Does anyone have any leads on manufacturers building IFS kits for the '61-'64 trucks? If at all possible I would like to install something as opposed to grafting/cliping something.

 

Industrial Cahsiss out of Arizona sells a Dakota kit that I used. There are many Mustang II kits out there.

 

Were you happy with the kit? prices seem comparible?

 

If I had a bigger budget I would use the IC Dakota setup. But I am limited so I'm running a used Volare clip. I believe "Garbz" works there and he knows his stuff. I'd trust anything he's put together. There are no bolt in options for IFS on your truck.

 

......."Garbz" works where?

I may have misspoke in saying that i was looking for a bolt on kit. I didnt want to have to to a full frame clip. I would like a product that I can attatch to the frame with minimal modifications to the stock frame.

 

The crossmember and motor mounts (small block Ford, of course) ran around $800 if I recall correctly. I bought all of the donor parts off an '88 Dakota for $150. The instructions were pretty good and I have called the guys for info a couple of times and they were very helpful. They also modified my rack and pinon steering to clear the oil pan for free. Got the chassis completed but that is as far as I have got on the project.

 

Then the dakota is the ticket. Inner boxing plate welded to the inner rails, then the hats trimmed out and welded in place. The easiest to install. Uses all stock suspension components 86 to 96 Dodge Dakota. It will also allow the truck to maintain the GVRW rating it came from the factory with..Drop os around 3.5 to 4 inches with four cyl springs and another 2 can be obtained with IC's dropped spindle kit. This setup will not need a sway bar either as the stock dodge compoents handle well. 140 around the durango curve in I17 hugging the pavement in the IC shop truck a 1963 Uni.

IC will also modify the dakota rack for clearance on lima engine installs for free if a kit is purchased.

The Kit is only a crossmember and includes no a arms or springs spindles or shocks. Made from 3/16th cold rolled steel on the boxing plates and ten guage cold rolled steel for the remainder.

IC also will drop a stock 61 to 64 I beam axle on a custom made axke press average is 3 to 3.5 inches of drop.

Ask the MII guys what the GVRW of your truck will be if you install a MII.

I am aware of no kt out there that just bolts on as there are no bolt holes in the ford frame to go from to make a bolt in kit.

Garbz

 

THanks again for the info. I totally misspoke with the bolt on thing - i just didnt water to cut the frame at the firewall and weld on a new clip. The IC kit looks to be a good way to go.

Garbz - In your post you said "Ask the MII guys what the GVRW of your truck will be if you install a MII."

What did you mean by it?

what is the bolt pattern on the dakota?

 

GVRW =Gross Vehicle Regstered Weight

Slick weighs about 3800#

A how much did a mustang/pinto weigh? around 3100#

A stock 4 Cyl dakota weighs in a 4200# and has a suspension designed for a truck and weight transfer and still has a 1/2 ton cargo capicity. The Dakota has a front weight of 2300# and a rear weight of 1900#.

The front weight on a typical F100 is abour 2300# with 1500# trailing behind on the rear axle.

As you can see the front weight matches, and is important on how the truck handles and stops.

Additionally the track width of a dakota is 61 inches and matches the F100 from 55 up.

A MII geometry and roll center are designed for a 56 1/2 inch track width coupla inches short there....

The IC kit will allow you to still haul that 1/2 ton of cargo and be in the weeds.

Bolt pattern is five on 4.5 for the 86 to 90 and 6 on 4.5 for the 91 to 96, however the five lug hubs interchange with the six lug.

Garbz

 

THats where i thought you were going with it. I think that i will have to start looking for a donor, then order the kit.

Couple more questions;
1)Sotra off topic - If I do the conversion, will the power disk brakes work correctly as manuals or would I need to switch the truck to power?
2) Anyone know if i can modify my stock steering column to work with a r&p or would i be further ahead to start with a column that was made to accept the universal joints and such. ( I understand the monual box will have to be removed / cut)

 

You will need a dual resivoir master cylinder for the disc brakes, to power or not to power is up to you. When the funds allow I am going to purchase a power dual master cyl. setup from Blue Oval Truck Parts. I think it uses a GM style cylinder. You could probably use some other setup, I'm not sure. Several places sell these setups.


You can modify your stock column to work with the r&p steering. The '88 Dakota rack uses a 3/4"-36 spline (if my memeory serves correct) u-joint that can be bought at any speed shop. I used that on the rack, a 3/4 steering support hiem attached to the frame, some 3/4 steering shaft and a 3/4" by 3/4 u-joint will hook up to the factory steering shaft after you cut it off the stock steering box. I used a bearing with a 3/4 inner diameter hole and the outside deminsions to fit inside the stock steering column, welded 3 nuts centered over holes I drilled equally spaced aroung the outside of the column and used set screws to hold it in the center of the coulmn. Socal sells a product called a column saver that serves the same purpose as the bearing I used. Sounds complicated but it was pretty easy. If I was a litte more techno savvy I would post some pics, but sorry outta luck there.

 

What if you're really going for the Mustang II kit? I guess I'll have to fab my own crossmember and then buy control arms and components..?

 

Look into the Aerostar front end...no crossmember to buy. Just the front clip. And you keep it Ford.

ROb

 

Fat man makes a MII crossmember specific to slicks 61 to 64 ad 65 up. However do not expect to use your truck as a truck. Stock MII arms holding the front of a heavy truck up would scare me,, Post good pics so i can get out of the way when i see you on the freeway.

Wife dude... Who made the rack in the aero? Probally TRW same as a dakota. Subs all stamped the arms and forged the spindles.....The same people that made the dodge components made the ford components. Its just differing engineering for a specific application. Some brand loylaty is sadly mistaken. The aero star is not a just chuck it in there deal. it needs custom shim blocks to take up the space above the frame.

No suspension change is ideal, all are some kind of comprimise. When some one else comes out with a truck specific application using modern components let us know. IC's Dakota kit is the only one designed with truck components. Keep your truck a truck.

Garbz
PS I no longer work at IC.

 

Yeah, but I can do a lot of shimming and fabricating for 800 bucks. If you want the cheap/easy route, a high dollar crossmember isn't it. If you want MII, you are either looking at a grand for a new setup, or a couple hundred for a wore out donor, and a 350 dollar crossmember. I guess I will know in a couple months how good/bad the aerostar front end is to install. And as far as car suspension versus truck suspension, the Aerostar minivan was a Motor Trend Truck of the Year winner...


ROb