Bent K-Frame and Front End, What Ese Fits?

Aaron_EF8 · 07-01-2005, 12:23 AM

Hi Guys

I recently had an encounter with a gutter, which resulted in a fair bit of damage to one of my rims, as well as the K-frame, castor rod, lower control arm, stub axle, wheel bearing and both ball joints.

The K-Frame needs to be replaced, and my first question is what else fits the EF V8's? Is the 6 & V8 one the same?

What about the other suspension parts, are all EF-EL parts interchangable??

Thanks

EFFalcon · 07-01-2005, 08:02 AM

the only difference re V8 suspension differences was the springs were stiffer IIRC.
no idea with the kframe but i'd say any I6 parts could be used to replace *most* of the suspension.

outback_ute · 07-01-2005, 08:37 AM

Go the AU2 conversion!!! That is, if you're willing to be the guinea pig.

EFFalcon · 07-01-2005, 08:39 AM

GOod idea ;)

**Polyal** · 07-01-2005, 10:16 AM

yeah know that feeling.

im not sure about the interchangablity of the k-frame but i do know that a V8 sway bar fits an I6. Now I know that is totally useless to you but hey...someone might want to know.

Gambit · 07-01-2005, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outback_ute

Go the AU2 conversion!!! That is, if you're willing to be the guinea pig.

Will the au crossmember & suspension fit? If it does, does that mean you can use au wheels without spacers?

EFFalcon · 07-01-2005, 01:12 PM

there has been some mention that AU suspension components may fit and thus AU2 brakes coule be fitted (a VERY handy options) aswell as having AU wheels at your disposal... but then you still need to work out the rear end ;)

EA2BA · 07-01-2005, 01:15 PM

I thought the AU IRS rear end was not an overly hard mod to do, didnt walkinshaw do it, or i have just posted alot of crap

EFFalcon · 07-01-2005, 01:16 PM

no one here has done it, but as you said apparently its not that hard.
with i think only 1 or 2 mounts needing to be added.

outback_ute · 07-01-2005, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gambit

Will the au crossmember & suspension fit? If it does, does that mean you can use au wheels without spacers?

I believe there are a couple of mounting bolts for the crossmember that are not in the right place, but if that was overcome using the AU2 crossmenber would open up using the whole front suspension (the lower control arm mounting is different & won’t work with pre-AU crossmenber) including brakes and of course wheels. Opens up a lot of brake and wheel upgrades. You would also need to use the matching AU2 steering rack as the mounts changed.

I don’t know if it has been done or not.

Re the rear IRS, if my memory is correct the AU IRS weighs 70kg more than the live axle which is certainly something to consider.

Aaron_EF8 · 07-01-2005, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by outback_ute

Go the AU2 conversion!!! That is, if you're willing to be the guinea pig.

Do you know what needs to be replaced? I've heard different thigns on what does and doesn't fit. AUII-onwards don't have a radius/castor rod, which means there is probably quite a bit of work to do.

It is a good time to do it though, as I need to replace most of what I need to change for the AUII conversion, and I need to replace the rotors, change the pads and rebuild the calipers soon anyway.....

I'm not too sure on what i'll do about wheels if I go ahead with it.

One other quick thing, does anyone know the model of this wheel, or know someone who has one for sale? Thanks guys.

Gambit · 07-01-2005, 04:35 PM

I don't know what type of wheel that is but shit that is one hot lookin fairmont. That would be nearly the best one I have seen. Is this yours Aaron?

outback_ute · 07-01-2005, 04:39 PM

Raptor would be the best person to ask, but here is a list although I can’t guarantee it is complete!
All front suspension components (upper & lower control arms, spindle, sway bar)
All front brake components (including hoses)
Front alloy crossmember (which has different bolt and pin locations on the chassis rails)
Steering rack
Engine mounts

If AU offset wheels cause a problem with the standard rear axle you can apparently swap an AU live rear axle easier than the irs.

LUXO_8 · 07-01-2005, 05:39 PM

the **** end is easy to convert to AU spec, the live axle diff bolts straight in

irs has a frame that mounts to the lower trailing arm mounts on the front and 2 brackets need to be welded in at the rear ( they are spot welded to the chassis of the AU, unpick the welds and weld em in the same place on the EF)

Walkinshaw · 07-01-2005, 05:43 PM

Dont give Aaron ideas lol. An IRS and AU2 break equpied EF would go (and stop) quite nicely come to think of it.

