I am in the process of designing the chassis for my next project and have found that there is not much in the way of technical drawings available for the GM subframe out of the Gen 2 F-body (70-81 Camaro specifically). I have found some drawings showing frame alignment points but nothing that shows the axle center line. With all the F100s that have these clips I figured that someone here would have some more data on them. Thanks...

 

I'm real curious what would make you select that IFS when there are far better choices out there? The turning radius is huge, the steering is slow, the geometry is nothing to write home about, they are big and heavy and even the F body guys are ripping them out and replacing them with MII front clips.

 

AX, I know you're no fan of the F-body clip, but I could name a dozen or more folks on here with it. Most, like Garry/Homade rave about it. I've ridden in his truck and heavy or not, it rides like a dream and no question he drives the snot out of it. As a former F-body owner, I can tell you that what they do with their cars is not a good gauge of what we should do to our trucks.

 

It is not for an F100, it is for my 50 Merc Coupe...long wheelbase, narrow in the engine area of the frame, heavy, low-performance cruiser; perfect candidate for this IFS.

 

I know a number of people on here with Volare and the other Mopar IFS that Gibbon used to sell the crossmember for, and they swear by them also, but that doesn't mean they would be my first or final choice out of all that is available today, Lexus, C4 Vette, Jag, (Anyone else know that the Solstice lightweight structural foam filled front crossmember unbolts and the subframe is exactly the width of an f100 frame? The tread width is within 1/2", the control arms are lightweight aluminum, it uses coilovers and the design and geometry is based on the C6 Vette... )

Charlie, haven't done it, but I understand the 50 Merc practically bolts to a late model GM sedan frame?

 

i just ran across this, and thats how my F1 is set up. f body clipped. not totally happy about it, but it was done by the PO. when i checked all the measurements vs a a stock truck, it measured out right. that was back in 08, but i could go out and measure it all again if its desired.....

 

Here's my take on your question. Back when most of the F body clips and Volare IFS systems were installed there was no internet and therefore no forum like this. Guys doing what we are doing today didn't have much info to go on and didn't find any value in measuring all the geometry because there was almost no one to share with. They just used what they knew about auto mechanics, checked the track of the donor car, and welded that sucker in there so that the front wheels aligned with the fender opening. I'll bet most of them were pretty happy with the results too.

 

This.

Thesoftwareismakingmewritemorethan10letters, blah, blah, blah...

 

Nothing wrong with a camaro front end. They dominated the short stock car tracks for years. Don't recall too many mustang 2's racin with them.
Not new technology for sure, but still a sound foundation.

 

Here's the layout I have to date...the MKVIII IRS is dialed in and I have a good idea of how long the main frame rails should be. Right now I just need to add the IFS to complete the picture. This plan view shows where I am at, I just need to do the elevation view to see how I need to move the crossmember and tie in the structure of the IRS. Art Morrison builds frames/chassis' using the GM Gen 2 geometry... I am thinking that it may be worthwhile to buy a clip from him and add the aftermarket arms/spindles/steering components.

 

Charlie, I have a complete GM sub frame here I could measure....problem is I'm not sure if it is from a Nova or Camaro. It's front steer, any other way to ID them?

 

Thanks Scott. Here is one of the drawings that I have been able to find on the net. If I could get a measurement on the side view of this drawing showing where the axle line is then that would help a lot. The "47-1/4" inch line is drawn from two good points of identification...somewhere along this line lies the axle center, that's what I am looking for. If you have a front steer suspension then it should be relevant to this drawing. Thanks....

 

Charlie, I did a little measuring....using my trusty sheetrock T square, etc. I came up with 28 3/4" forward from the rearmost reference hole in your side view above. That is not precise of course, but pretty close. I was measuring to the center of the dust cap with the wheels straight (i hope). Dunno if that helps...

 

That is a big help...thanks!