Last year my family bought a 1959 ford f350 short bus for tailgaiting. Originally we planned on keeping it the way it was when we bought it but I don't think we can leave well enough alone. It does decent getting around a small college town. However, the rear puts a damper on getting up to a respectable highway speed. And the front end wonders quite a bit at 30 mphs. Plus it would be cool to give the bus some more attitude.

Lately I've been thinking about building a 55-57 chevy truck, but as I drove the bus today it me. We should rebuild the tailgating bus.

In my endless research on 55-57 chevy trucks I have found that front end conversions are a pretty common thing. So why not so it on the bus.

My main concern is. Would a mustang II or crown vic conversion be able to support the weight of a bus. We weighed the truck today and gross weight was 7000lbs. I am assuming the front end is only 15%-20% of this total.

Would also be interested to hear what is a common reared to put under these trucks?

 

Pretty cool bus

 

I wonder if you could swap super duty running gear into it. It would easily support the weight

 

I will let others answer your specific question as I have no experience with the crown vic conversion. However, if you renew the front end and put a steering stabilizer kit on the straight axle steering I am sure it would drive much much better and you won't have the drunken monkey steering you have now. New king pin kit, all new steering tie rod ends, new drag link, stabilizer kit, - see the diagram below. Only about $300 in parts and maybe a weekend job. What rear end does it have in it?

 

I agree with Walston, I would have the front end rebuilt and have the steering box tightened up. It looks like you already have radial tires on the front. As far as road speed maybe try a taller rear tire. It looks as if those rear duals are much shorter that what the oem bias ply tire would have been. Just my opinion.

 

My 64 has the exact same front end illustrated and drives dead straight on the highway at 70, no slop, it's all about alignment and esp. steering parts not being worn all to hell.

Have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth while feeling and observing the tie rod ends, drag link etc. Any appreciable slop or wear already will increase very rapidly, the manual specifies small tolerances like .005" for this reason. Check kingpins for excessive wear, and wheel bearings for proper adjustment. The steering box can be rebuilt/replaced.

 

I would definately echo the value of new stock parts. Changing out the wear parts will make a front end go from nite to day!

 

I assume the 7000lb is empty.

Add six people at 180lb each, food, ice, beverages, and supplies, and 10000lb is fast approaching.

Forget any car based suspensions.

Rebuild what you have and figure out how to get disc brakes of appropriate capacity adapted.

 

I've used the steering stablizer kits such as the one pictured and it works wonders. Simple to install with hand tools, even a novice can do it. The F350 king pin kits are available thru Rockauto. If you can't get the old ones out, any machine shop with a press can.

 

Swapping car based suspension or frames makes it relatively useless as a truck. It is done mostly for ride purposes as many now days don't like the tank ride feeling (me I do--its the only way I'd want it)

 

I love that kind of talk!

 

Thank you. I just posted a reply on another thread that I like driving the old technology and that's the fun of it. I'm not too concerned about somebody rear ending me (common in this town) as it will be them and not me who's out of a car if that happens.

 

You got that right. You know when you think of it, the guys that do all the car parts swapping should have maybe just started out with a Ranchero or something in the first place and leave all the trucks to those that want trucks.

That kind of talk will bring rain! Look out!

 

Its their money so power to them but for all that is spent on swaps and modifications, such amounts of $$$ would just give me more for upcoming paint jobs & miscellaneous items or put in my retirement. I also might add I have a lot more free time on my hands (& garage space) which I wouldn't if I brought on added modifications & so forth. I went thru that stage when I was much younger when everything had to be chrome & cost didn't seem to be an object (well sort of speaking) on other things.