1956 IFS HeLp !
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 90
Likes: 0
1956 IFS HeLp !
Project: I-WANT-DONE-RIGHT
1956 Ford F-100/302 carb/stock open frame
Want:
IFS w/out dropping,tight/smooth ride, great stopping power, not affraid to spend.
-Looked into FatMans & '96 Corvette. Leaning to Corvette setup but can't find any1 with expert advice.
1956 Ford F-100/302 carb/stock open frame
Want:
IFS w/out dropping,tight/smooth ride, great stopping power, not affraid to spend.
-Looked into FatMans & '96 Corvette. Leaning to Corvette setup but can't find any1 with expert advice.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,734
Likes: 2
From: Kansas City area
There are several good Mustang type IFS vendors, Total Cost Involved, Heidts, and others. As far as Corvette IFS/IRS check out Flat Out Engineering and Progressive Automotive. I have used the Flat Out kit and it is quality. I looked at the Progressive and was impressed but found it after I had purchased the Flat Out kit. I have used Heidts Mustang IFS and they are quality also.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 8,093
Likes: 652
From: Brentwood, TN
I have done three of the C4 installs, no more complex than most MII jobs. Be advised...the rack and pinion assembly on the C4 sits very high and will hit oil pans, harmonic balancers, or whatever else you mount above them. Take a look at a Corvette and make special note of how far back the engine sits...the engine is completely behind the R&P assembly. IF you choose a C4 IFS make sure that your engine placement can support this IFS. As an added note, if you are thinking about a BBF (ala 460) then you will have even more clearance issues with the upper A-arm mounts.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Art Morrison also makes a highquality IFS (his own design, not the MII based one).
Don't use any that still uses the OEM single pivot with strut bar MII/Pinto stamped steel lower control arm!!!
Don't use any that still uses the OEM single pivot with strut bar MII/Pinto stamped steel lower control arm!!!
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 656
Likes: 0
From: Westford,Ma
I went with the Industrial Chassis dakota front end. It went in real nice.I just got it in so I can't comment on the performance yet.
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New User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Trenton, MI.
What is wrong with the stock peices? Two local fellows have them in their trucks, and have no complaints.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Each to their own. I personally wouldn't use front suspension parts that were designed only to be manufactured as cheaply as possible and placed under a <2000# rolling garbage can with 13" wheels and brakes that wouldn't stress a gokart, under a 4000# truck and stress them with a front end supporting nearly twice the pinto design weight with 15" or larger wheels, big tires and probably power disk brakes. That's like putting the stock 1/2T Ford beam axle under the front end of a semi! It could be done, but I wouldn't want to drive it.
Senior User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 326
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From: Glen burnie MD
it wasnt to long ago when i was fighting you about this same thing AX! You know what i took your advice and went with the aftermarket Mustang II crossmember and tubeular arms and your right after looking at the stock stuff compared to the aftermarket there is no comparison A stock mustang II has 9 inch rotors and that is nothing compared to todays rotors of 13 and bigger on stock trucks. keep it safe and build your truck right.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
I thank you and the others on the road with you thank you! Just think about how much force is applied to those strut bushings when all that extra weight hits a pothole and drives it backwards against the rubber donut trying to drive it thru that simple bracket hanging off the frame. The rod is going to move much further making it much more likely the thin stamped sheetmetal lower control arm will bend or crack at it's single pivot plus the stress will likely bend or crack the frame or weld where the strut bracket is mounted. The original MII/Pinto IFS was fine when used under a pre 40's lightweight hotrod with the engine set back similar to the donor, it was narrow enough to use as is, tucked up nicely under the clamshell fenders, and the rear lower strut bar even resembled the traditional radius rods at a quick glance. It's when that popularity was carried over to the 40s and 50s cars and trucks that there was a problem.
New User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Sewell, New Jersey
FYI,
I have a 1960 F100 that I have installed a stock 03 Crown Vic Police Interceptor independant suspension into. The crossmember is a one piece aluminum engine cradle that bolts in place with 4 large bolts. I purchased mine in a junk yard for $225. The Crown Vic is a tried and true HD front end with a power rack, 12 inch vented rotors and dual piston calipers. My install is not complete yet, I still need to fab the lower control arm brackets and do the final welding. Attached is a picture of the truck. Check out my album on FTE. Thanks Andy
http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/a...t60F100050.jpg
I have a 1960 F100 that I have installed a stock 03 Crown Vic Police Interceptor independant suspension into. The crossmember is a one piece aluminum engine cradle that bolts in place with 4 large bolts. I purchased mine in a junk yard for $225. The Crown Vic is a tried and true HD front end with a power rack, 12 inch vented rotors and dual piston calipers. My install is not complete yet, I still need to fab the lower control arm brackets and do the final welding. Attached is a picture of the truck. Check out my album on FTE. Thanks Andy
http://i985.photobucket.com/albums/a...t60F100050.jpg
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,734
Likes: 2
From: Kansas City area
That looks pretty trick Andy. I assume you will be boxing the frame at the connection points? Thanks for the info and the photo. How is the track width on the Crown Vic IFS? I will need to keep this in mind for a future project.
New User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: Sewell, New Jersey
The overall width is 73 inches, from the edge of each tire. I am using mustang 17 X 8 bullitt wheels with about 6 inches of backspacing. I'm not sure if I am going to box the frame. I am using the stock 3/16 wall 1.25 inch threaded "tubes" removed from the factory CV frame, which were only welded at the top. The bolts thread from the bottom, the tubes will be welded on both sides of the top of the frame and the lower frame. I just uploaded more pictures to my gallery. Thanks Andy