The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Jaguar Suspension for my 55 Cameo

I have a chance to buy a 1990 XJ6 at a good price, does anyone know if this year Jag front and rear suspension will work on my 1955 Cameo?

Such butchering can be done on a Cameo, but why? You have a somewhat rare truck. Why not restore it stock?

1. You don't know the condition of the Cameo (maybe it's missing all running gear).
2. It's his truck to do with what he wants.

Cattlejoe, I'm not sure if the Jag will fit, but if you google (or measure) for the track width of the Jag, that should give you a good indication.

Asked for information, not criticism. Like the other fellow said, It's my truck and I can do what I want with it. And, by the way, it was customized in the 60s long before I got it so it is so far from original it isn't feasible to restore it to original.

Like my mother used to say," If you can't say something good, don't say anything at all."

Excellent response

You'll get a some of those comments when discussing customization on this forum, there are a lot of restorers on here. When I first joined I didn't really discuss my truck for a while, but there are also some very accepting members and there are a lot of great folks and information here.

While his is an earlier and probably narrower truck, you might want to have a look at this thread: Project XJ-PU

Thanks for the link, I've done a few Mustang II and Camaro conversions but never a Jag. The measurements indicate it will work. I was just a little skeptical about using the later model Jag. All the information I've found, most are using the pre- 1988 suspension.

We have done several inboard disc rears on a 57 and a 55 which gave a very nice driving/riding/handling vehicle. With this IRS the bottom frame lip can be heated and turned out which allows the whole Jag cradle to fit up in place. Have an outboard disc IRS in "the pile" but have not used it yet. It's quite a bit different than the older one so I'll follow your build with interest. Have not done a Jag IFS yet but will probably do so since my favorite IFS, the Pacer, is now extinct. Here's how one sits with the Jag/Pacer combo.

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/Wt0NpXKJ/Chuck-s-55-006.jpg[/img]

[img]https://i.postimg.cc/XZcMSzXV/Chuck-s-55-007.jpg[/img]

Thanks for the information. Will keep a running update on the install. Pacer, haven't seen one of those in a while. My second wife owned the Pacer that Ed McMahon drove in the commercial for them. She bought it from Ed.

A friend of mine had a TF on Jag suspension,it drove beautifully.
I'm sure there's a fella here in the UK installing a later 88-on Jag set-up in his first series,i'll see if I can find a link.

Google jaguar IFS in a Chevy truck to see some installs I plan on putting one in my 52 Chevy truck I think I will bolt it in using the stock jaguar mounting points .
Good luck keep us posted
Robert

Thanks Robert

Cattlejoe, was reading this old post, I would look into the s type or xjs rear, they have outboard disk brake disk, the xke have inboard disk which I think would be somewhat hard to replace and the e brake cable gets into the way of drive shaft, here is some good info rear end jag gives lot of info.
Hope it helps Jbennett

Hi! I am new to Stovebolt and am thrilled at the wealth of knowledge on it. I am about to buy a 55 Cameo that is all in pieces. I have read lots about using S10 frame etc to get disc brakes/power steering. However, I have also read about pre-88 jag front suspension installs. A couple of questions:
1/ what is the best way to go i.e. S10 vs Jag? What would be the differences in the ride? Does one option cost considerably more than the other?
2/ I am assuming because I have not read anything that the rear end of the Jag could not be used for the rear end of the Cameo? (I am total newbe so please excuse my ignorance).

Thanks and have a great night!

Have you read the "Definitive Suspension List for Stovebolts" at the top of this Forum? Lots of good info there.

If you want a vehicle that rides and handles like a Jag, wouldn't it be simpler and less expensive to just buy a Jag? It's also possible to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, but it makes the pig look funny and it doesn't hear very well!
Jerry

I all I know about Jag front suspension that they are terribly expensive to repair. By the way, I have an AMC Pacer front suspension on my 1954 1/2 ton, that gets some raised eyebrows. Contact Mongo on this site he should have a lot of information in the s10 area.

Thanks WE b OLD.....i've heard of Plymouth Volare front ends being used as well. AMC Pacer that could be cool! Any pics?

HotRod Lincoln.....which Jag could i buy for ~$2500 US that they only made ~ $5000 of? Thanks for your input. I am a newbie just trying to get as much info as I possibly can.

Coilover: I just saw 5 Pacers for sale for dirt cheap. How easy or difficult was the suspension change? I am assuming you only used the front suspension and putting something else in the rear end but am a newbie so please excuse my ignorance. Thanks and have a great day!

Before you go all gaga over the Pacers, check parts availability in the off chance something breaks later.

Hi! I am hoping to get pics of the 55 Cameo frame that has been apparently "butchered" by C-notching and install of Mustang IFS. Will post to anyone who is interested for your opinions as I am not familiar with either of these 2 processes. Thanks and have a great day!

If the Jags are that scarce, where do you plan to find a donor for the suspension system for your truck? I'd suggest buying the whole Jag from the salvage yard when you find one, restoring it, and then selling it it to a collector for a big profit to finance your truck project.
Jerry

Hotrod Lincoln: my neighbour has a Jag he is getting rid of. I am not interested in restoring it but am interested in restoring my 55 Cameo......thanks for your help! Just looking at possible options for suspensions at this point-nothing definitive!

