Ok,replacing the '05-07 mustang'sK-member can significantly reduce front weight. My question is, is this set-up for drag racing application only or also safe for street application. As you can see, I'm serious about this question, so please give me a serious answer. No BS here, please. Thank you in advance.

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I know lots of people who have tubular k members on thier cars, (stangs, f-bodies, g-bodies etc). Most are not daily drivers (weekend cruisers, street strip cars). However I don't see why it would be a problem. I would call the company and see what they reccomend.

 

Thank you for the advise, JD

 

They are only safe on the street if you do not get into a front end accident...where i live, your insurance is null and void if you get into and accidnet with these and get hurt....has to be inspected and passed by DOT. The factory heavy KMember is substantialy more beefy then the tube type aftermarket ones. Why people install these for street use is way beyond me.

...hey why have doors on your car..those baby's weigh 80lbs each...repalce em with fiverglass skins and balsa wood frames....i'm sure the impact resistance is the same as steel.

 

Good point, Lion. Too bad we can't tell people what to do with their cars. Which State do you live? Do they really inspect the K-member of each vehicles? Wow! Thanks

 

I'm actaully in Canada but normally your laws are more restrictive than ours...heck i have no emmisons where I live..its not actually required that a car be inspected before it is insured...they will inspect it after an accident and nail you if you have made mods. one biggie for nulling your insurance is if you swap from a 4 to 6 or 8 cylinder or having nitrous...null and void...if any major mods are done to the mechanical structure of the car, it is the drivers responsibility to have it inspected. i know of lots of peeps that have paid for insurance but actually have no coverage..

 

I thought tubular engine cradles were supposed to be stronger than stock? I bent the hell out of my stock k member in just a really minor accident.

 

I imagine if ford could have saved 40 pounds of steel off the manufacture of each car they wuld have done it from the factory.

In a major accident the stock one probably wouldn't bend much more either...The tubular would fold like a 2 doller hooker that got hit in th stomatch by a fat guy with sores on his face.

 

It's not really about saving weight for Ford on this issue, it's production time/ease. A tubular K-member takes a ton of time to fabricate, they are generally TIG welded and made from either chromoly or mild steel DOM tubing. A factory K-member is made from stamped sheet steel (usually 1/8th inch) and is only sprot welded. I am willing to wager that a factory k-member is no stronger than a tubular one. As for the insurance thing, that would be up to the individual insurance company and wheather or not your trying to hide mods or otherwise fool them. Mine (Allstate) will not deny a claim because I have nitrous on the car, unless I wasstreet racing or doing somthing illegal, in which case they would most likley deny anyways. Nitrous is not illegal to have installed on the car, therefor they cannot deny a claim simply because it is on the car. Same with roll cages or 5 point belts.

 

Maximum Motorsports has an impressivly strong K-Member that is not only good for drag racing but doesnt warp under extreem road racing conditions. It is actually stronger than the original peice and bends less. I would talk to them if your are serious about this.

So far, MM is the only company that will back Raod Racing and street ap for their K-Members, they also claim to be the strongest, and from their road racing history I beleive it.

-Eric-

PS. Anytime JD has something to say, listen, he is generally a good person to rely on for advice.