Team Z front K-members

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Team Z front K-members

August 30, 2009, 10:27:18 AM

I think I'm going to go with Team Z for a front K-member, control arms and coil overs. Have anybody had any experience with this company?

http://www.teamzmotorsports.net/front_suspension.html#k_members

I like the fact that they are competive in price and american made. My main concern is the max spring rate this list is 200 and I wonder if this is enough for a T-bird with a Cadillac 500?

I wrote them an e-mail and if I get the kit I will post pictures of the install.

TED

Team Z front K-members

Reply #1 – August 30, 2009, 01:04:57 PM

I have received great products and service from Dave at Team Z. He is an excellent resource for proper suspension set up for drag racing.

He did Badbird's cage and suspension too.

Team Z front K-members

Reply #2 – August 30, 2009, 02:18:23 PM

Good to hear, this was Dave's reply to my email;

Ted the 200 lb spring will be enough, I would recomend a bump steer kit with the front end weight you have, the caster and camber plate and bump steer kit will definatly help the car steer with all the front end weight you have.

we havent done the t bird swap our selfs here but have sold a few K members to people who have, I'm not sure if they used spacers I know of one that it bolted right in!

David Zimmerman
Team Z Motorsports
(734)789-9540

I think it will be good to do business with a local company and made in America.

TED

Team Z front K-members

Reply #3 – August 30, 2009, 03:36:26 PM

I made my decision and it is all paid for. I will let everyone know how it fits.
TED

Team Z front K-members

Reply #4 – August 31, 2009, 12:36:07 AM

If you ever feel like checking out SBFtech.com, there a really cool group of guys running really good times. They know more then anything I have ever heard on every mustang board put together on suspensions. Team z is a sponsor for there site. They make fun of people with 1.5 second 60' times.

Team Z front K-members

Reply #5 – September 20, 2009, 05:13:21 PM

I got most of my stuff but they sent the incorrect k-member. I ordered one without the motor mounts but they sent it with. So I had to send it back for exchange.

Just an update. I'm going to the track next week-end and this should be the last trip for the year. So then I can move on to rollcage and front suspension.

TED

Team Z front K-members

Reply #6 – March 10, 2010, 11:22:28 PM

Well I finally got the Team Z crossmember and parts mostly installed. Things are starting to look pretty nice.

Like all the crossmember for the Mustang the lower and upper bolts are a different height. This one was off by about 3/8 inch. Instead of making a plate all the way across the upper bolts I just put a thick washer under the back upper bolt and mounted the font one up tight. This seemed to do the trick.

The kit moves the Rack and Pinion down about an inch so I also installed a bumpsteer kit. I made a plywood tool to check the toe in for the suspension travel (with no springs installed). If I used the stock tie rod ends I would had about 3/4 inch of toe out moving form down to up! I had to put all the spacers in the kit on the right side and even add three more on the driver's side to get it right.

Anytime you bolt on one of these kits it is very important to check the bump steer before you go down the road.

Also made custom made headers out of 460 ford van headers. And I have brand new slicks.

A lot of work that I hope will pay off in better times.

TED

Team Z front K-members

Reply #7 – March 10, 2010, 11:24:26 PM

Some more pictures. The first one shows the passenger's side without a crossmember, since the Cadillac 500 engine hangs on the sway bar mounts you don't have ot worrying about supporting the engine. Teh second picture is the Driver's side with Crossmember.

TED

Team Z front K-members

Reply #8 – March 13, 2010, 02:37:49 PM

I got the Flowtech exhaust welded up today and I think it came out pretty good. This is a 3 inch kit with Xpipes and Cutouts I got from Jegs. The lers are Thrush Welded and they were only $30 each, I think a heck of a deal.

http://www.jegs.com/i/Flowtech/387/53631/10002/-1
http://www.jegs.com/i/Dynomax/289/17657/10002/-1

Makes the old 2 1/2 inch exhaust look small.

This should be a big improvement over the old cast iron manifolds and 2 1/2 inch system I had. Ran 12.2 before and I hope to be in the 11's now, we will see in the spring.

Still need to install the swing out bars on the roll cage, reinstall the interior, put in the new Cheetah shifter, and bend some new brake lines.

Starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

TED

Team Z front K-members

Reply #9 – March 19, 2010, 01:27:57 AM

Your car is way too cool!

Can't wait for those times now

Team Z front K-members

Reply #10 – March 24, 2010, 08:41:29 PM

Here's some pictures of the installed exhaust.
TED

Team Z front K-members

Reply #11 – March 26, 2010, 02:43:11 PM

That should wake up your 500!

How is access to the plugs for the cut outs? Is it as close to the subframe connector as it appear in the pictures? From what I can see, it looks like it may be tough to pull them out?

The price point on the exhaust kit is cheap! Thanks for posting the link.

I've found the Team Z stuff to be great!

Looks like a ton of weight off the nose with the K-member and swaping out the manifolds.

I'll be watching for your time slips!

Mark

Team Z front K-members

Reply #12 – March 26, 2010, 07:31:36 PM

Thanks Mark,

The cutouts just barely clear the sub-frame so it is not bad. Will have to crawl under to get to the bolts. I plan to make some extensions that I can bolt on when they are pulled to direct the exhaust out and away from the rear tires.

TED

Team Z front K-members

Reply #13 – April 01, 2010, 04:44:44 PM

Here's a clip of the closed exhaust.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D3WPXSjwsu4

Also got to drive it today becasue we had a very short break in the weather. It handled very well and did not pull or drift at all. I guess I still need a front end check but it almost hard to justify.

Very responsive and fast feeling. I think the first chance I will have to go to the track is 4/23, I hope the weather shapes up by then.

TED

Team Z front K-members

Reply #14 – April 01, 2010, 05:21:21 PM

Here's one more with the plugs removed from the exhaust.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zppu1Wv-Wnk

TED