aftermarket front end
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2010
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From: Columbus Indiana
aftermarket front end
I am thinking of going ahead and buying an aftermarket front end for my 55.... how would i go about finding a shop that knows how to weld this in for me????
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 6
From: Houston
Ask and ye shall receive 
Look for a hot rod shop or one that specializes in classic cars. Or maybe somebody here is in your area of Indiana and knows of one.
Or you could check with whoever you end up purchasing it from, maybe they have contacts of shops that install them.
Look for a hot rod shop or one that specializes in classic cars. Or maybe somebody here is in your area of Indiana and knows of one.
Or you could check with whoever you end up purchasing it from, maybe they have contacts of shops that install them.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 345
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From: Yorkville Indiana
PM sent...
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,994
Likes: 3
From: Morgan Hill, CA
It depends on your skill set. You could consider a bolt-in IFS. If not, do everything yourself except the welding....hire in a local guy with a portable rig to do your welds after you get everything fit and clamped into place.
If that's not the plan and you want to hire out the job, wait until someone weighs in with a reputable shop.
One thing I can warn you about....we hear time and time again about guys who drop off their car or truck for modifications. There are a lot of shops who will take your money and not do the work. If you take it somewhere, set up a schedule and include progress payments for significant milestones. If your guy balks at that it's because he was going to take your money and put your truck in the back of the shop as a winter project....probably winter of 2015. Be sure to check references before you choose a shop. It would be fair for your shop to charge you up front for the IFS kit. A couple of logical progress points are to prep the frame...remove existing suspension and steering. Second step is to set up and weld in the crossmember. A third step is to paint everything and install the control arms spindles springs, brakes and set the ride height. The last step is to put the front clip (fenders and hood) back on. Your guy will need to pull the engine to put in an IFS and that is a good idea.
Dan
If that's not the plan and you want to hire out the job, wait until someone weighs in with a reputable shop.
One thing I can warn you about....we hear time and time again about guys who drop off their car or truck for modifications. There are a lot of shops who will take your money and not do the work. If you take it somewhere, set up a schedule and include progress payments for significant milestones. If your guy balks at that it's because he was going to take your money and put your truck in the back of the shop as a winter project....probably winter of 2015. Be sure to check references before you choose a shop. It would be fair for your shop to charge you up front for the IFS kit. A couple of logical progress points are to prep the frame...remove existing suspension and steering. Second step is to set up and weld in the crossmember. A third step is to paint everything and install the control arms spindles springs, brakes and set the ride height. The last step is to put the front clip (fenders and hood) back on. Your guy will need to pull the engine to put in an IFS and that is a good idea.
Dan
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,511
Likes: 1
From: peyton, colorado
Old Dan is right as usual. Beware the shop that has tons of cars covered in dust with no visible progress being made. If you can find a buddy with any kind of welder to tack it in the correct spot you can hire a pro to do the structural welding. The rest of the project, painting, bolting on parts etc is within the skills of the average gearhead.
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