I would like to convert my 66 f-100 i-beam to a radial suspension. Where would I look for a kit to do this job and how much mod-ing will this intel?

 

What do you mean when you say "Radial Suspension" ?

Are you referring to Independent Rear Suspension, aka IRS?

Are you referring to "radial tuned suspension" which is a more compatible system for use with radial tires?

Or some other type of suspension. It's not clear in your question. All suspensions are radial, using arcs in their function, to some degree or another, except 4 link, which generally travel squarely.

Could you clarify this? Thanx. FBp

 

sorry about that, I'm talking about tuned radial suspension for use with radial tires. I've seen this some pictures, but I dont know if its for 4x4 or what. There is a sway bar...blah blah blah. Or any custom front suspsion kit would be good too.

 

Honestly, the twin I-beam suspension isn't that bad as far as pickups go. You have to accept that a pickup is not a race car.

Maybe we should ask what suspension problem it is that you are having?

You may wish to search in the 67-72 and 72 -78 forums. Do a search there. Those pickups have the identical front ends as your 66, and there are whole lot more of them. Probably someone there already tried what you are wanting. But I am not convinced its worth the effort.

 

what radials do, as opposed to bias ply, is form a bubble of air inside their somewhat "floppy" casings. You can see slight bulge in radial sidewalls when standing still but correctly inflated. The flexibility of a radial tires' case & design allows it to "capture" this "bubble". So in effect each wheel is sort of riding on a ball bearing of air, it's the sort of thing bubble acts like. Additionally, radials flop off center in turns. That's to say wheel rim "center" leaves or crosses back & forth across "center line" of tread belt. From all this we can see there is a lot of motion, or actions going on in a radial tire.

Remember back in the day when we learned EVERY ACTION HAS AN OPPOSITE BUT SEPARATE AND EQUAL REACTION ? well it applies to all the actions in radial tires, as well as creating reflections, echos & rebounds the radial tire actions create. This means some way to control the dynamics is necessary.

I do not know of anyone specifically packaging/ selling the sort of "Kit" you seek. BUT, I do know/understand tires, suspensions, and physics. The actions & "reactions" radial tires generate must be dampened/ modulated by what you correctly call radial tuning.

The "shivers" or stutter effect rolling radials generate at higher speeds is effectively quashed by gas filled shocks designed for weight of vehicle they are going on. It can be done with a single shock, pairs, or any multiple equaling that weight. Shocks must be able tohandle any weight they are going to deal with.

Another feature of better radial tuned suspension is progression oriented components. For example the Sensa Track Shocks are progressive, gas filler radial tuned, shocks. I chose them for my own use. Progressive coil springs are also available for use with radial tuned suspensions. I did not use them in my F100 because my sensa track shocks did the deed. BUT I have progressive coils, struts/ shocks in a Hot Rod T-Bird front & rear. They're incredible!

Progressive means component control in degrees, an increasing resistence to loading. Dampening rates are proportionate to loading rates progressive components recieve. Ultimately as loading increases so does resistence to it. Harder it's loaded the more it accepts & resists it.

This factor allows radial tires to be "set" or "Planted" in turns, chicanes & switchbacks, without rebounding, or squishiness non radial suspensions reflect. It also allows planted radial tires to be leaned on, or "Loaded More", like acceleration, going through arc transitions in curves, diminishing radius curves, and turns. If you run radials on tuned suspension, you know or realize they corner better when "worked" with some moderation by "breathing" the accelerator pedal between slight "+" & neutral "0" acceleration.

Non radial suspensions do not have infinitely variable, somewhat forgiving, tolerant, nature that radial tuned suspensions do. Non radial tuned suspensions "gap" & intermittently, slightly failing all the time. Worse yet they catastrophically fail once in a while. That makes driving on radial tires at speeds, or tougher conditions a risky thing w/ non radial tuned suspensions, because they do not have consistent control to utilize what radials have to offer.

Since eFFys use a single, center, tierod (aka center steering link)
to both spindles, they can develop conflicting energies generated by both wheels at different times & energy values. This results in a shimmy like ssensation or feeling in steering wheel, at speeds. A dampener, inline with travel of the center steering link, should quash that effect. Obviously the greater the tire size, or higher the speed the more pronounced the effect is going to get.

So Xman as you probably know, judging by your original query, there is a science to Radial Tuned suspensions. I employ it within all of my own, my wifes' and my kids vehicles, and have done so since I started running Michelins on one of my 18 Wheelres back in the 70s when Michelins appeared for class 8 trux.

In fact that experience is what made me learn most of what I just laid on you in refference to radial tuning suspensions. I will mention it may be exotic, but it's also impressive driving a vehicle with digitally controlled air suspension/ air bags set for use with radial tires. They stick like paint!

I hope this is of some help to ya'.

FBp