Hey guys,
I'm looking at picking up a K-Member this weekend, but I have a few specific questions I couldn't really find a good solid answer to browsing the net.
I know this topic has been beaten to death across Mustang forums on the net, but I am specifically looking for people that have experience with the QA1 K-Member. I've ran across people bad mouthing their product and then others seem to enjoy with no issues. Most of the ones I have seen with people bad mouthing them are "I knew a buddy one time...." and you know how it goes from there. Or, people that have purchased a car with the K Member already installed and then have issues with bent tabs, A Arms etc. and who knows how the original install went.
I probably wouldn't even be looking at the K-Member at this point but I find a local guy that has a brand new, still in the box QA1 K Member, plus he is throwing in a brand new (still in the box as well) set of March pulleys with the fluid damper, and a new Steeda air filter for a CAI for $200. I think that's a pretty good deal. If I hadn't came across this, I probably wouldn't even consider a K-Member right now. I do like the advantages of clearance and the weight savings.
Now, if the K-Member is purchased, I will also be adding the rest of the QA1 front setup (A Arms, Coilover conversion, etc.)
Here is a few things that bother me. QA1 says this is drag race only K-Member, but this car is daily driven. I think sometimes companies add stuff like that just to cover their ass. Just like with all of the O/R pipes we buy say Off road use only. But, the K-Member is also an essential structural integrity piece of the car, unlike H and X pipes.
As I mentioned, the car is a daily driver. The car will not be an AX car or a road track car. If it goes to a track, it will be a strip. I really just want to make sure nothing crazy is going to happen if this piece is installed on a daily driver. Hopefully it never happens, but how do these hold in the event of a crash? Can they take the abuse, or will they just collapse?
As far as goals for the car, at the moment its a DD. I'm looking to lay down only about 330 or so at the tire with a 4:10 gear in the back. Friend of mine has a dyno, so it will have a good tune. I would be happy with 305+ at the tire for now because I am thinking I will need long tubes to get to the 330hp mark. Which is also another reason I want to go ahead and add the K-Member, a lot more clearance for a long tube installation down the road.
So if anyone has ran or currently is running the QA1 as a daily driver, please enlighten me on your experience. I wanted to get some other opinions before I take the final plunge and pick this thing up.
Sorry for the long post, just wanted to get everything out there the first time.
-Sam
I'm looking at picking up a K-Member this weekend, but I have a few specific questions I couldn't really find a good solid answer to browsing the net.
I know this topic has been beaten to death across Mustang forums on the net, but I am specifically looking for people that have experience with the QA1 K-Member. I've ran across people bad mouthing their product and then others seem to enjoy with no issues. Most of the ones I have seen with people bad mouthing them are "I knew a buddy one time...." and you know how it goes from there. Or, people that have purchased a car with the K Member already installed and then have issues with bent tabs, A Arms etc. and who knows how the original install went.
I probably wouldn't even be looking at the K-Member at this point but I find a local guy that has a brand new, still in the box QA1 K Member, plus he is throwing in a brand new (still in the box as well) set of March pulleys with the fluid damper, and a new Steeda air filter for a CAI for $200. I think that's a pretty good deal. If I hadn't came across this, I probably wouldn't even consider a K-Member right now. I do like the advantages of clearance and the weight savings.
Now, if the K-Member is purchased, I will also be adding the rest of the QA1 front setup (A Arms, Coilover conversion, etc.)
Here is a few things that bother me. QA1 says this is drag race only K-Member, but this car is daily driven. I think sometimes companies add stuff like that just to cover their ass. Just like with all of the O/R pipes we buy say Off road use only. But, the K-Member is also an essential structural integrity piece of the car, unlike H and X pipes.
As I mentioned, the car is a daily driver. The car will not be an AX car or a road track car. If it goes to a track, it will be a strip. I really just want to make sure nothing crazy is going to happen if this piece is installed on a daily driver. Hopefully it never happens, but how do these hold in the event of a crash? Can they take the abuse, or will they just collapse?
As far as goals for the car, at the moment its a DD. I'm looking to lay down only about 330 or so at the tire with a 4:10 gear in the back. Friend of mine has a dyno, so it will have a good tune. I would be happy with 305+ at the tire for now because I am thinking I will need long tubes to get to the 330hp mark. Which is also another reason I want to go ahead and add the K-Member, a lot more clearance for a long tube installation down the road.
So if anyone has ran or currently is running the QA1 as a daily driver, please enlighten me on your experience. I wanted to get some other opinions before I take the final plunge and pick this thing up.
Sorry for the long post, just wanted to get everything out there the first time.
-Sam