Aerostar Swap

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Nov 7, 2004 | 10:11 AM

Flip4ford

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From: Newton America :-P

Aerostar Swap

After doing some research I am thinking of tackling an aerostar front end swap to my 62 unibody... But does anybody know if it will ride ok with the weight of my 429/C6? Or will that just be too heavy.??? I would hate to go to all that work, the have problems...

Nov 8, 2004 | 09:50 AM

truckfarmer

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From: Illinois

I have installed an Aerostar IFS in a 55 and a 65 F100 but have never seen either one of them done.

Nov 8, 2004 | 11:52 AM

FordBoypete

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From: East Central Florida

I have an Aerostar AWD (4X4) and it is a 4.0 V6 with the FoMoCo/N/P AWD. It is not a very stout suspension. Most Aerostars only seem to go 120-130K mi, B4 needing attention.

I have a 460, in a my 66 F100. I doubt I'd use an Aerostar front end under mine if I had an earlier chassis tho'. Also racks are only good for about same as inner bushings,
also 120-130K mi. The tie rods aren't very substatntial to me either. They get loose & req' R&R.

We've 205K mi on our Aerostar. It's getting ready for frontend #3. I'm Not complainig, I'm just saying they aren't all that stout IMHO. We'll no doubt re-do ours again FWIW.
Also rotors & calipers are not all that big either.

I push my Slick hard , I stop it hard, so I opted for heavy & big front discs. But it's an easy upgrade for me with 66 type twin I Beams.

FWIW I run F350 Front & rear anti sway bars also, except at strip. All facets of good handling are critical to me. But I'm sort of strange that way, anyway.

FBp

Nov 8, 2004 | 03:04 PM

Ringo Fonebone

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Joined: Jan 2004

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From: Southern Alberta

I have an Aerostar front end, on my (not completed) '64 Merc. I cut half a coil off the springs and it is still stiff, with the 302/trans in place. With full coils the Aero spring rate would ride just fine I think, with a 460....

But FbP is right, I don't think I would have done that front end under a 460. 2-300 more lbs and a heck of a lot more torque would make me look seriously at the strength of the rack and tie rods. The brakes are not real large either, to stop that big block freight train.
I'd seriously look at swapping in a twin I from a 73-79 F250+ under that puppy. Or a frame swap, from a later year.

my $0.02

Last edited by Ringo Fonebone; Nov 8, 2004 at 03:09 PM.

Nov 9, 2004 | 05:36 PM

Flip4ford

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From: Newton America :-P

I have a 1968 that I can rob all the parts I need... Is a twin Ibean swap that hard? Has any one done one?

The wheel base of the 68 is also a little wider then my 62... Will that make a big difference? I also have access to a very low mialege aerostar that was rear ended.... so money is not a big issue for the swap either way I go.

I just had read about the Aerostar, or a dodge dynasty front clip swap... Basically all I want is power steering... (Ok my wife wants power steering and is giving me an allowence to do it.)

Last edited by Flip4ford; Nov 9, 2004 at 05:38 PM. Reason: misspelling

Nov 10, 2004 | 09:37 AM

BB1

Freshman User

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 37

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From: Kindersley, Sask

Front end swap

I agree I don't think it is good swap, I have fixed quite a few of these front ends at ford dealership. I guess it depends on how much driving you are going to do. I am sure you could beef up springs if you wanted. You might want to check post on installing toyota p/s box. Looks like it should work well.
BB1

Nov 10, 2004 | 12:16 PM

airharley

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Joined: Nov 2001

Posts: 3,351

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From: Escondido, CA

You can swap a Lincoln front end into the truck. I have seen the end result on a 64 F-100. Looks very nice plus you know that the suspension is designed to carry and stop 5000 lbs plus car. So why not a 4000 lbs truck? They used a 76 Lincoln Continental 4 door for the donor. I only took notice because I happend to have the same car sitting in my driveway courtesy of Laptop Geek. Sad thing was that I had to finish my project in 3 months to PCS for the Marine Corps. So now I no longer have the Lincoln.