My car is under construction for a LSx swap. I have decided that I wish to swap the K member to a tubular version. As we know, UMI doesnt offer one currently. Last I had heard from them is there wasnt a demand for our cars and there are no plans to design one. As I already have UMI SFCs, a Panhard, LCAs and Relocation Brackets, I would rather have all aftermarket suspension pieces to remain UMI. They do have Lower A Arms that they just recently upgraded for us. I would like to use those, but AFAIK, the Spohn K member is the only one that will accept the UMI A Arm. And I have heard too much negative on the Spohn K member.

It will be a few months before I decide on which K member to purchase. But maybe in the meantime we can show enough interest that Ryan and his UMI staff will rethink about giving the 3rd gen a K member.

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

I've been bugging him about this for years now, and Ryan always tells me, its "in the works", i'll probably be old and grey before it ever gets finished....

Im happy with my current modified stock k-member, but i've thought about making my own tubular k before.

 

Curious, what do you foresee this aftermarket K member doing for you over a stock one?

 

Clearance and weight loss mainly...

 

Won't argue with you about engine clearance and I'm not going to try and change your mind but I would like to point some things out about weight reduction.

Let's use the spohn k member as an example. Bare bones k for LS is $515 dollars

According to various sources (everyone BUT spohn) the k saves anywhere between 4 and 25 pounds. I will be generous and guess that it's 25 lbs lighter

$515 dollars (before shipping) for 25 pounds works out to 20.6 dollars per pound best case scenario. Lets say you pay 40 dollars for shipping you are up to 22.2 dollars per pound.
Lets say its not really 25 lbs weight saving, in fact several posts document the weight to within 5 pounds and one member weighed the stocker to be 38 lbs and the spohn at 30 lbs.
So lets say its 8 lbs and you pay the full price plus shipping. You are paying 69.3 dollars per pound. Do you think UMI is going to be able to improve upon these numbers by any substantial margin?

There are a lot of things that have a much better dollar to pound ratio than a k member - battery, wheels, hood, seats, crash beam, lexan all make more sense if you want to lose weight. The other thing to consider is that these parts are not really engineered, did they do any fea or testing on them to determine that they are in fact stiffer and stronger than stock?

Just something to consider. 515+ dollars can go a much longer way in building more hp or grip than an 8 lb weight loss.

 

i agree, even a lightweight hood will do more good that a tubular k will, and cost about the same, minus paint of course. The weight savings for the hood is usually 25+ pounds easy, and its weight on the nose and up high, which is a good place to remove it.

however, if the need is for clearance, then its (k-member) the way to go, there is only so much you can do with the factory k to gain clearance.

 

Yeah I like I said, I won't argue the clearance issue but how many people really need it?
You are absolutely right about the hood, in fact its even better than that, I bought my hood used for 250 and it is just shy of 40 lbs lighter than the factory 91 hood with hood blisters that kind of dollar per pound ratio result is not typical though

 

Hardly any at all. But, if you're the kind of person who doesn't like doing the 7 basic steps of Chinese ballet everytime you reach for something that isn't right at hand when you open the hood or crawl under the car, then the tubular k-member is for you.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. I will store them in my bank of many.

However, that was not the purpose of this thread. I guess I was looking for folks that would rather have a tubular K from UMI instead of the other companies that offer them. I know they are out there. I read post from a handful today that stated they wished UMI offered one. If it is possible to get those folks to "sign" this "petition" just like a petition should work. And have Ryan see how many wish to have one from him. He may already know.

If UMI had one already, I would have it. And the suggestion of how I could better spend my money would be a moot point! Just trying to help the rest of the TGO community have another aftermarket option is all.

 

Never had that problem, and I have done several engine swaps, cam swaps, head swaps, exhaust, suspension, you name it. Sounds like you need more experience wrenching.

And Jamie I wasn't suggesting anything as I said in my post. It's your money. Just trying to give other people on the forum something to think about before they blow their hard earned money.

 

I surrender to your superior ego and experience. Apparently 3yrs of wrenching daily and building race cars to pay your way through college isn't experience enough for your standards.

Please, do enlighten all of us as to why your point of view is superior to all others. Furthermore, do tell how you developed such powers of clairvoyance? I've been trying for years to figure out when someone on a forum just doesn't follow, doesn't know whats going on, or is an elitist with a superiority complex.

 

I didn't have any problems installing my Spohn K-member and Spohn A-arms.

Nothing against UMI, I have a few of their parts on my RS too.

 

Thanks bro

 

Please keep the dialogue civil, respectful and on-topic.

JamesC

 

Now that's out of the way... Back to the petition.

 

I would buy one.

 

I would love to see how one would differ from others! To be honest, the stock K-member is fine with me for now but a since a 383 stroker with aluminum heads is in my plans in the near future, I would like to do THAT with a new, lighter, "shinier" k-member that has ALL THE BRACING and fits exactly like the stock one does. Features should include:

-stock k-member and a-arm mounting points
-wheels in the same spot (not further forward or further back)
-stock bracing and maybe even MORE useful bracing somehow since it's supposed to be an upgrade from stock!
-brake line provisions
-Make the lower hoop not THAT low so lowered cars will NOT scrape on the road. It should NOT be lower than stock.
-options to have stock steering box OR Rack and Pinion style mounted onto it as an option from the site when ordering, etc.
-Have a cromemoly option for even more weight reduction


I think if all these things were met then they would have one HELL of a killer product.

