Easy and Cheap Kcar interchange & parts tips

Easy and Cheap Kcar interchange & parts tips

Postby 1of10K » Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:01 pm

Lets post easy interchange and parts tips found on these Ks. Some of these may help someone looking for cheap simple upgrades: The dome light with the switch. optional on my '81, but used by Mopar on dozens of 81-89 models, this is a simple cheap upgrade, no modifications needed. Passenger side mirror: The K doors with factory mirrors used glass different from non-mirror doors, as well as their own special window gasket. This glass interchanges with all Ks, all body styles (2 drs have thier own type of door glass, of course), from 81-89. Glass came tinted or not, be sure to get the type that matches your car, as well as all the little mirror pieces and gaskets you can grab from the parts car. Trunk liner. If your K has a basic unlined trunk, Chrysler make many different excellent trunk liner kits that are in most upper level 81-89 K based cars (Chrysler cars have the most deluxe). All are an extremely easy upgrade and should fit any K car. Radios: 81-83 K radios have different rear plugs than the '84-89 models, early works best in early, late in later, etc, unless you are really creative in wiring. If you only have a single front speaker, be sure to find a dash pad wth openings for dual dash speakers. The rear wiring and speakers can be removed intact. the wiring harness runs up to the passenger side kick panel where you can cut it, unless you want to pulverize the dash and try get it complete. 13" Whitewall tires: I have not found any replacement for the wider whitewall optional on the early K's, but found that Firestone still has a 13" car tire with a narrow whitewall. They may have to do a search for it, but any other 13" whitewall is impossible to find.
Last edited by 1of10K on Sun Dec 21, 2008 1:50 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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Re: Easy and Cheap Kcar interchange & parts tips

Postby capev86 » Sat Dec 20, 2008 3:54 pm

if you want to improve the chassis and braking of a k car, you must look to its spawn for the parts. platform design makes upgrades simple and cheap. look for the big 1-1/4" front sway bar and stiffer rear axle from a daytona shelby or cs model (and some other models). the 86 daytona shelby z must have the cs package to get these parts. 87 shelby z had the cs package as standard equipment. 89-90 cars had a better k frame with dual pivot a-arms. 91+ saw the 2 piece stamped steel arms replaced by cast arms. it is best to use 91+ knuckles (and the nice bolt in hubs) with 91 a-arms so the alignment is correct. remember...to change from the early style stub strut control arms you will need to replace with a corresponding k frame.

if you want the ultimate brakes and are running the 91+ k frame, a-arms and knuckles, find a 91-95 grand caravan with 15 inch wheels. the calipers and caliper brackets will bolt onto your knuckles. you will need to buy 11" rotors with the correct 5x100mm bolt pattern as the grand caravan had a larger lug spacing. you have effectively replicated the same front brakes as found on the hard to come by spirit r/t and daytona iroc r/t. 89 shelby daytona used the big rotors, but the caliper bracket was part of the knuckle instead of an unboltable part. you can go this route if using the 89-90 stamped a-arm system. but parts are harder to come by.

for rear brake upgrades....you have several choices. regular k cars have 200mm rear drums. dynastys and other heavier vehicles have 220mm drums. but if upgrading the brakes, a rear disc swap is a better use of time and energy. stay away from the 87-88 rear disc found on the daytona shelby. it uses an e-brake in the caliper. parts are expensive and the e-brake tends to seize up. the better route is any 89+ rear disc braking system which uses a small drum e-brake inside the middle of the rotor. everything from the end of the axle will need to be used (although the stub shaft is the same but best not to mix up bearing wear patterns). there is a solid rotor disc with a 34mm piston caliper and a vented rotor with 36mm piston caliper. the solid rotor system is the best compromise of weight and performance (you get most of your braking from the front anyway....so go big on the front if anything). the backing plate holds the caliper and are custom fit to the type of rotor used. much of small hardware is the same between the two - disc brake pads, e-brake shoes, etc.

the spirit r/t, daytona iroc rt and any other car with 11" front brakes had the vented rear system....
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Re: Easy and Cheap Kcar interchange & parts tips

Postby 84Aries » Fri Jan 23, 2009 4:22 am

Will the sway bar off the Shelby Z fit the early K's, 84 and before?
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