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K-Frame

The LH/LX/UC 4 cyl Starfire, 6 cyl and V8 k-frames are all basically the same. The only significantly different k-frame is the one used with the Opel 4 cyl which has a different engine mount and can not be used with the 6 cyl and V8 engine mounts. Early LH k-frames do not have the sway bar mount holes however these can be easily added. A cover for the rag joint coupler was added during the LX model. The mounting position of the upper control arm (UCA) moved from the lowest position on the LH to the highest position on the UC.  The A9X k-frame had both the UC  UCA mount holes and a lower position, the lower position was used.  The UC k-frame has a small bit of steel rod welded to the top of the outer ends of the k-frame  just under the UCA. The purpose of this rod is unclear, it appears to be some sort of bump stop.

UCA bolt hole position
LH/X RTS 40mm
LX non RTS 32mm
UC 28mm

The bracket in view A is welded to the k-frame for the Starfire 4 cyl, 6 cyl and V8.

Startfire, 6cyl and V8 mount	Bracket part #7 in this picture is welded to the k-frame to mount the Opel 4 cyl motor.

Upper Control Arm (UCA)

The LH and LX use the same UCA. Although the LH arm may have been made from thicker steel. The UCA on the UC have offset ball joints which gives more positive caster than the LH and LX UCA's.

UC left, LH/LX right Picture by hatchssv8

Lower Control Arm (LCA).

The geometry of the LCA is the same throughout all models. The LH and LX LCA are identical with the exception that the LH arm is made from 4 mm and the LX is made from 2.5 mm pressed steel. The LCA on the UC is made from 3 mm pressed steel.  The LH and LX LCA do not have steering arm bump stops. The UC LCA has steering arm bump stops. The UC LCA has a larger hole for the shock absorber to fit through. The LH and LX LCA shock hole can be enlarged to the same size as the UC.

Stub Axles

The stub axles are unchanged throughout the LH/LX/UC however there is a drum and disc brake version. The A9X uses HZ one tonner stub axles.

LH/LX/UC Stub Axle KPI 9

A9X Stub Axle KPI 7 ( Drops ride height 30 mm and increases track 25 mm ) A9X steering arms are required to correct bump steer caused by the stub axle.

A9X left LX Right Picture by dangerous	A9X left LX Right Picture by dangerous

 

Steering Arms

The steering arms are different for each model. The tie rod end of the arm gets progressively lower and longer though out the LH/LX/UC/A9X. Harrop make reproduction A9X steering arms.

UC steering arm Left 9947249(GM7249) Right 9947248(GM7248)
LX steering arm  Left 9928329(GM8329) Right 9928328(GM8328)
LH steering arm Left 9928327 Right 9928326
L34 steering arm Left  9935249 Right 9925250
A9X steering arm Left xxxxxx Right xxxxxxx

LX top, UC bottom. Picture by hatchssv8	L34 Left 9935249 Picture by slr5640	L34 Right 9935250 Picture by slr5640	L34 infront of UC Picture by slr5640	L34 at rear Picture by slr5640
UC top, L34 bottom Picture by slr5640	The A9X arm is a Harrop reproduction Picture by rorym	Picture by dangerous	Picture by dangerous	Picture by dangerous

 

Steering Racks

The LH and LX steering racks are rubber mounted. The UC and A9X steering racks both solid mounted but use different methods. The steering rack mount bolt locations are not changed. Replacement rack bushes are available for the LX and UC racks but not for the LH racks.

 

The steering ratio is the number of degrees the steering wheel is turned to turn the road wheel 1°. An 18:1 steering ratio means that you turn the steering wheel 18° to turn the road wheel 1°. The lower the ratio the faster and heavier the steering. The steering ratio will change if the length of the steering arms are changed. The LH, LX, UC and A9X all have slightly different length steering arms and therefore would produce slightly different steering ratios with the same rack.

 

I have been told that the Torana front wheel moves 65° from lock to lock. 34° in and 31° out. Using this figure we can calculate the following.

 

18:1       65 * 18.0 / 360 = 3.25 turns lock to lock.

20.4:1    65 * 20.4 / 360 =  3.68 turns lock to lock.

25:1       65 * 25.0 / 360 = 4.51 turns lock to lock

 

The following are rack part numbers and the ratios.

 

9932244          18:1       (LH Right hand Drive. 3.25 turns lock to lock. Source LH Parts Manual pg 371) 3.68 turns lock to lock

9932245          18:1       (LH Left Hand Drive. 3.25 turns lock to lock. Source LH Parts Manual pg 371)

9942632          20.4:1    (LX Right Hand Drive. 3.68 turns lock to lock. Source LX Parts Manual pg 379)

9942633          20.4:1    (LX Left Hand Drive. 3.68 turns lock to lock. Source LX Parts Manual pg 379)

9940277          20.4:1    (UC Right Hand Drive. 3.68 turns lock to lock. Source UC Parts Manual pg 06-10)

92001807                      (A9X Right hand Drive. ?? turns lock to lock. Source LX Torana Performance Equipment Package - Option A9X pg 5)

 

Steering Pinion

VS12501                        (LH Right Hand Drive. Source LH Parts Manual pg 375)

VS12502                        (LH Left Hand Drive. Source LH Parts Manual pg 375)

VS12501                        (LX Right Hand Drive. Source LH Parts Manual pg 384)

VS12502                        (LX Left Hand Drive. Source LH Parts Manual pg 384)

VS13851                         (UC Right Hand Drive. Source UC Parts Manual pg 06-4)

 

Steering Rack Part Number. Picture by A9X

 

I have collected the following rack travel measurements as another method of identifying racks.

 

LH rack travels 63 mm for 1.5 turns

UC rack travels 55 mm for 1.5 turns

 

If the UC rack is 20.4:1, the rack travels 55 mm for 1.5 turns and there are 3.68 turns from lock to lock then the total rack travel is 135 mm.

 

Using the above figures.

 

The LH rack travels 63 mm for 1.5 turns of the wheel. This would require 135 / ( 63 / 1.5 ) = 3.21 turns for lock to lock which gives a ratio of  360 / ( 65 / 3.21 ) = 17.87 which is close enough to 18:1.

 

On this basis the 25:1 rack would travel 135 / 4.51 * 1.5 = 45 mm for 1.5 turns.

 

Swaybar Options

 

Front Swaybar

1. Factory swaybar

2. Whiteline BHF37 24 mm rear mount (factory style)

3. Whiteline BHF35 24 mm front mount

4. K-MAC 24 mm front mount adjustable (Bathurst design)

Rear Swaybar

 

1. Factory LH/LX trailing arm mounted swaybar. This is the least effective of all swaybar designs.

2. Factory UC front mounted swaybar.

2. Whiteline BHR37 18 mm front mount (similar to UC)

3. Whiteline BHR35 18 mm trailing arm mount ( similar to LH/LX)

3. K-MAC 18/20 mm  front mount (similar to UC)

4. K-MAC 18/20 mm rear mount adjustable (Bathurst design)

 

Whiteline BHF35 Front mount front swaybar	Whiteline BHF35 Front mount front swaybar	Whiteline BHF35 Front mount front swaybar	Whiteline BHF35 Front mount front swaybar	Whiteline BHR37 Front mount rear swaybar
Whiteline BHR37 Front mount rear swaybar	Whiteline BHR37 Front mount rear swaybar	K-MAC Front mount adjustable front swaybar	K-Mac rear mount adjustable rear swaybar	K-Mac rear mount adjustable rear swaybar
K-Mac front mount rear swaybar	K-Mac front mount rear swaybar	K-Mac front mount rear swaybar

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