My 1954 with a factory corvette k member/ suspension installed

[Boss hawg]

I used a factory corvette crossmember instead of buying an aftermarket custom. This is my first ever rebuild and my first time ever attempting to fabricate anything and I hope it all works out well. I would love to hear some opinions on the way I did it. For some reason I can only upload one pic at a time so it will take a few posts to get it up.
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[98layinframe]

Interested to see this as I have a complete donor car and was considering the idea of using that member depending on how well it works.
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[Boss hawg]

I will get the pictures up in a little bit I'm using my phone and having issues uploading them right now. Ill put them up when I get home.
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[Kabwe]

Hey Boss hawg,

Glad to see you are going to share the pics.

[Boss hawg]

Pictures of the install. yes! there is a big puddle of water in the shop floor... there was a big storm the night before i really started and there seems to be a hole in the roof!



We started by marking out our axle center line of course and and removing the original suspension.




After we had our center line we measured the width of the k member in the places it was to set in and notched the upper and lower flanges both directions from the center line. i chose to notch the frame rails in hopes that i can cut down on fabrication in the front. Ive seen pictures of this install done once and they pushed the frame rails apart 4'' or so which will make for some fabrication later down the road bolting stuff back on.






After we had the notches in and the k member set in the hole we put the lower control arm on and put a level to it.... the idea of this was to make it parallel to the frame and the ground(i have never installed a suspension before so be easy on me if i am wrong with this).





After we got the k member where we wanted it and tacked in we had to create our C notch for the rack. i did this by tacking a piece of 4 1/2'' steel pipe and measured the width of the frame and cut it off and then in half and used the equal halves for both sides. i have the c notch a little further forward than i would like but the rack still clears it well (it just bugs me is all).




After getting it all assembled we took the original front cross member and cut it in half leaving the holes for the radiator support (we cut it in half to make room for the rack). Right now we just have it bolted on as i don't want to completely weld everything up till i have the front and rear all mocked up and make sure everything works well. Our cross corner measurements cam out the same as they did before we altered the frame which i was hoping for!





The upper control arm actually tilts back but the front side isn't setting in the right hole at the moment.

[Kabwe]

Its looking pretty good there buddy.

[Boss hawg]

Thank you! Hope its right! Lol... I was just reading your build thread. I have a long long loooong way to get where you are! You do awesome work its nice to see it all
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[98layinframe]

Looks pretty good in there. What year c4 vette is that out of? That stock cradle seems to look a little wider then the aftermarket ones?
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[Boss hawg]

Originally Posted by 98layinframe

Looks pretty good in there. What year c4 vette is that out of? That stock cradle seems to look a little wider then the aftermarket ones?
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It's out of an 86 and yea they are quite a bit wider. That is why they make the after market one per installation. They use the corvette geometry. The corvette crossmember is 28 1/2" approximately and the outside width of the frame is 28 at the center line. When I cut the upper and lower flanges and removed the front crossmember it allowed the corvette part to go in pretty easy... It also allows the front rails to flex back in fairly easy to get it back to the stock width. The only thing I think I may have trouble with pulling the front of the frame rail back in is with the bracket for the bumper to bolt on. I might have to Make a slight adjustment with bolt holes but nothing major.
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[98layinframe]

Ehh nevermind.. guess its my mind playing tricks on me. The aftermarket members ya have to cut the outer face of the frame, where as this stock member fits inside the rails.

Definitely interested to see it finished up!
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[Boss hawg]

Originally Posted by 98layinframe

Looks pretty good in there. What year c4 vette is that out of? That stock cradle seems to look a little wider then the aftermarket ones?
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The after market ones will sit inside the frame rails where as I either had to notch the flanges or push the frame rails apart several inches. I wanted to try it this way and see how it turned out cause I couldn't find where anyone has really done it and it saved me close to a grand just for the k member( after market one is pricy plus shipping)
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[Boss hawg]

Originally Posted by 98layinframe

Ehh nevermind.. guess its my mind playing tricks on me. The aftermarket members ya have to cut the outer face of the frame, where as this stock member fits inside the rails.

Definitely interested to see it finished up!
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I didn't notice you had to cut the outer face I thought they went inside! Sorry about that last post then!
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[Boss hawg]

It's a slow and steady process for me as I have to watch what I spend! I'm trying to decide what suspension setup I want to go with before I start the rear. I was thinking I wanted to do the air shocks or AOS ( air over shock) but I'm having a hard time finding information on them installed. I would like some info on how low you can get with them.
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[98layinframe]

Perfectly understandable man, things take time... unfortunately to long with my projects!
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[98layinframe]

Are you talking about the front when you say air over shock.. are you refering to running the stock mono leaf and then adding air shocks to adjust the height a little? Or are you referring to running shockwaves instead of the factory leaf? Shockwaves arent cheap, but ride nice and would give you a good bit of height adjustment.
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[Boss hawg]

Originally Posted by 98layinframe

Are you talking about the front when you say air over shock.. are you refering to running the stock mono leaf and then adding air shocks to adjust the height a little? Or are you referring to running shockwaves instead of the factory leaf? Shockwaves arent cheap, but ride nice and would give you a good bit of height adjustment.
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Shockwaves or something similar! I've seen one or two like it. Yes they are very pricey that's why I want to make sure that's what I want. I wish I could find someone that has used them and has a picture of their truck as low as it can get with them. I'm sure they way I mounted them will make quite a bit of difference but seeing some used the way I have in mind would make me feel a little better about it.
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[Apachomatic]

Hey Hawg,

I just picked up a C4 front for my '59 and have been toying with the idea of using the stock member or having one built (hopefully for less than aftermarket). Did you get this all fabed in and did you keep the mono leaf or did you go with shocks/coilovers? How does it ride?

[Boss hawg]

I've got in in and plan to run airbags and remove the mono leaf. I'm still not completely finished with the frame yet. Been putting the 4 link in the rear. I can tell you it would be a lot easier to use an aftermarket one unless your good with fabrication.

[Apachomatic]

It's the 7-$800 prIce tag I don't like. What would you say the hardest part of the fab is? Stock member will fit between my rails. I thought I just had to set the height, make upper control arm mounts and weld it in. Am I missing something?

Thanks for the reply

[Boss hawg]

If your frame is wide enough it might not be so bad I had to cut mine to get it in.

[Boss hawg]

The k member already has the upper control arm mount unless your planning on cutting it off and making a new one. If your going to do that I would think your throwing the geometry out the window and starting over. If you can good enough to do that I would just fab a cradle too. I like that I didn't have to spend a bunch of money on an aftermarket one like you said. Depends on what you want to do with the truck. If your going for full out cosmetics and a clean build I would get an after market one due to the fact it looks a lot better. I may like the way mine looks ( although it doesn't look just terrible) after I get the frame completed and blasted down and powder coated. What ideas do you have for the truck and I may be able to tell you is any of the set backs I had will be of use to you knowing?

[mr incredible]

you've got my attention. budgets are nothing to apologize for. do what you can when you can. just don't get discouraged

[STOCKISH]

My C4 stuff is on the way, I really look forward to seeing how this turns out.

[Coldshot]

Waking an old thread but I'm thinking of putting the vett front suspension in my project. Wondering if you have a measurment of the width between the upper a-arms? Trying to figure out a bit of how much I'll need to cut out of my s10 chassis to mold it in.
Looks good
Thanks

[Apachomatic]

Hey Coldshot
I don't seem to have my old measurements. I could measure for you sometime this week. Where the upper a arms mount is a different width front to back and I believe wider at the top.
Your S10 is narrower than my '59 so I think it will fit in nicely for you