Front end options...F-1

[chopolds]

I have just "inherited" a 50 Ford F-i pickup. I had built the chassis, engine and did some preliminary work on the body (including a chopped top) for the owner, who wound up buying another car I did for his brother. He asked me to try to sell it, but I think his asking price was a bit too high.
Anyway, the plan is, that I can register it, drive it, update it, and try to sell it. I will try to pay it off, in the meanwhile, and if I don't sell it, I'll keep it. It's pretty much driveable now, HOT 327, 4 speeder, 12 bolt, new brakes, wiring, gauges, radiator, gas tank.
Enough of the history. The truck is chopped, but sits up WAY too high. I need to drastically lower it, and change the wheels and tires to look 'right'. It now has a rebuilt stock straight axle, with disc brakes. It rides like a truck, though, and I am considering different options.
1. cheaper way...lower springs, dropped axle and lowering blocks. If the cost of these are too high, it may pay to go independant. I have to factor in the lousy ride and handling into this decision, too.
2. Subframe, I have an S-10, and a Nova available. I would want to completely rebuild them, though.
3. Mustang 2. I got a quote of about 1700 for an entire kit, big brakes, and tubular A's. Does it work in this application?
4. Any other options? Volare? Dakota? Prices involved?
I do all my own fabrication/welding, so labor costs aren't an issue. I've done all of the above options on one car or another, but what works best on this particular truck? Anything new in the market? Trying for the best combination of budget vs. what works best. If I keep it, I'm gonna drive the wheels of of it!
Please, no debates about 'traditional', or silly opinions, I'd like to hear from guys who've done them, or owned them, and know the difference between the options!

[burger]

Mark,

This website (http://www.ford-truck.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=193210) has A LOT of info on what you can do with that truck. You may also want to look into Elpolacko's Dakota IFS (http://www.industrialchassisinc.com).


Ed

[burger]

Also, Classic Performance Products (http://www.classicperform.com/) sells springs, etc if you want to keep the axle.

[Kustm52]

Check with Radshit, I think he used a mid-eighties LTD clip under his, and having seen the truck, I'd say it works great...

Brian

[Radshit]

Somebody gave me a 77 Mercury Marquis for free...the Marquis are the same as the LTD.....I clipped it at the firewall.....the steering column lined up perfect with the dash. I can bolt in any Ford engine I want with factory motor mounts...and it sits right where I wanted it...

The Marquis has the big 11 inch discs up front...this truck stops on a dime. I used the Master brake and booster, so I could use all the factory brake lines and equalizer valve.......everything just fell in place...at next to nothing costs....

My airbags bolted right in, without have to cut out the spring pockets under the frame........I couldn't have had it easier when it came to installing my air ride......I have absolutely no complaints.........

[Slag Kustom]

i know no one whats to accept this because of where the parts come from but i will tell any ways. you can get a jaguar xjs or xj6 complete subframe and use that. it will sit the bottom of the frame rails 7-9 inches off the ground give you power rack and pinion steering great brakes (4 piston calipers) able to take the weight of any old car (jaguar weigh in at 4500 lbs) they could be set up to bolt in or weld to the frame, plenty of clearence for most oil pans. have chevy bolt pattern. most of the parts for a jag front end are cheap. i found a pic on ebay of one. i also have one im saving for my next car. I think mustang or nova are too light duty to put under any 50's car
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=42609&item=7906651 250&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

[Hard On Parts]

Check with Tiny, sounds like he will be parting out his with a 3" Drop Axle & reversed eye springs.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=445677&page=0&view=collap sed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

[Upchuck]

heres a site that lists pros and cons of different options

http://www2.hot1.net/goodwrench/ifs.html

[sawzall]

chassis engeering inc just came out with a bolt in front crossmember for that truck... it puts mustang 2 in place with little effort and no welding.

i wouldnt clip it.. the dakota ifs looks like a nice way.. jaygeff is building one on a s10 frame..

mine.. is on a 67 chevy truck frame..

goodluck sawzall

[av8]

chopolds -- Slag Kustom is absolutely on target about the Jag suspension. It's simply done, doesn't put any undue stresses into the frame, and provides better ride and handling characteristics than any of the other options available. Just be sure to incorporate the Metalastic mounts that are part of the Jag suspension. They damp road noise and vibration and still permit the vehicle to corner like it was on rails.

While the truck will appear to sit very low, there is still all the scrub-line clearance of a Jag sedan. BTW, the fasteners are SAE, and the cost of service parts is comparble to domestic parts prices.

FWIW, our hot-rodding pals down under in Oz can't believe we haven't sussed this one long ago, considering the many motor-dead Series 3 jags in the US.

We're currently doing one in Kent Fuller's shop in Sacto -- 1956 F-100 -- that uses both IFS and IRS from an '86 XJ40. Fuller has done several of these conversions using the earlier XJ6 suspension which is nearly identical to the XJ40. The front spring towers in the XJ40 are closer together, by about 1 inch, which prevents the Ford frame from dropping straight down between them. Fuller carved some material off the rear edge of the spring towers, and we snaked the frame between them. Not quite as easy as it would be for a do-it-yourselfer working with the earlier hardware, but doable nonetheless.

I don't know how tight your work schedule is, but I'll be taking pictures of the results of the install next week and will be happy to share the work. Here are some preliminary pictures. The first is the dirty IFS right after it was removed from the car. Check out the motor mounts; there's a generous platform where they are located which will accommodate just about any Yank motor we've built so far. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL64/2013751/4260039/57938358.jpg


Here are the IFS and IRS suspension set on Fuller's moveable beam table, upon which have been built some of the finest front-motor dragsters ever.

http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL64/2013751/4260039/57938366.jpg


And here is the F-100 frame almost in position with the Jag IFS. Check out the relationship of the spindle with the frame . . . and remember that the clearance is the same as late-model Jaguar sedans and coupes. Is this low enough for you? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

http://pic5.picturetrail.com/VOL64/2013751/4260039/57938363.jpg

[SamIyam]

Mike,
What year Jags are best to harvest one of those sweet suspensions out of? I think I'll pic one up just to have hanging around.
Also, how wide are then compared to a normal 40's or 50's pickup front end?

Are they small Ford, 5 on 4 1/2" bolt pattern?
And finally, are the Metalastic mounts those things out front? Would you just build tabs to hold 'em and then use the bisquits out back?

Sam.

[av8]

Sam -- We're checkin' out the prime years right now. The idea behind all this work is to develop an afforadable bolt-in kit which my pal Ron will manufacture and market.

If ya just gotta have one right now, grab a good one from a mid or late '70s XJ6. Get both ends of the plot, IFS and IRS, to take full advantage of the considerable 'spensive, and very cluey JaguarCars engineering. As difficult as it is to believe, the guys at Jaguar are rumored to be actually better engineers than The Fat Man. No shit! Is that nuts or what?!

[burger]

The Jag IFS sounds like a no brainer!

[Tiny]

Was talking to someone today about this. His 2cents was "All Jag power racks leak its an Oring flaw that O ring only comes in a $200 rerbuild kit." I don't know if this is true or not but it sounds like a good reason not to use it. Personally I'm sold on Volare, it sits low rides sweet handles great and dam cheap. I paid $125 for my clip wheel to wheel including the box. Someone was giving away one for free on here a month or so ago. It was an Aspen same thing. I believe 5th Ave and Diplomat into the late 80's is also the same. Diplomat police cars I believe have big brakes, torsion and sway bars. Any way just my 2 cents

[slammed]

Great input. A wealth of information. Very good response, most usefull post.