The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Front end suspension ideas needed

I know I want disk brakes. I know I would like to replace the leaf springs with coil springs.

I am trying to figure out what way to go here. I am wondering if I can put a 2nd Gen f-body front suspension up there?

What are some of the things you guys have done or things you have seen others do. I am looking for a nice smooth ride. I plan on putting Power Steering and Power brakes on my truck.

Stella,
I just sent you some files that show various subframe options available to you. I used a g body subframe for my 54 and while I am happy with it, it did take more work in fabricating to make everything go back together. For your 55 Task Force I would probably do a F body if an IFS kit is not possible. The IFS kit would be the best way unless you already have a subframe laying around. Do some google searches for "IFS, Truck", or "IFS,Clip" or some other related key words and you will find other sites to help you make up your mind.

Monte, a Camaro or Firebird from '70-'81 will work well. Here's a pic of my daughter's 51 Burb that I clipped for her. BTW I did weld it .

[img]http://pic7.picturetrail.com/VOL196/1451508/3484310/42786233.jpg[/img]

Thanks guys!

And thank you for the email..certainly a lot of info to take in. I will study them closely tonight when I get home from work.

You have been VERY helpful!

Seon,
Thats a nice clean install. Good job. I am ready to start the clip on my 48 pickup and the clip jobs that I have seen actually poke the truck frame into the Camero clip and then box the frame where it attaches. Yours looks like a lot easier install by attaching underneath. What kind of ride height were you looking for? Did it end up setting like you you wanted?
Ralph

houston, what did you use for a radiator and support?
got pics?

Tom,
The core support mount was fabricated out of flat bar and plate. The trick was to get the sway bar mounts installed in roughly the same location. I can take some pics and send them to you later. As for the core support I am using the original but it has been modified to clear the steering box. The flanges the radiator mounts to have also been kicked forward from the top to the bottom to move the bottom of the stock radiator forward for additional clearance. This was probably the most time consuming and head scratching part of a G body subframe swap. I am not completed as yet either. Currently laid up while I recupe from achillies tendon surgery (5-6 weeks).

Its a little more money,but I installed a TCI mustang 2 unit in my 55 2nd series.Worked out great.

houston,i got MOST of the pics, enough for ideas, anyway, thanks!!!

70, I went the Pacer front end route. Positives:
1. Gives you all the goodies...rack/pinion steering, disk brakes, IFS, sway bar.
2. Fits in quite easily. You get to use all stock mount points, ie. the rad.
3. The Pacer front crossmember is a beefy unit but requires a certain amount of trimming to get it ready for installation.

The negatives:
1. The front ends are getting harder to find but they can be had. I pulled the unit paid $225 for a front end from Dr. Mopar near Austin.
2. New rotors and power rack/pinion unit can still be had but aren't cheap.
3. I had to put in stiffer coil springs to give the front end a little lift and provide decent tire clearance with the fender opening.
4. You get the 4 1/2" "small **** " lug pattern which will likely be different from your rear end.

Would I do it again? Yes. I've got some digital pics at home of the installation if you are interested in this option.

I checked out a Dakota setup by a place in Arizona. It would fit my program better as I intend to use my 56 Sub as a tow rig to Bonneville and want a truck front end. The bolt pattern works out well [same as Pacer] if you use a early 9" **** rear with the 5 on 4 1/2" bolt pattern.

Now if I can Just get my Miata done so I can spend time and money on my sub. Too many projects!

Larry

seon,

I did a similar install - if I had to do it over again - I would go for larger diameter tires and I would lower the camero clip about 1 inch or so relative to the truck frame to get the whole truck up off the ground a little more.

I ran BF Goodrich 50 series tires on 14 inch rims and had a hard time negotiating grassy fields with ruts at car shows - the front bumper would scrape. Width / tire clearance was no problem however.

[img]http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/images/brown_ken_1949_01.jpg[/img]

I have a 52 GMC 3/4 ton and I'd like to do the same thing. The half-century old front end handles very badly on imperfect highways, but when I switched to 2002 GMC Yukon 8-lug wheels, the ride improved dramatically from that alone. Anyway, I thought that to preserve the nice chrome 8-lugs and the stance, I need to search for a similar donor vehicle with 8-lug rotors. With all the SUV's out there, I should be able to find something from the past decade or so in a salvage yard. The suspension would be heavy duty enough and the springs should already be about right. There'd be some fabrication work to get the upper control arms mounted to the frame though. I'll probably attack that when I get my 407 Chevy small block ready to drop in.
In the meantime, I'll live with it and be a little careful.

On my 50 chevy I used a 69 camaro full subframe with 2 inch square steel tube welded between the sub and the truck set the wheel base at 115" This subframe has rear steering it keeps the steering box out of the way of the support. I used the front section of the original frame to mount the support and bumper.and welded it to the front of the subframe. It is a very clean and easy way to do it. I can e-mail anyone pics if they would like

bill

I just saw something you might be interested at Speedway. (Try www.speedwaymotors.com). They do list our stovebolt trucks for modern front end kits. It's only $300-something bucks. I was surprised. Comes with disc brakes, upper and lower control arms and springs, rack and pinion, and is available with a 2" dropped spindle.

If they could upgrade to 8-bolt wheels, I might try that myself!

my 1950 has a rack from mustang welded on stock frame with disks with chevy 5 lug with cad rear with disks and is lowered 383 stroker duel carbs cant wait to drive it 350 auto

Someone was telling me I could put a 1973 4 door Malibu frame under my truck and it would bolt right up... A friend of a friend did that to a 55-56 and said it went right on....

Besides the pureists what do ya'll think about that?

Someone is messing with you.

That '73 Malibu (Chevelle) has a perimeter frame that would be far too wide in the running board area. Two-door, 4-door or whatever, the basic frame is the same.

I parted out a '73 Chevelle 4-door a couple years ago and have a real good idea what the frame looked like. It said Chevelle on the title and Malibu on the rear deck.

70 monte, if you still have your monte, look under it and tell us if YOU think it will be a "bolt-on".

fwiw, there has NEVER been a malibu/chevelle/monte carlo that doesn't have a perimiter frame.