Ok, tommorrow i will begin my quest through every junkyard in louisiana for a good candidate for my truck. I am first going looking for a jag as ive it is a great replacement. I need to know what other fronts will work incase the jag isnt there. Ive heard mustangs but what year? Also steering, do i take the steering from whatever front i use? Thanks

 

Cody, click on the first post (FAQ on 48-52) at the top of the page. A great article on IFS. Unfortunately it just touches on the JAG IFS. The 79-86 Jag IFS (Type III) is the one most are using. Lot of good info on other front end swaps.

Gil

 

Im still on the hunt for my jag ifs, but for the time being i would like to ask for some great idease from all you guys on different options for the front of my 50. If i cant seem to find this jag front end what would be a great alternative that i can get from a salvage yard. Come on guys i know yall have the answers.....

 

Cody; Don't give up on the Jag IFS. It's worth the hunt and the wait. I looked for 6 months before I found mine, But I'm glad I kept looking. I used the IFS, and the IRS. I found mine on Craigs list. bought the whole car for $350. Had to drive almost 400 miles to get it home on a trailer. But it was well worth it. Good luck with the hunt.

 

I guess your right rusty, im just anxious but i know it will be better if i just wait. Did you use jag steering? What years from the jag work? Do i have to use jag steering? Sorry about the series of questions but im curious. Thanks.

 

You will want the complete front suspension, crossmember, rack and pinion brakes etc. I would also grab the steering shaft with the unique u joint-I call it a Z joint based on its shape. The whole front suspesion drops out of the doner car after removing a handfull of bolts and disconnecting the steering shaft. I do not know if others have used the steering column but I do not think that it is the best setup. Keep looking for a donor. They are cheap to buy and fit our trucks like they were made for it.

 

Hey Cody!,Did you check out Rusty50f1 gallery yet ? you will have to make up your own mind , but I think that frame is "screaming" for a JAG set-up ..just my humble opinion , Whatever you decide ,Good Luck!!...(whenever I start feeling anxious.,I sit down and wait till it passes lol...)

 

thanks for the luck cmoritz, yeah your right i think its screamin for the jag too . Yes ive looked at rustys gallery and that pretty much made my mind up about the whole situation. Ill just wait till i can find a good donor somewhere within reason.

Rusty, what steering column did you use? Any ideas?

 

Cody; Be sure to get all of the IFS, And the shaft. I'm not using the colume or wheel. I'm using the one out of the donor IROC If I don't change My mind. I'd like to get one from a Caddy with telescoptics (that don't look right) You know what I mean. Just keep looking. thier all over Tx. Thats where I got mine. And thanks for the comps on my frame. I like the way it looks better than I thought I would. If I can help in anyway just let me know. But I got almost all my ideas from here on FTE. There are a bunch of great people on here.

 

Cody,
There are other IFS's you could possibly use, but the rest require aftermarket crossmembers and suspension parts like the MII style (DON'T even consider using a stock Mustang II setup, they are pure junk design and not really suited for a vehicle over 2500#) or require a frame graft (cutting off your original frame near the firewall and replacing it with the similar portion from the donor vehicle) a major undertaking.
Don't be in a hurry, hunt down that Jag you won't be sorry.

 

I agree rusty that a caddy column would be cool.

Thanks for the tip ax, i was wondering if something like a frame graph would be needed for other front ends. Ill just continue looking around for a donor.....

 

codys50ford

what part of LA do live.

 

I live in Baton Rouge, cool i see you live in lafeyette. I drive there for work verry often. How long you lived there?

 

Stop by the Louisiana chapter

 

I'm running a tilt & tele column from a 72 Caddy in my 49. My advice is, don't do it. The column is too long, even with the telescoping part sucked in all the way. Maybe the tilt & tele columns from a later model car might be shorter.

Of course you could always shorten the column. I think AX shortened a steering column for his panel. From what I remember it isn't a very complicated process. Rod & Custom magazine did a tech article on the process not long ago. When I get home tonight I can get you that info if you like.

I think the ideal length of for a column for our trucks is somewhere around 30"

Good luck
Bobby