The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Cure my stupidity

OK, thanks to a friend who did nothing more than ask a simple question I started thinking, but have a bad feeling I'm thinking in the wrong direction.

I have a pair of chevy trucks, one '48 3100 and one 50something 3800. I started work on the half-ton thinking I'd swap in an mustang II IFS and swap the rear for an open driveline. Then my buddy came along and asked why I wasn't going with the 3800 for the longer bed. So I scratched my head and thought about it and couldn't come up with a good reason why. I'm changing the rear-end anyway so I wouldn't need to worry about the original gearing there, and the front well I guess that's a decent question- Can a mustang II handle something that big?

Is there something painfully obvious I'm overlooking here? Please shoot this idea full of holes before I torture myself on this half-cocked plan I'm throwing together.

Sorry about the length- thanks
Andy

kinda depends on what you're gonna use it for.
light hauling, i'd use a heidts economy hub to hub kit or a superride, TCI makes a good version of that too.
heavy hauling?well, i subbed my 52 'burb with an 80ish malibu....

Not many of the M2 IFS kits are designed to handle the weight of a truck w/ a load in the back; and there are very few places to find tonner parts. As mentioned in another thread, the tonner frames are longer and beefier, the spring shackles are larger and farther apart. However, if you are planning to rip out everything below the framerails, I don't see that it will make any difference.

For carrying capacity, you might want to look at harvesting a GM IFS from a late 70's - early 80's truck. It seems to be the simplest, most cost effective option and should permit hauling without taxing the hardware.

Here\'s some reading material for ya, there's a few different approaches to IFS covered in there. Remember, any parts you can't find a use for should go in the Swap Meet, as some of us are still bouncing along on straightaxles. :p

hedge, ain't they a little too wide?
they are for MY taste but i suppose it's all in how ya want it to set.
i like mine low and not rubbing fenders, so....
are 1 ton fender openings larger?