Need some advice
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Old Town fl.
Need some advice
Good evening my fellow FTE friends I think I have decided to to start from the Frame up . I wanna put new front suspension.I have found where I can get the hole kit for around 1100 bucks . But the thought I show on here somewhere that someone said the the suspension out of a Ford Aerostar will fit my 51 Ford F1 . Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,580
Likes: 29
From: in a barn
If you can fabricate I would go with the jag IFS before an aerostar. Kits are nice but a lot more expensive, just depends on your budget and skill level.
Suspension change also mandates steering column and exhaust work among other snowball effect surprises.
Suspension change also mandates steering column and exhaust work among other snowball effect surprises.
Thread Starter
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Freshman User
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
From: Old Town fl.
The only thing about using the Jag IFS is I'm not sure where to find one .Aerostar are dime a dozen around here . the budget is always an issue . if I do decide to go with the kit do I go with power steering or manual and how hard will it be to put a power steering pump on a Flathead V8... Or would I be better off just putting disc brakes on the straight axle front end
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 401
Likes: 1
From: North Vancouver, BC
We have just put disks on a straight axle on the 49 pickup, and it worked great, now adding a booster to get it safer in traffic. Drivers of new cars don't consider stopping distances when they jump in front.
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Posting Guru
Joined: May 2010
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From: Moyie, BC Canada
I also put disk brakes on my 49's front straight axle after a lot of deliberation. There are probably a million big trucks running up and down the highways with straight axles and not having any problems is kind of what prompted me to go with these. After all, I'm not building a race car.
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Believe Nothing
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: W. Central FL.
I also put disk brakes on my 49's front straight axle after a lot of deliberation. There are probably a million big trucks running up and down the highways with straight axles and not having any problems is kind of what prompted me to go with these. After all, I'm not building a race car.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 703
Likes: 4
From: NJ
I had a Mustang II IFS with PDB and rack and pinion steering put on my '51 F1. I did consider putting disc brakes on teh front and the Toyota PS but in the end, it was cheaper to go this route. And it was the right decision. When my buddy pulled the front axle off, it literally fell apart. I got everything from Speedway along with the weld in crossmember, recommended by their tech guru. I also went with the 2" dropped front end and it looks great!
Later!
Mr. Ed
Later!
Mr. Ed
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 859
Likes: 3
From: Newberg, OR
Welcome JimmyJ, and really looking forward to watching your build.
I've no first hand experience but I've seem many opinions expressed here to avoid the rally cheap ebay IFS kits. But the name brand ones will cost more like $2000. My truck is a low buck build (well, up until this past year when I rebuilt the engine and transmission (twice)), so I know your motivation to find the best way forward. After spending too much time fabricating custom motor mounts and bending headers and paying for a really expensive steering box if I had it to do over again I would rebuild a OEM solid axle and add disk brakes and a toyota PS box. Just my 2 cents worth. Still, we would all love to see what you do with your truck so please keep it coming.
I've no first hand experience but I've seem many opinions expressed here to avoid the rally cheap ebay IFS kits. But the name brand ones will cost more like $2000. My truck is a low buck build (well, up until this past year when I rebuilt the engine and transmission (twice)), so I know your motivation to find the best way forward. After spending too much time fabricating custom motor mounts and bending headers and paying for a really expensive steering box if I had it to do over again I would rebuild a OEM solid axle and add disk brakes and a toyota PS box. Just my 2 cents worth. Still, we would all love to see what you do with your truck so please keep it coming.