Smoked · 07-01-2005, 05:46 PM

Go the AU2 conversion, come on, you know you want too.

Aaron_EF8 · 07-01-2005, 07:51 PM

Gambit - Thanks, yeah it is my car.

I'm seriously thinking about the AUII conversion, but the 2 main things that are a concern is the crossmember has different mounting points, and the steering rack needs to be changed, and i'm guessing both parts would be very expensive. Any ideas on prices for the 2?

Rod · 08-01-2005, 12:21 AM

its not just the alloy crossmember that you need to hold the rack from the AU but you will also need the very front crossmember that is also the pivot point for the lower control arms

personaly i dont thinks its a worth while conversion i would stick with the standard front end

one other thing you will need to concider is the relationship between the engine mounts on the alloy crossmeber & the centre of the stub axle compared to the original setup you have at the moment

just my $0.02c worth

regards
rod

LUXO_8 · 08-01-2005, 08:20 AM

i know of someone that did the oposite conversion, he fitted an e-series K frame to his AU XR8 rally ute. mainly for the extra offset, but also because he had the sorted and braced front end from his previous rally car ( an eb) so it saved him having to re-work out stuff

he said that the AU front end into an e-series wouldnt be hard at all, most of the stuff lines up, only needing slight mods to get it to actually fit.
im unsure of what needs to be modded though

Sundeep · 09-01-2005, 01:29 AM

The AU IRS is almost a direct fit from what I've read. As others have said a couple of minor things have to be welded in (and the tail shaft changed for EA) and you're set. The AU setup weighs about 90KG more than the live axle though which is a huge downside.

The front end I'm not so sure about. I'm pretty sure it's very different, I don't think anyone's mentioned this but I'm 80% sure the A-arm in the AU setup mounts up differently.

If it were me I'd just be looking at replacing all the damaged suspension components for now, and replacing the K-frame later. All the stuff you've written wouldn't take more than an hour to change over. Infact if you had an EA I'd be able to give you all the parts lol. If you're going to change all that over you may as well do the other side stuff as well, but then again you're K-frame is bent lol...so it wouldn't matter!

Sundeep

XR Martin · 09-01-2005, 01:53 AM

Why would you change to the AU front only? Not only would you need two different pairs of wheels, you'll be stuffed if you get a flat. What are you going to do, carry two spares?

Now I can understand doing both front and rear, but it would be a fair bit of work.
But I wouldnt mine doing that conversion, but not to my ED. Perhaps the Fairmont wreck I have as a practice....

LUXO_8 · 09-01-2005, 10:22 AM

martin, do it to the fairmont be a guinnea pig, i would have a go but i dont have any money to waste if it wasnt gonna work out......
as i and others have said, the rear is the way easy part, its the front thats the problem:P

the AU live axle will BOLT IN to an EF or you can spot weld the 2 brackets in and fit the IRS:P

Damo · 09-01-2005, 07:19 PM

I wouldn't bother with AU stuff. It would be harder to find more explensive etc.

I know how ya feel thou mate, here is my steering rack. It's out of the car now sitting on the garage floor. :(

: :togo:

LUXO_8 · 09-01-2005, 07:24 PM

shit how'd that happen damian

Sundeep · 09-01-2005, 07:24 PM

Did u find anything else wrong with it Damo? Was a pretty nasty encounter....I should know ****en.

Sundeep

Kenaz · 09-01-2005, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundeep

Did u find anything else wrong with it Damo? Was a pretty nasty encounter....I should know ****en.

Sundeep

We pulled the rack out and had a good look underneath the car. Everything else looks to be in order, nothing bent or broken. But what would we know? lol

Damo · 09-01-2005, 09:14 PM

haha, yeah it's all good. I hope. Looks like the mounts clean snapped off the K-Frame, nothing else looks bent.

oh and a small dent in one of the tickfords..

:

i'm still a bit shook up. Thanks again Sunny, for stopping. I was in shock.. Hopefully a new rack will bolt up, i'll get it all aligned, and away i go.

Oh and thanks to my champion brother Kenaz, for helping me pull the steering bits out and survey the damage :(.. not to mention coming and picking me up.

oh, and sorry Aaron, i hope you can get your beast sorted as easily as possible.

INJECTED_250 · 09-01-2005, 09:19 PM

id def just stick to the ef front end arron......

Sundeep · 09-01-2005, 09:34 PM

No worries lol. You're just lucky no one called the cops and you didn't hit anything else.

Sundeep