I plan to use a Volare IFS in my 1956 f100 Panel Truck. My question is can I use a 6 cylinder donor Dodge Aspen or does the donor have to be a v8 car? I plan to use a small block engine and auto trans in the truck. What is the difference in the K frame from the 6 to the v8, as I cannot see a difference other than engine mounts. Thanks for the advice.

 

You are correct, the K-members are all the same. Besides the motor mounts, sometimes the swaybars are bigger on the larger cars.

 

Thanks Fenders.
So would you recommend the 6 cylinder Aspen donor?

 

ZZMAXX25,

Nothing against the Dodge 6 cylinder, but is that going to be "enough" for a panel truck? Aerodynamic and made of composite materials they ain't!!!

Just my $.02... and certainly no offense intended.


Regards,
Daryl

 

DS59F100

I plan to use a Chevy 350/350 turbo tran for my drive train. My question was to determine if the suspension components in a 6cylinder Dodge Aspen clip were comparable to the Chrysler v8 K frames. Thanks for the reply.
Maxx

 

I plan to use a Chevy 350/350 turbo tran for my drive train.

And we were getting along so well Maxx. I had a Chevy in my truck but it's fixed now. The Aspen clip is fine, and most any smallblock fits well. A slant six Dodge engine weighs more than a 318 I'm told. The control arms and such are the same. As I said earlier, the sway bar is about the only thing that varies by application. Chrysler made a zillion of them and they are all virtually identical.

You might search this thread for Volare. There is tons of info here on the subject.

 

Fenders:
I did not intend my response to be negative and hope you did not take is as such. I appreciate very much any information or suggestions you and all others have provided. I expect I will need much more technical assistance before I am through with my project.
Thanks.
Maxx

 

Maxx

You're post wasn't negative. There are a number of guys here with Chevy drivetrains. We try to harass all of you equally so nobody gets jealous. It is your truck and you are free to build it how you like, but you can expect to get razzed here in Ford land if you mention Chevy often.

If you are not aware, there is a Volare How to Install Video available from No Limit Engineering. Its about $35 now but it is a very good investment, if you decide to go Volare anyway.

 

fenders I'm glad you warned him now about the evils of C####y engines in FORD trucks. Maxx, It's not too late. Find yourself a nice 289 or 302. Dont' put yourself through the humiliation of having to say the "C" word every time someone asks. Just kidding. I know it's the easy way out and those 350 are very cheap to buy. Good luck, John

 

zmaxx..
i have a 51 f1 that i'm just about finished putting a torsion bar in...
its really not that hard a job.....if you can weld, then its that much
easier.....my 51 frame is 2 inches narrower than yours, so i had
to do a little more trimming for the steering box......if it rides half as good as it looks then i'll be happy..also...i don't think even the chrysler,dodge,plymouth etc can tell you how much difference there is in a 6 cylinder and a 8 cylinder system...some of those mopar six cylinders were quite heavy motors....just make sure that you have the system that has the bars built into the front
end..not the long bar type....jeepcat44

 

John:
I haven’t bought that GM yet! Maybe you guys will convince me to give a “blue” 302 or 351w a try.
. I picked up a 78 Aspen (6 cylinder) this evening for $50. The car runs great and drives great (62,422miles). The K frame looks pretty clean and power steering and brakes work fine. The old-timer who had the car tried a spray can paint job on it, which is why the price is right. I measured the diameter of the torsion bar and sway bar on a Chrysler (v8) at a local used car lot and the one on the Aspen and they were the same size.

Jeep:
My friend, who is letting me use his garage space to work on my 56 f100 panel truck, has a 51 truck also. He is waiting to see how well (or bad) my clip works out before he proceeds with his. I’m sure he would like to see any pictures you may have before he gets out the torch.

Has anyone bought new bushing kits for their Chrysler clip, do you have approximate cost and recommended vendor?
Thanks - all for the info.
Maxx

 

Maxx

Kanter has pretty good prices on rebuild kits. About $120 as I recall. You will have to get the torsion bar end bushings from MOOG or the dealer. This is the expensive part. They are $160 a pair but they will be trashed, guaranteed. The T-bar pivot bushings don't seem to wear too much. If anybody tells you your Aspen is too old for a listing, tell them its an 87 Fifth Avenue and they'll suddenly have your parts readily available.

 

Don't put that Chevy in a Ford!
Think about this.....back in the 50s, when the 350 was originally designed in a smaller form, starting with a clean sheet of paper,
the engineers put the distributor AT THE BACK OF THE DARN ENGINE!

Remember that all the cars were RWD. Why would the deliberately do that? Just to be a pain in the butt, that's why.

Of course, the Y block was the same, but, since it's a Ford, we won't talk abou that ....of course, Ford did later correct their error.

Back on line after a computer crash,

Paul Gayda

 

Well if it isn't ole Paul, the guy that sold me my Chevy powered Effie.

'fenders

I know, you didn't actually put it in there yourself, save it for the Judge ..........