I have a 51 F1 with the original suspension. I am looking to replace the front suspension. Any advice on what would be the best/easiest option? Would like to find something I could still use original steering with. It has 312 Y Block currently in it. Thank You, Brian

 

Lots of options available.

Jaguar either soft or hard mount.

Mustang 2 is the most popular due to aftermarket production and support.

Volare is losing favor due to parts availability.

Also, don't discount rebuilding the original solid front axle.

 

easiest would be to rebuild (and possibly modify) the original suspension. There are lots of aftermarket parts available to modify/improve the original setup. Lowering springs, Sids front axle drop, sway bar add-ons, etc. These will all work with the stock steering setup. It all depends on how much time and/or money you want to put into it...

 

Hey Brian,
Seem to be (3) popular choices - Upgrade & tighten your existing stock straight axle suspension, Replace with a Mustang II type suspension, or replace with a Salvage yard Jag front IFS.

We went the Mustang II IFS route. It was pretty expensive & involved major surgery on the frame. ($2400 for No Limit Engineering IFS & brake parts plus welding labor). A lot of guys are going with Heidt's units which are around $1500. We were out of commission for months. I'm not sure about hooking it up to your old steering wheel - We replaced our's with an Ididit column.

Personally I'd go with refurbishing the stock axle if I had it to do again and add in a disc conversion kit. I think you can just about get the same ride comfort & braking without the major frame surgery & down time.

Others will chime in on the Jag IFS route.

Good luck over there in Tenn.

Ben in Austin
1950 F1

 

Jag XJ 6 series 3. If you decide to go this route contact David at everydayxj.com . Dudes got lots to choose from for good prices. I don't know him but he fixed me up with mine and several other parts for a really fair price. And he's becoming familiar with what we need for this swap which by the way is a really easy swap with little fabrication if you soft mount it. I completed mine in a day and I'm a greenhorn at this stuff.
Rebuilding the front axle is a good option too. In all honesty it cost me half as much to do the Jag install though. Just wish it was closer to finished so I could say how it well it works.

 

Im working on a 98 ranger ifs swap. It is unfinished, classified as experimental. But for $200 bucks for a rolling ranger chassis, I figured it was worth the attempt.