Borbas,the Jaguar suspension is a fairly popular swap for both first and second series trucks here in Blighty,obviously availability of suitable donor cars here is somewhat better thanks to our generous use of salt in the winter,our biggest stumbling block is LHD steering rack availability/price.

Fwiw A friend of mine has a front and rear Jag set up on his and drives the snot out it,he loves it,he happily cruises on the freeway at speed in excess of 70/80mph with no worries,it's pretty good in the twisties too.

As you say,it's your truck do as you please,i'd rather compromise a little originality in favour of something that's safer and also much more fun to drive.

Chassis Engineering used to sell a BOLT in mounting kit for a Pacer IFS front that left the entire Chevy front cross member in place.Since it now Heidt's I don't know if it's still an available kit. I have a 52 frame with a Pacer front and a Lincoln/T-Bird/Cougar IRS which I will take a picture of but not real soon---it's in a field and we got 13.5 inches of rain the last few days and it's raining now.

I'm pretty sure the Pacer front end is what "we b old" is running under his 54. One would think they are hard to find these days unless its still available aftermarket.

Thanks everyone for your help and advice.....still waiting for pics of frame and VIN # from owner's ex-husband. Once frame is inspected by my friend who is currently building a famous Anglia, I will know how bad it is or not and what direction I will be following re IFS and IRS.

I have had the Pacer ifs in my 1954 3100 since 1985 and the only issue I have had I had to replace the original rack 19 years ago.information

Hi! Back again to the forum but still don't have frame VIN #'s for the 55 Cameo i am looking to buy....should have this in the spring2019. Anyways.....am looking at purchasing a 1991 S10/hot rad chassis with 107" wheelbase.....ha rebuilt from end lowered with new 3" drop spindles and all new bushings....rear end lowered 3" with four link and coil over suspension......comes with chevy 350, turbo 360 transmission and driveshaft......wheels and tires. Asking $1500. I am not familiar with any of this stuff so what should I be looking for in terms of quality of workmanship etc? How direct a fit would this be for the 55 Cameo body? Thanks for any help......very much appreciated.

$1500 is VERY low for a quality piece. The 107 WB will be way short for the Cameo. Short answer, no it won’t even be close to a direct fit. Advise, if your going to do a frame swap, wait until you get the truck right in front of you. The tape measure will be your best friend. Also, the stock frame unless rusted out lends itself to suspension upgrades with lots of bolt/weld on kits available.🛠

Thanks Justhorsenround. The frame sold over the weekend. So 107 wheelbase would have been for an s10 short box? The original Camro frame may have been butchered beyond use as previous owner tried to install Mustang II front end and C-notched the rear......I have not yet seen this frame.
...

On the last couple of Pacer fronts we used the disc brake parts were replaced with Ford (nearly a direct interchange) and the A-frame parts work with Chevy 1/2T pickup so no shortage of parts. Ball joints are the screw in Chrysler which took fabbing up sockets. AMC (and International) used parts from other manufacturers to assemble their vehicles so it's just a matter of sleuthing them out. My 65 International 3/4 Crew Cab had Autolite electrical and a C6 automatic while others had Delco Remy electrical and Chrysler Torque Flites.

I need another beer.

Hi guys! Finally back on here with some more info re frame from 55 Cameo. No pics yet but I have some numbers taken directly off of the frame. 255J008073 along the frame rail and 002 3713290. Does anyone know where I can check to see if these numbers would indicate the frame is in fact one for a 55 Cameo? I am still waiting for more pics of the Mustang II IFS install etc. Thanks in advance for any help.....very much appreciated. Have a great day!

255J008073

255 = 2nd series 1955 (there should be a model code/letter before 255)?
J = Janesville
008073 = probably 7073rd vehicle or model off the line that year?

I thought that frame IDs were not used until 1956?

Is there an ID plate between the hinges on the cab door frame?
What code is on the plate?

[from the earlier post - link is at bottom of this post: VH255B029380]
[ V = 8 cylinder engine
H = 2100 ]
http://www.1954advance-design.com/chev-specs/1955-2nd-Chevrolet-t-ser.pdf

Is there an Engine Serial Number pressed into the block to the rear of the distributor?

on the body hinge pillar?

Cameo was model 3124

Earlier post

Hi tclederman....thanks for the info. Unfortunately, neither of the engines that come with the truck are the correct/original ones.....one appears to be a Chev 350 and the other a Pontiac 400. "008073=probably the 7073rd vehicle or model off the line that year"......did you mean to say that it was the 8073rd vehicle off the line? I will see what other info I can come up with......

If the code is an original 1955-2nd code, the serial number for the year. started at 1001, so, you subtract 1000 from the code you found.

Look at the link to identification codes that I posted above.

ok thanks......new to this so finding out lots of info.....very cool/very informative. Much appreciated.

For those who wish to try this but prefer newer parts, some Lincoln and Thunderbird models came with 9" carriers and IRS.

Ha ha, best response ever from a new guy! You should be safe from purist rants on the HiPo forum but evidently they troll here just to raise their own blood pressure.

Just an FYI, Cattlejoe last logged-in in mid November 2015. Jay Zed is absolutely correct. The HiPo forum should not be used to criticize folks for doing modifications to their trucks. That’s why it was created, as a safe haven for the hotrodders among us.