 

I am working on a product to fit all of those needs but it wont be till summer time before all testing is done and even then ill offer a certain amount for further testing/reviews

 

i have purchases all of UMI's parts so far, sfc, lca, lcarbs, adj panjhard, and an adj torque arm with trans mount w/ safety loop. i am very pleased with how all the UMI parts are made and now im looking at a k member. i am loving the new a-arms but i would also like your k member, considering i cant mix match your arms with someone elses k member

 

Want to add: While I agree that it's not the best way to lose weight and not entirely worth the expensive price tag, it does remove weight nevertheless, but even though the weight sits low and it's not the ideal place to reduce weight, it's still at the front of the car.

If someone has already performed nearly every weight reduction possible for their car then this is one of those mods that will help if you are at that extreme level. If you still have a steel hood, iron headed engine, all the smog/ac, stamped steel suspension parts, etc etc then this is not worth the money because weight reduction can be had much much cheaper and easier by doing all the other mods before this one.

But if you are like me and have pretty much done everything else and there is nothing much else to do to reduce weight, this would be next on the list (along with aluminum heads on a 383!) Woohoo!

 

I got one of our designers back on this project... so I will keep you updated on how it goes.

Sometimes the larger projects like this get discouraging because of the time it takes and the fact that things don't always work out like the original design or plan or idea ect ect.

So let me see what I can do over the next few weeks!

 

Sounds awesome!

 

Its moving along a lot than I had thought and things are looking great... I should have some pictures of the newest design in 1-2 weeks.

 

do your designers want some of the numbers and Info that I got for doing a Rack setup and keeping the stock throw because that will sell

 

Excited and patiently waiting...

 

Let the designers know my car can be used for a prototype model

 

I will have some rough draft photos hopefully next week. If anyone will be attending this years Fall Carlisle swap meet in Carlisle PA we will have a proto-type there as well.

Thanks!
Ryan

 

do you think you can make a beefed up version to hold a duramax just reading up on the nhdra and I cant fab my own front suspension it has to be a bolt in from a company

or would UMI like to sponser a duramax third gen

 

Unfortunately the K-member at this time will only be available with standard motor mounts and LS1 motor mounts. Sorry I couldn't help.

 

I can work with that looking forward to it and will be starting the swap next month collecting parts and research right now

 

Make sure the K-member has plenty of clearance for the tie rods. My tie rods slighty rub against my Spohn K-member.

 

i am sooooo excited for this mod to be done to my car, when is this prototype going to be shown in pa? id drive there to see it/ buy one !!

 

I am willing to buy one today!!! also dont mind sending my car to be a test dummy!!!

 

Finally, here are a few pictures as promised. Final design will be very similar but please remember this is a proto-type. The final design may contain some more support and some tweaks. Also the motor mounts will have one more hole rather than three as shown.

Price will be around the $500.00 range, close to where everyone else is. Once completed we will be sure to offer an introductory offer or sale.

We have a new Engineer taken over this project, his name is Ramey Womer and you will be seeing him post quite a bit. Ramey is a Mechanical and Industrial Engineer with over 15 years of late model building and racing. He also worked on the Hooters cup team and we are excited to have him aboard.

 

id swear you have been in my garage and seen my drawings lol definitely will be strong I like the double bar center would be the selling point for me with the added rigidity and thats been a problem with the other brands that they are not as strong as the stock but the space saved and as strong as it is I think you will be lead in the market

cant wait to see a package deal with the a arms and are you going to offer without spring perches

very nice

 

Sweet!!

 

Estimated Time of Arrival to the market?

 

thats a different approach, im liking it so far.

 

Looks beefy. Are there provisions to mount the triangle support braces?

 

Very nice! Looks well thought out. I like the double bar center hoop.

 

Our goal is to have it on the market before Thanksgiving, we will see if we can do it.

There is provisions for the factory triangulated mounts as well.

I will keep everyone updated!

 

Very interesting

 

Looks great, been waiting a long time for this. When I get back from Afghanistan in December, I was planning on purchasing a K-member to make a little more room for my turbo plumbing, and if it's ready, I think you'll be the ones getting the call. I know i'll be running stock-type springs, hopefully those spring perches will be up to the task on the auto-x, that's my only concern. But i'm no engineer.

 

Hello Everyone,

I figured I would update this thread with the latest information regarding the release of the long anticipated UMI K-member

Below is a link that has the full details about shipping, options and pricing. They are currently 15% off and $9.99 shipping but also all thirdgen.org customers receive another 5% off the sale price. (see link below)

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/susp...eneration.html

If you have any questions please post in the above link so we can keep the questions and answers in one thread for everyone.

Thanks again!
Ryan

 

Thanks for your hard work! Looks awesome!