[Thunderstruck95]

I've been on an automotive weight loss kick lately, and I reached out to AJE Suspension to check on pricing for their MN12 tubular K Member. I got the following response to my inquiry email-

"We no longer offer the MN12 parts!
Anthony"

I'm only assuming that 'Anthony' is Mr. Jones himself. I responded with a somewhat beggy email seeing if there were any exceptions or old stock and get no response. It would appear that their tubular K is no longer an option.

 

[S4gunn]

How good are you with a welder? I bet a decent welder could make a buck from the stock kmember and make their own tubular kmember.

 

[XR7-4.6]

I know AJE improved a lot of the problems through the years but I’ve never been impressed with the design and always wished they just made the damn things with stock style pickup points rather than fabricated control arms on heim joints. The weight loss isn’t even all that great, it’s the clearance and access that’s really desirable. A few members fabricated (and promised to!!!) custom tube K members utilizing stock control arms and strut rods but never had the means to produce more than their initial one offs.

 

[racecougar]

I know AJE improved a lot of the problems through the years but I’ve never been impressed with the design and always wished they just made the damn things with stock style pickup points rather than fabricated control arms on heim joints. The weight loss isn’t even all that great, it’s the clearance and access that’s really desirable.

100% agreed.

 

[Wile E. Coyote Jr.]

Part of me has thought about making a tubular Kmember. Now that I actually know how to weld and will have the space to do such a job, it might actually happen.

 

[S4gunn]

Just don't go making it out of galvanized fence pipes or thin walled seam welded exhaust pipe tubing and I think you be fine

 

[Wile E. Coyote Jr.]

1 3/4in ID rollbar tubing. I have 25ft of the stuff

 

[Zep5.0]

If you made that with the braces similar to what Bill sells, but welded on to add mounting points at the firewall, that would actually be beneficial.

If you got it down and built a jig, I'd be very interested in one and would pay. Help with headers and bigger oil pans would be worth it

 

[Wile E. Coyote Jr.]

Its something that keeps popping into my head.

My idea of a jig is a full front half of an MN12. Would be able to make headers, tubular K members, tubular crash bars, strut tower-firewall bracing, ect. Almost wish I kept my 89 SC for that.

Might actually have to get a shop for that though. Or get an extension on the garage.

 

[Zep5.0]

Be a hell of a drive, but I could cut the front off of my parts car if you wanted it. I think it's straight other than the front bumper.

 

[XR7-4.6]

Its something that keeps popping into my head.

My idea of a jig is a full front half of an MN12.

Just make sure it’s a straight front half that hadn’t been in an accident


...unlike AJE who notoriously didn’t 😆

 

[OxmanWI]

Going to be selling mine this winter if your interested. I was one of the guys to get their last batch of the revised K member. I have about 2000 miles on Wisconsin roads with no issues.

 

[Thunderstruck95]

Going to be selling mine this winter if your interested. I was one of the guys to get their last batch of the revised K member. I have about 2000 miles on Wisconsin roads with no issues.

PM sent.

 

[Wile E. Coyote Jr.]

Be a hell of a drive, but I could cut the front off of my parts car if you wanted it. I think it's straight other than the front bumper.

Dont wait for me but if you still have it by the time Im capable of housing such a thing, Ill get it.

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Going to be selling mine this winter if your interested. I was one of the guys to get their last batch of the revised K member. I have about 2000 miles on Wisconsin roads with no issues.

No way! What are you replacing it with?

 

[racecougar]

Its something that keeps popping into my head.

My idea of a jig is a full front half of an MN12. Would be able to make headers, tubular K members, tubular crash bars, strut tower-firewall bracing, ect. Almost wish I kept my 89 SC for that.

Might actually have to get a shop for that though. Or get an extension on the garage.

That was how I produced SFC's and other braces in the past. Just work off of a straight chassis that hasn't been wrecked.

 

[OxmanWI]

No way! What are you replacing it with?

Working with a local speed shop in my area, that installed my roll cage. Making one from scratch or some other options.

 

[Grog6]

Just when I've gotten over being jelly of your shop Rod...

 

[General Zod]

A few members fabricated (and promised to!!!) custom tube K members utilizing stock control arms and strut rods but never had the means to produce more than their initial one offs.

That wasn't me! 😆

Part of me has thought about making a tubular Kmember. Now that I actually know how to weld and will have the space to do such a job, it might actually happen.

I've always wanted to start on one too!

Just don't go making it out of galvanized fence pipes or thin walled seam welded exhaust pipe tubing and I think you be fine

For a roll-cage, of course not. However, for a Tubular K-member I don't see anything wrong with using standard ERW seamed tubing of high quality, with the appropriate OD and wall thickness, and properly triangulated/engineered.

One really great book I highly recommend to purchase is Advanced Automotive Welding, by Jerry Uttrach, 2012 (or the latest version called "Weld Like a Pro", 2015). I bought mine on Google Books for about $20. That is where I caught a glimpse of the Maserati Birdcage. A full tubular-frame car with 200, mostly ½ " diameter, thin-wall chromoly tubes. The whole frame weighed only 66 lbs! It said the trick to it's success was to keep the loads/forces on the tubes such that the tubes were only experiencing tension, not compression, nor any side-loads that would cause buckling. Pretty amazing; enough that Carol Shelby raced it and won with it!

Anyways, time to bust out the tubing bender! I just wish I had bought more dies years ago. Steel has tripled in price! UGH!! lol Heck I might try making my own bending dies, lol.

 

[Zep5.0]

Probably opening a can of worms here...

I'd like to learn how to weld and don't have time to take a class. Basically trial and error learn as I go, on both thick metal and sheet.

What's a good beginner model and type of welder? Something I can watch for sale groups for...