bolts to line up either. LOL.

 

These two comments scare the hell out of me!

 

yea.. but you missed the other one..


26,000 miles on it, on the street.. and im about to take it to mcdonalds for lunch.. lol.

 

What did you do to get your mounts lined up? I don't want to be putting in and pulling the engine 2 or 3 times. Do you have there A-Arms? If so, Do you like them?

 

i use a rather large prybar and "tweak" them into place.. the upside to this, is it ends up being VERY rigidly mounted. lol.

you shouldnt have to.. but getting everything setup the first time is a pain.. because you donno whats straight and whats not.. you have to check the clamshells on the block, the mounts, and the pedestals coming up on each side, in relation to the rest of the car, and decide what needs to move where.
but once you know, you can do it easily.


yes. and you need them (or other tubular ones) to run this Kmember.

no. not really.

 

Thanks, that is what I thought... their A-Arms leave a lot to be desired in design. I just got through looking at the UMI website and I looked at their RR version of their K member for the 98' & up camaros. Holy hell that thing looks great... here>>> http://www.umiperformance.com/images/2321a.jpg <<< nice peice! I am going to contact them on a timeframe for their K as it was mentioned above that it was going to be made. I'll see what type of info I get from them.

 

I just ordered a bunch of parts from UMI this morning, Ryan told me they are working at the moment on a versatile K for 82-92. Probably with bb, sbc and lsx compatibility. UMI makes some of the nicest suspension piece available on the market, and they even back them up with a lifetime warranty. Ryan is an excellent and trustable person to deal with.

 

UMI is the best, and Ryan is a great guy to work with. All my suspension is from them.

 

Yea, I called earlier and Ryan was busy, but he called me back and we talked for a few minutes about it. He said the K-member would most likely be out in the spring. I think I may have just found the K that I want, but I don't want this to stall my progress. I may just get another K-member until then and just swap them out when the UMI piece is made.