The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop 53 chevy IFS swap

I am resto-modifying my 53 3100 pickup. I want an independent front suspension, but I have no welding experience. I read on another site that I could use the front suspension of a 77-89 c-10 2wd pickup and with a 1/2 inch spacer plate on either side, it supposidly bolts right up to my frame. Has anyone ever heard of doing this, or better yet, done it themselves?

I have heard of it and have seen a link somewhere on it. Seems to me someone had told me that the track width was a bit too wide though . Try
http:/50chevy.freeservers.com That is where I saw the link!

Bulldog, take a look at the thread titled
"Adding a IFS to a 37 1/2 ton"
which is currently running in this forum. A link to site describing one such project is listed there. Also see Wayne Osborne\'s writeup for another good description.

This swap is some work, but if you want to have a truck when you're done, rather than a car that looks like a truck, it's the best way IMO.

Note that while the basic installation of the suspension is a bolt-in, there will be some welding required for things like motor mounts.

Joe

Thanks for the info Joe. I am currently going to school for auto restoration in Mcpherson KS, and I asked one of my teachers about this swap and he did not see why it would not work.....When the rain stops I am gonna give it a try. It's worth the $250 from the junkyard for the learning experience alone, and if it doesn't work, i will just break down and buy a new bolt on IFS. The only part that concerns me is the amount the wheels will stick out. How big of an offset am I looking at to counter the extra 2 inches on each side the '77 suspension adds? I was told ofset wheels are hard on your wheel bearings. Am I sacraficing good looks for quality by doing this, or the other way around? Lemme know what y'all think. Thanks.
Josh

I plan on doing this same swap. From what I have read, the suspension is only 1/2" wider on each side. Also, parts for these front suspensions are easy to find and inexpensive. I bought a whole 1976 Chevy truck for $40.00, cut the frame just in front of the cab, and crushed the rest. I have yet to find another alternative for that cheap. I just wish that I would have kept the hydraulic power brake booster as my camshaft limits the amount of vacuum that my engine will produce. Let me know how your suspension swap works. You may want to provide pictures, dimensions, ect.

Phil

I bought and had someone weld my IFS on.
Looking back I should have kept the straight axle and used the money for engine rebuilding.
If I had I would be way closer to driving right now.

Bulldog,

The IFS is about 7" wider from hub to hub than the stock front end, at least for the 3/4 ton. I imagine the 1/2 ton is very close if not exactly the same. So that's about 3-1/2" per side. The stock 3/4 ton wheels have about 3" backset. Wayne Osborne used wheels with 4-1/2" backset and mounted fairly narrow tires. I used wheels with 6" backset and mounted fairly beefy tires. I posted a photo in the '37 IFS thread that's also running in this forum that shows how they set in the fenders.

My feeling is that the later wheel bearings and hubs are sturdier than the stock hardware, and that they will handle the offset without difficulty. I'm going to tow a 25 ft. fifth wheel trailer with mine. Time will tell, but I'm not the least bit worried about it.

Phil 1953 GMC,

The frame is different by about 1/2"-3/4" per side, but as mentioned above the hub-to-hub difference is close to 7".

Joe

I stand corrected.