Hi!, I'm new to FTE. I just bought a 1956 F100, I love it. However, someone converted the front suspension to volarie, and I don't like it. It also has a small block chevy, and I don't like it.

What I would like to do is convert the front and rear suspension to Mark VIII, and swap out the engine and transmission for the Mark VIII as well.

Has anybody done this swap? I know it will be alot of work, but does the Mark VIII suspension have the proper width?

I just think it would cool to have four wheel independent suspension, four wheel disk brakes, and a 300 hp on tap.

Thanks for your help

 

Welcome to FTE! Having just converted my truck to a Volare suspension I fail to see why you would not like it but to each his own. I have driven mine only up and down the driveway so far but I can tell already it's almost as smooth as my 2005 Dakota. There have been some Ford front suspensions used here by other members but I am not familiar with the process or exactly which ones work the best. Someone with more knowledge on that should be along shortly. Good luck with your project.

 

Welcome aboard! I suspect that the width on the Mark VIII might be a little on the wide side. If you have both the original width on the truck and the doner vehicle, measure and compare center of tread to center of tread dimensions for a start.

 

GreatNorthWoods- Thanks for your comments. I'm having trouble finding an inexspensive markVIII. So, I just ordered all new suspension parts for the Volare front end that is already in the '56. I guess for right now I'll just install a new Ford engine and overdrive transmission, and drive, drive, and drive.

 

Sounds like a plan to me!

 

Have you priced the Mark VIII parts? The air-ride struts cost about $1000 each to replace. You can use Thunderbird struts to get away from the air suspension.
For a wiring harness for the 4.6 DOHC engine, try Detail Zone, Painless Performance, or Ron Francis. That engine would be sweet in one of our trucks.

 

The Volare suspension, when properly installed and refurbished, is very good. You may just need to replace your bushings and adjust your ride height to your personal preference. When I bought mine it was set way too low. It looked like a bull dozer. I don't know where you are located, but I have a set of monos for the rear that would lower it just right. Good luck, Jag

 

I want to thank everyone for there input. I bought a 1997 Mark VIII today. It's a low milage (56,000 miles) car in very good condition. I have measured, and with a little work the Mark VIII suspension will fit. Truckfarmer made mention of the expence of the Mark VIII's air bags, and he is correct, they are expensive. However, I have spent the last five years converting these cars to coil spring suspension with great success. I probably won't convert the suspension until mid 2007 because of cruise ins I am planning to attend. But, The engine and transmission are going in this weekend. I'll keep you updated. Thanks again for your help.

 

Cool! Post lots of pix for those of us living vacariously through the work of others. Jag

 

Didn't Tim (fatfenders56) use the mark IFS in his truck?

 

Where did you order the suspension parts from for the volare? If you don't mind, about how much did that run you?

 

Yes where did you order the replacement parts for the Volare?? im keen to buy some bits and pieces as well.

 

I purchased the Volare front end parts from Advance Auto parts and NAPA. The Volare was built from 1976 through 1980, the ball joints and bushings share the same part numbers for the four years of production (tie rods also). I didn't need any tie rod ends, but the bushings and ball joint part numbers, and prices are:

Description Needed Part Number Cost

Front shocks 2 monroe 55837 $14.44 each
Lower Ball Joint 2 TRW-10285 $12.96 each
Upper Ball Joint 2 TRW-10162 $15.94 each
Control Arm Bushing Upper 4 NAPA 267-1426 $25.79 each
Control Arm Bushing Lower 2 NAPA 267-3360 $14.89 each
Control Arm Bumper 2 TRW-14205 $5.25 each

Please note: part number NAPA 267-1426 contains two upper bushings in the box.
you need one of these boxes per upper control arm. Part number NAPA
267-3360 contains one lower control bushing in the box. You need one
of these boxes per lower control arm.

A friend and I started to pull the engine and transmission out of the Mark VIII, when another friend showed up with his roll back loaded with a 1988 F-150 with a 351W and an AOD transmission. The engine and transmission have only 18,346 miles on them since they were rebuilt. The 351 and AOD were originally supposed to go into a Mustang, but never made it (I don't know why). The truck is backed off the roll back and driven into my shop. I asked how much? He said "nothing, any time a Chevrolet guy converts to Ford, that's a day for celibration". Tonight we pulled the 351 and AOD out of the pick-up, in the morning we will be putting them in the '56. I chose to go this route because it is easier to do this swap than dealing with computers, wiring harness', fuel injection, and fabrication. Around mid 2007 we will put the entire Mark VIII drive line and suspension in the '56.

 

Great info, thanks for posting that!

 

I want to clear up some confusion I may have created with the pricing in my last posting. Part number NAPA 267-1426 is one box that contains two upper control arm bushings, that sells for $25.79, and you need one these boxs for each upper control arm. Part number NAPA 267-3360 contains one lower control arm bushing and sells for $14.89, and you need one of these for each lower control arm. Your approximate cost for upper and lower control arm bushings (both sides) is $81.36 plus tax. Hope this clears up any confusion I may have created.