Hi, I'm new to the forum, have a '55 proj. underway and have read the articles on options for front ends, have secured a '97 aerostar so now the fun begins! any pointers from those who have done it on how to retain the most of orig. frame etc. would be greatly appreciated.

 

Hi Jim,
I'm going with a 4WD but I had considered going with the Aerostar front end. I had one years ago and they look to me to be a whole lot tougher than the stock set ups from the other donor vehicles commonly used to do this. I have read there are several advantages, The first being price as the Aerostar is not a highly prized vehicle so it would be cheaper to get one, I see them in junkyards quite a lot. I have read that the welding and cutting is a bit excessive but if you take your time and cut and fit cautiously you ought to be able to do it. Good welding and fabricating skills are of course essential. I have also read that getting the steering hooked up is a bit of a pain but with a few u-joints and a support bearing you ought to be able to get around that problem. I suppose a lot depends on the engine and header choice to go with it. Good luck and keep us posted with progress pics. I'm sure there is someone on here that has done this and can help more than I can at present.

 

Thanks. Will post pix as available.

 

Do a search on this forum using " Aerostar ". There are several people in here going/gone that route and there are a few threads that get into lengthy discussion on it.

And since your new here - check out the thread up top entitled FAQs. There are a lot of links to a lot of 48 - 60 specific information.

 

Here's my fave thread on this subject....I was gonna do it to my 48, but the frame is 2" narrower, so I didn't. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/2...all-notes.html
Scott Hurley's gallery, pretty good pics: 1956 Ford F100 4x2 - Me Time

 

I put one in last fall and only got a chance to put on about 70miles, but it handles great. We didn't cut the frame at all but if you want to get that extra 2inch drop you can notch the frame to install it.
Mymerc

 

My biggest question in how much drop did you actually acheive (without notching)..
I know that you can cut coils and notch, but I am trying to determine, is this really the swap for me, if I want to go LOW...Like considerably lower..
thanks!

 

Don’t know, but reading between the lines (dangerous); low if you notch, stock if you don’t, why cut your frame, just weld and change the spindles, see below.

That is how the Mustang II got it’s start, by someone using OEM pieces and adapting them (because we had to) and now we have an aftermarket industry based around it, but I wonder why we have to have these “reinvent the wheel projects”, that by the time and effort spent making them work (and then maybe not be quite right, or too high, or too low) are the savings really greater then buying a engineered kit that is proven to work?

............Or maybe darksiders are just cheap masochistic wacko individualists?

 

So, I guess you are against the volare swap as well? (you have to notch frame to install that)
And last I knew, they do not make "drop spindles" for Aerostars..If you know of a place that sells them, please let us know..
And as far as cheaper to get a MII...The cheapest I have found is $350..And that is only for the crossmember...You then, you still have to buy all the other components...versus a $200 crossmember with everything ready to go..
My original question was simply how low this swap makes the truck (without notching the frame) But, I guess thanks for the rest of your input too...

 

Here's a link to a video on one that scr8pin_f100 posted in another thread;

If you're still looking..Here is a Video of an Aerostar clip installed in a '53...A local rod shop installed and now sells a kit that boxes the front end in...super easy!

http://www.youtube.com/user/HillBill.../0/ivjzrTECJHM

 

Right..I posted that video..LOL
But, even though that is a great, and seemingly easy swap and great kit, I still wonder how low the truck might look..(it is just a bare chassis in the video, with no weight of the cab/body..) That's why I posted the original question here...

 

Yes, not done yet. But here is mine.

 

And another view.

 

Hey! I resemble that remark...

 

Man, "54Texas"..that does make for an easy install! Looking good...