i have a 4th gen k member laying around... can i put it in my third gen camaro? why and why not?

thanks guys

 

It would take quite a bit of fab work. The nice thing about going to the 4th gen setup would be you can go to coil over shock setup instead of running the old coil spring setup the 3rd gens had. the K-members are a bit different but if you could make it work, that would be pretty cool. You would be able to run the rack and pinion steering as well.

 

Yeah, id like to go coil over instead of that weird spring setup on these cars... not to mention the rack and pinion... i KNOW id have to put new holes ontop where the shock and coilover would mount, and id have to cut where the stock spring sits...

Id just like to see if anyone has done this.

 

UGH - maybe it's just ME, but the work involved seems like it'd be a LOT more than would be justified for the result you'd get! You'd need to pay attention to where the wheels would end up (could look funny if they're a couple inches too far fwd/back), the reinforcement of the strut mount (& ensuring that the struts still retain an acceptable mounting angle/range of motion), & mount it to the car in a safe & secure manner. And by the time you got all of that done, you'd more than likely have to fab up new headers!

Just doesn't seem like a good use of time/effort to me...

 

quite a bit of work is an understatement.
you can buy coilover kits for 3rd gens. rack setups are out there as well.
if this isnt a full on race car, i dont see it being worth anything to modify a bunch of parts and find out they dont mingle.

sell the 4th gen one and guy you a 3rd gen unit, IMO.

 

been there and contemplated it. i have the stock kmember from my 00 formula. the mounting holes to the frame are 1.5" wider on the 4th gen. it'll take a pretty fair amount of fab work to get it to work. also, the mounting flange on the 4th gen is level. the 3rd gen angled upward. have to use a spacer to level it out.

 

THATS the answer i was lookin for. thanks man

 

How did I miss all these new threads? haha.

I played around with the 4th gen parts when I did my first car too. Just not in the cards. After looking at it, it would almost be easier to swap front ends from the firewall forward. haha. Like Fatal88 did. Atleast the suspension geometry would be good to go.

J.

 

what did he do? chop the frame?!?!

 

Yeah. He basically cut everything from the firewall forward off of the thirdgen and fourth gen, then welded the fourth gen back on to the thirdgen body. Was still able to hang all the stock thirdgen body panels, then all the LS1 stuff was a direct swap. Pretty sure he used the dash and all too. It went through several changes...each one was an awesome set up. Search his name you'll find some pics.

J.

 

pretty sure he is a she....
badass car, btw.
ive seen it in person on a couple occasions and its a super fine ride.

ive got a few pics if you need them. email me.
1slosbc@***.net

 

? post some up. Getting ready for LT1 swap. Was thinking of laying a 4th gen kmember under my thirdgen myself to see if it fits hell its out anyways. worth a shot.

 

Haha trust us...its not worth the effor to push it under. Just not in the cards.

As for fatal88...I definately remember the wife posting...but the husband doing the work. I believe his name was Tim? But Im not positive. I do remember his wife giving updates quite often. Ill try to find one of the articles or threads.

J.





Old dash.


And the main attraction.




You wanna put a 4th gen k-member/suspension under your 3rd gen? Here's your inpiration. There are more pics floating around of the in progress work. I think he kept the thirdgen fender supports, modded the firewall, and welded everything else from the 4th gen in...I think even the subframes, because he's using 4th gen headers. Also the only way to make 4th gen headers fit.

 

And Fatal88 was a perfectly good show car, when he cut it in half and put the 4th gen sub nose on.....I just wish he had kept the underhood flames.

 

its 4th gen all the way past the front subframe.
ive seen the car in person at a couple shows.
its a sweet piece.
lots of labor in that one.