A-body K-member

Was taking a '68 GTS apart (not mine) in the last few days. The k-member in this car (probably a mid-late May 1968 build - no fender tag, but the car is #s matching) is quite different than my original (Aug. 28, 1967 SPD). It has the tabs for the late sway bar bracket bar and is cut open on the underside like the 73-up k-member. The car has the correct motor mounts and sway bar. When did the K-member change? Rhino???

Pictures would be helpful. I don't quite understand it when you say it has tabs? Are you talking about the lower control arm tabs? The sway bar bushing/bracket assembly that the sway bar goes through bolts to holes on the front of the K-member, two holes/bolts per bracket, two brackets. The K-member should be solid underneath, they didn't change much if at all in appearance until 1970 when the coin/washer was tack welded to 340 K-members. It should have a Julian calendar number stamped on the K-member somewhere to confirm when the K-member was made. Find the number and you will have your answer.

It's a biscuit motor mount K but with 73-76 kmember provisions? Like the top stamping is 68-72 but the bottom is 73-76?

I've seen one in a 72 abody in person. I was thinking it was a transitional thing. I've seen pics of one someone had loose too.

IIRC, some 69 Bbody Kmembers come out like this too with 69 tops and 70 bottoms.

Now I wonder if the one in that 68 you are working on is a factory replacement part. Some replacement parts have multi year feature so one part number can supercede two or more part numbers. BUT any original car with pass through 73-76 sway bar would have spool motor mounts.

I think the kmember got replaced at one and the doner was one of the rare 72 cars that had that transitional Kmember. Just my guess.

We have an idea that the SPD was some time in May 1968 (going by the GTS registry and the few SPDs listed). The K-member appears to have been in the car a long time, but the strut rod bushings have been replaced.

I'm of the same opinion as you Steve. We'll know when we get the engine off the K-member and get it more cleaned up. The fenders appear to be original, but the hood has a part number painted on the underside.

Here's a pic showing one of the tabs. I didn't get a pic of the underside, though.

I am pretty sure my k-frame ('68 BB) was replaced somewhere along the car's life, along with the upper control arms. All three were a light grey color and not the usual black. Never looked for that tab, need to take a look when I get home. Also never did bother to take a look at date code on the k-frame while it was out. I was just happy it wasnt dented and was really clean.

Jim, That would be way to early for a transitional Xmemeber.

That's what I'm thinking. It's out of a ROUGH GTS convertible...

My 5/69 GTS has a full bottom K in it, that changeover of the swaybar didn't happen till model year 73 so the earliest you would see a changeover K would be sometime in the 72 model year. My Feb 69 Bee didn't have the changeover K, I think they started to show near the end of march.