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Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: Lightning] #1188839
11/20/12 11:58 PM
11/20/12 11:58 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline
Mr Wizzard
ScottSmith_Harms  Offline
Mr Wizzard

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
On an originallity note;

I have been restoring my own 1971 340 Duster and while going through a few K-members looking for a correct date code I discovered something I hadn't noticed before. My 3 K-members are all dated within a month of one another, 2 are from original 340 cars while one is from a 318 car (all 3 are Dusters/Demons). I have often wondered why 340 K-members all have a washer welded to the front drivers side of the member, seemingly no purpose for it. However upon closer inspection after getting them cleaned and blasted I discovered a C- shaped washer welded around the rear LCA mounting holes of the 340 K-members but NOT on the 318 K-members, they are otherwise 100% identical. The washer must have been added as quick method to ID one in production.

This pic is of one of the 340's and the 318 member.

7470361-A.jpg (428 downloads)
Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1188840
11/20/12 11:59 PM
11/20/12 11:59 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline
Mr Wizzard
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Mr Wizzard

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
Here is the "ID" washer on the front of the 340 unit

7470362-B.jpg (416 downloads)
Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1188841
11/21/12 12:00 AM
11/21/12 12:00 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline
Mr Wizzard
ScottSmith_Harms  Offline
Mr Wizzard

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
Here is the 340 LCA "C" shaped washer, that's all factory weld, I never touched a thing other than blasting it.

7470364-B2.jpg (411 downloads)
Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1188842
11/21/12 12:01 AM
11/21/12 12:01 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline
Mr Wizzard
ScottSmith_Harms  Offline
Mr Wizzard

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
Here is the 318 fron, no "ID" washer

7470366-C.jpg (347 downloads)
Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1188843
11/21/12 12:02 AM
11/21/12 12:02 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline
Mr Wizzard
ScottSmith_Harms  Offline
Mr Wizzard

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
And the 318 LCA hole, no "C" shaped reinforcement washer

7470368-C2.jpg (339 downloads)
Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1188844
11/21/12 01:27 AM
11/21/12 01:27 AM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog Offline OP
Striving for excellence
Kern Dog  Offline OP
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Granite Bay CA
Interesting!
I wonder if the additional weld around the LCA pivot point is intended to increase durability?
This is the first time I have heard of this. Pretty cool.

Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: Kern Dog] #1188845
11/21/12 01:58 AM
11/21/12 01:58 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
ScottSmith_Harms Offline
Mr Wizzard
ScottSmith_Harms  Offline
Mr Wizzard

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 42,714
Spokane Washington
I have verified it on several other original cars as well so I know it's consistant, I can only assume that it's a feature added for 340 cars as they might be driven more agressively than a 318 car. Such a small thing but Chrysler wasn't known for adding cost for no reason, there must have been some failures in testing so the engineers addressed it.

*BTW, the "C" washer is roughly 1/16" - 3/32" thick.

Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1188846
11/21/12 08:24 AM
11/21/12 08:24 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,170
MI
6
68shifter Offline
super stock
68shifter  Offline
super stock
6

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Posts: 1,170
MI
Interesting. I wonder when they started adding it. My 68 Formula S did not have any of those things and looked identical really to the 318 one of yours. I know mines original to the car, and never touched til I did so years back. Huh, weird, must have had purpose though.

Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: autoxcuda] #1188847
11/30/12 10:06 PM
11/30/12 10:06 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,256
North Carolina
4
469runner Offline
pro stock
469runner  Offline
pro stock
4

Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,256
North Carolina
Autoxcuda, I had the exact problem you described on the K-member mount. Unfortunately, it wasn't discovered until after the car had been restored and driven a while. Cracks appeared on both sides of the subframe originating from the rear K-member weldnut. This was a very rust free 1970 Roadrunner. All good now, repaired over a long Christmas break two years ago.

7483577-009.JPG (352 downloads)
Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: 469runner] #1188848
11/30/12 10:08 PM
11/30/12 10:08 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,256
North Carolina
4
469runner Offline
pro stock
469runner  Offline
pro stock
4

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Posts: 1,256
North Carolina
better pic.

7483586-004.JPG (380 downloads)
Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: 469runner] #1188849
01/20/13 10:57 AM
01/20/13 10:57 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 804
central CT
cudazappa Offline
super stock
cudazappa  Offline
super stock

Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 804
central CT
Some great pictures in this thread!

Started mine this week, sandblasted it. Yeah, should've hot tanked it! Seams completely full of garbage!

Gussetted the steering box mount. Need to make washers for the LCA and strut rod still. Next week's project.

7554235-kframe.jpg (365 downloads)

1971 Challenger
Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: cudazappa] #1188850
01/21/13 10:55 AM
01/21/13 10:55 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,704
MICHIGAN
DynoDave Offline
master
DynoDave  Offline
master

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,704
MICHIGAN
Quote:

Some great pictures in this thread!

