Hey guys, I have been helping my dad.on his '35 Ford before I tear into my '55. We have cut out his factory X-member, boxed the frame and made a tubular X-member.
I started thinking I would do similar to my truck, and started looking for boxing plates, but I can only find front or rear boxing plates. Does someone make full length boxing plates, or for that fact does anyone do the full boxing?
I plan to do an IFS, and probably a 4 link rear with my supercharged 5.0 motor.
Thanks

 

Hi Derek

normally on these trucks used as drivers, a full box isn't necessary. Originally with the original leaf spring suspension the frame worked with the suspension and flexed to spread the load and handle the twists and turns of the suspension...

when adding IFS... flex isn't necessarily a good thing. I've got MII in front and ladder bars in the rear. I boxed from the snout to the cab... Unless you plan on dumping the clutch and torquing the frame with wheel stands, you'll do fine with the partial box... plus it makes wiring and plumbing a whole lit easier.




later
John

 

The first question to ask is WHY? If the honest answer is "because Dad did it to his car", then you should be asking WHY did Dad do it to his car. If the answer is something like...the 35 Ford has a huge Xmbr and it gets in the way of the late model driveline and exhaust and it must be modified to accomodate the new driveline, then you must ask yourself if that reason applies to your 55 F100 as well. My guess is that the answer is no.

There's an old story about a young guy who had just gotten married. His wife was cooking her first Sunday dinner and was making a special ham. He watched as she cut off both ends of the ham before she cooked it. When he asked her why she did that she replied, "because that's the way Mom always made a ham". Later that year they were at Mom's house, so the young husband asked his mother-in-law why she cut off the ends of the ham before she cooked it. She replied, "because that's the way my mother always made a ham". A few weeks later they were at Grandma's so the husband asked her if she cut the ends of the ham off before she cooked it. She said why yes I do. When he asked her why she said, "the hams are always 12 inches long and the biggest pan I had to bake them in was only 10 inches long, I had to cut off the ends to get the ham to fit".

 

If I were doing an IFS front AND rear with a supercharged 5.0 I would want to box my entire frame. You will probably have to make your own boxing plates...or, if you have a sheet metal shop in your area make cardboard templates and have them cut them out of 1/8 inch plate...

 

Any sheet metal shop should be able to cut the centre section boxing plates as that area is straight and flat. And with a supercharged engine i would box the entire frame.
However, you will need to carefully consider how you install your x member as poorly designed crossmembers wont work any better than a stock frame.
Maybe do a little research before picking up the welder. John

 

here's a link for full length plates




Progressive Automotive, frame boxing plates, chassis boxing plates


joe

 

89 bucks for two pieces of 1/8" metal 3 feet long seems high to me... you're gonna have to do some grinding/burning to get them to fit anyway... I'd build my own and buy the metal to do it...

are you welding them in yourself ???

john

 

Thanks for all the input guys! I don't see where a fully boxed frame is a bad thing. I would already be doing the front and rear, as stated. I will give lots of thoughts to the layout and design, but yes, I will be welding them in myself. I am fully equipped and more than capable. I have a shear, a plasma cutter, huge band saw, tubing bender and welder . All I need is time!

 

Make your own. Its easy enough to cut them out of some flatbar or plate with a metal blade in a skillsaw.
Good luck
Bobby

 

Man sounds like you got all the toys!!! i fully boxed mine in, made templates out of cardboard and traced them onto a sheet of steel., cut em out with the torch, a bit of grinding and welded them in.

 

I made my own also. Used a sawsall and some patience.