[V]

As some of you Im planning on doing an LS1 swap into my '88 GTA.

Which k member to use is one big decision I need to make.
I could go tubular but then I run into issues about if the A/C compressor fits or not and about how stock braces fit or don't fit. Then I have to see what a-arms fit, mods needed for stock one etc. It would be like 1,000 to do a tubular setup correctly. I don't really NEED the extra clearance one gives me nor the weight reduction. It has also been said the small tube on the bottom doesn't provide much protection to the oil pan if you go over something.

Another option is to mod the stock k member. I would need to notch the front for the a/c compressor and either notch the rear for needed oil pan clearance or buy a new oil pan. That was the option I was leaning towards.

Then I got to thinking, that I would love to use the entire chassis harness from the Formula and run traction control and ABS as well. That would involve having a front speed sensor somehow. If i used 4th gen spindles, it would be easy.

I looked online and the general consensus is that its not worth the time or effort to make a 4th gen k member fit. No one has tried it. One person has used the full front clip from a 4th gen a welded it to the firewall of a 3rd gen and put 3rd gen sheet metal on it, worked great for them but I don't want to go that crazy. Another benefit of the 4th gen setup would be rack and pinion steering and taking stress off the 3rd gen frame which is know to crack by the oem steering box. With the 4th gen k, I'd be able to fit a/c like stock as well as the f body oil pan.

My thoughts for this are largely based on what I remember of the two k members and how I think they would almost line up. The mounting point are at different levels I think so that would be the main change. I have 4 4the gen k members to work with/cut up. I was even thinking I could cut out the bottom of the 3rd gen "frame rails" where the k mounts, weld in a small section of box steel tube, and then close it back up with the lower section of the "frame" rail cut off one of my 2 4th gen parts cars. That way it would always remain a bolt on setup. Obviously a lot of measurements would need to be taken to make sure wheelbase remains the same, and that the engine centerline and setback are all correct. The 4th gen struts would mount to the top of the current shock towers, which I would reinforce. But even thinking about that, They make coil over 3rd gen setups that put the stress on those towers with no mods and they hold up fine.

Yes, I know its not a simple plug and play install and it would require a significant amount of fabrication. But that's what I would like to have on the car so why shouldn't I try it. If i can get away with only modding the k member and not touching the GTAs unibody, what do I have to lose.

What are your opinions of this? Its not like my GTA is gonna be on the road anytime soon so I have the time to mess around with it.