Started mine this week, sandblasted it. Yeah, should've hot tanked it! Seams completely full of garbage!

Gussetted the steering box mount. Need to make washers for the LCA and strut rod still. Next week's project.




Looks like a good start Gary.


DynoDave
Walter P. Chrysler Club - Great Lakes Region
Member # 12304
1970 Plymouth Duster
1972 Dodge Charger Rallye
https://wichargerguy.proboards.com/
1977 Chrysler Cordoba
Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: DynoDave] #1188851
01/22/13 07:06 PM
01/22/13 07:06 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 240
Shingle Springs Ca
H
haddixj Offline
enthusiast
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Posts: 240
Shingle Springs Ca
are you guys welding these on the ground or in the car? just wondering if it might move around while being welded? looks like alot of solid passes. I have a 70 barracuda that I will do also and I have noticed that it looks like the center has been crushed in a little bit.


70 duster 25.1E,73 barracuda, 70 gran coupe, 71 cuda
Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: haddixj] #1188852
01/22/13 07:09 PM
01/22/13 07:09 PM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 4,302
Nebraska
72Swinger Offline
master
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Nebraska
Skid plate....

7557538-003.JPG (304 downloads)

Mopar to the bone!!!
Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: 72Swinger] #1188853
01/22/13 09:56 PM
01/22/13 09:56 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,072
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
C
CUDAJAS Offline
top fuel
CUDAJAS  Offline
top fuel
C

Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,072
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada
Great stuff guys.

I am about to start this process on the K-Frame for my 74 Cuda.

Has anyone reinforced the sway bar bushing mounting points on the K-fram???

Seems like a weak spot.

When you reinformce the strut bar mounting points, do you have to modify the bushing at all?

Jason

Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: CUDAJAS] #1188854
01/23/13 07:35 PM
01/23/13 07:35 PM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,456
Fly Over States
P
PHJ426 Offline
master
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Fly Over States
I bought the kit parts from Firm Feel to start working on the spare 72 K frame I have in the corner.

Need to send it out and have it hot tanked and get to work.....

Can't wait to see how much better the car handles after the K frame and some frame connectors and unibody seam welding is completed.....

Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: PHJ426] #1188855
01/23/13 10:04 PM
01/23/13 10:04 PM
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 18,493
Granite Bay CA
Kern Dog Offline OP
Striving for excellence
Kern Dog  Offline OP
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Granite Bay CA
My Charger must have had a pretty solid unibody structure beforehand because my homemade frame connectors didn't seem to make a difference in the handling. They are 3x3 and welded at both ends. What I did notice from the connectors is how much more solid the car felt. Before, the car would shake and shimmy a bit when driving on rough roads. This is in a car with a fully rebuilt suspension. Afterwards, the car felt as if it just soaked up the bumps. One theory: The cars platform was more rigid, allowing the suspension to achieve its potential.

Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: Kern Dog] #1188856
01/23/13 10:27 PM
01/23/13 10:27 PM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,456
Fly Over States
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PHJ426 Offline
master
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Fly Over States
Maybe the best way to have told the improvements from any one improvements made to the car would be better judged on the same track and seeing how the times improve.

Like you said your car must have been fairly tight in the seat of the pants feel so any small improvements will only show up in small increments measured in small time increments in the track times.

My friend has a stock 68 Charger R/T and it soaks up the road bumps etc like you mention your Charger did does as well. I was very impressed how much better his car rode. Back then all of my junk had Super stock springs on the back and I was driving it on the street......Im on board with the XHD leafs now.

My 72 is basically an E body in alot of regards it might show different results from the frame connectors also. Since the B body cars always sounded better closing the doors over the E body cars so Im hoping for some improvements in that area as well.

Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: ScottSmith_Harms] #1188857
02/13/13 12:03 AM
02/13/13 12:03 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 738
Oh Canada
E
EV2CUDA Offline
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Oh Canada
Quote:

I have verified it on several other original cars as well so I know it's consistant, I can only assume that it's a feature added for 340 cars as they might be driven more agressively than a 318 car. Such a small thing but Chrysler wasn't known for adding cost for no reason, there must have been some failures in testing so the engineers addressed it.

*BTW, the "C" washer is roughly 1/16" - 3/32" thick.





I also have 2 340 a body cars in the snow here and they both have washers welded to the front of the k frame.


71 Barracuda 383 4spd (500ci)
69 camaro 598, NOS
69 barracuda bbc procharger
77 t/a 6.0 turbo project
78 t/a 400
77 corvette
1983 hurst/olds
03 Viper
79 360 macho
71 demon 360
78 Warlock 5.7 hemi project
Re: WELDED K member pictures [Re: EV2CUDA] #1188858
08/21/13 01:50 AM
08/21/13 01:50 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,549
Seattle, WA
3
375inStroke Offline
Special needs person
375inStroke  Offline
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3

Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,549
Seattle, WA
What I found last week. Passenger side lower control arm pivot mount. Doesn't need reinforcement?




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