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I'm researching bolt-in mustang II IFS kits for my 52 1/2 ton and so far have found these two sites:

RB\'s 1947-55 1st Series Bolt-In Kit

Chassis Engineering Kit

I'm specifically looking for a bolt-on kit because my welding skills suck. And yes, I do have a few friends who think they can weld but I have more confidence in my ability to measure/drill/bolt than I do in their ability to run a bead.

Does anyone have experience with either of these two companies/kits? I sent off e-mail off to RB's with a few questions and never heard back from them so I'm leaning towards the Chassis Engineering kit.

I've also decided against the Pacer IFS (lack of donor/parts availability) and the 73-87 truck IFS (too wide). Any other ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!

If I were going to do an IFS, I would go with a new manufactured unit rather than cob in a junker one from a wrecking yard. I say you are on the right track.

you are better off buying a Heidts mustang II front end and paying for a mobile welder to go to your house and weld it in.

Just curious - why is that? Are the bolt-in units no good?

i used a chassis engineering bolt it on a 37 ford (customer request).
you WILL be drilling holes.....in this case, a lot of 'em.
BUT there's some diagonal bracing that goes with the bolt in kit i really like as far as strength.
i've got a heidt's crossmember in my 48 chevy coupe that i'm gonna add those braces to now that it's apart again...

i myself,really like chassis engineering.my whole truck is done with their stuff.ive got their motor and trans mounts , pacer kit , and bolt in rear end kit,along with the rear sway bar kit. really like their quality and tech support. if you like give them a call and tell them your thinkin about using their kit and ask them to fax you a copy of the installation instructions if you are unsure of your capabilties.thats what i did since im not the worlds best fabricator.give me measurments and tell me what to do ,i can do it. i'd just as soon let someone else figure the hard sh*t. i've talked with some of their salesmen at the nsra nats in louisville over the last couple yrs. they have ad trucks and use these products and swear by them.now this is my 2 cents anyway and my experience with their products.........dave

tomslik - do you remember if the kit requires boxing the frame or does the whole crossmember just cradle the frame the way it looks to on the website?

dave - thanks for the heads up on calling about getting the instructions first, I'll definitely try that. I'm glad to hear that you had a good experience with chassis engineering.

My only other problem is going to be shipping everything - I live in Hawaii so it's going to cost an arm and a leg to get everything here.

"Just curious - why is that? Are the bolt-in units no good?"

My brother put a RB kit into a '40 Chev Sedan. He discovered that RB's support was very erratic. He had lots of problems with them and, for what's it's worth, vowed never to do business with them again. Not saying that you shouldn't, but ask lots of questions up front - before you fork over the cash!

I spent a few minutes on the phone this morning talking to Denny from Chassis Engineering - he was really helpful in telling me about their bolt-on kit. I asked him to fax me the instructions and two minutes later I was holding them in my hands. It seems the only hang-up would be shipping to Hawaii...he said they have distributors in the LA area (Limeworks, socal speed shop, etc) that may be able to work with me on shipping but the entire package is going to be upwards of 250 lbs.

I'll try calling RB's tomorrow to see if I can ask them about their bolt-on kit.

i have one in my truck that was made for the truck but its welded in place not bolted cant wait to drive it some day

keahi,. there was NO boxing but this was a ferd frame, too.
i suspect there's no boxing with any of their bolt-in kits...
btw, i didn't need any tech support so i can't say how that is..

I put in a call to RBs today and spoke with a tech who was very friendly and helpful in answering my questions about their bolt-in kit. A few things he mentioned:

-the kit includes bolt-in frame boxing plates
-drop is built into the crossmember so drop spindles are neither required nor recommended
-UPS to Hawaii would run me $490 (ouch)

I'm still trying to think up a creative way to get one of these kits to me here in Hawaii. I can fly standby for free so maybe I'll go pick one of these up in person.

Anyway, now I guess I need to decide between the CE or RB's front ends. I've received messages from people who have been happy with both, so I'm not sure yet which one I'll choose.

"you are better off buying a Heidts Mustang II front end and paying for a mobile welder to go to your house and weld it in."
John's suggestion made the best sense. Most guys agree Heidts is the best IFS and welding is better than bolting. Therefore if you're afraid of welding but confident in the mock up then why not mock up and have a welder drop by. That way you'll have your cake and ...

big chevy, i'm not picking on ya but that statement about bolting vs welding is just plain dumb.
just crawl under your 60-87 chevy PU....

i normally weld 'em in but i LIKE welding and hate drilling holes.
if you can't weld (or don't trust yourself), there ain't a darn thing wrong with bolt-ins...

prove me wrong.

tomslik, I'm not picking on ya either but, how about personal preference? In reading the post it looks like Keahi's preference is welding, but because his welding skills are not up to par he will opt to bolt-in. As well, my preference is to weld-in. From my perspective a good weld will always be stronger than a bolt.

Actually, my personal preference is to build my own truck within my abilities and limited budget. Right now my abilities don't include welding and I enjoy doing things myself so I'd like to do a bolt-on.

Someday when I learn how to weld and fabricate I'll do another truck with a welded in IFS, 4link, etc. But for now I want this truck to reflect where I'm at.

keahi, like i said, if you're not comfortable welding one in, i'd get a bolt in and not worry a second about it.
there's things about the CE one i did that i'm gonna start incorporating in MII installs, welded in or not.


or you could fly me, my wife, and my mig over and i'd do it for ya;)

Keahi

Did you see this one? It's a bolt on, it looks like a good one ?
Check it out http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1948...yZ34200QQihZ001QQitemZ110119139827QQrdZ1

Thanks!

Looks like the same price as buying it from CE direct only with free shipping in the US.

If I can round up a "parts" Mustang II for cheap I would consider buying just the crossmember but around here most of the Mustang IIs/Pintos rusted away to nothing a long time ago.

I thought about the bolt in cross member for my 51, It looked pretty cool but I ran across a really nice "snap on" welder for a good price and couldn't pass it up !
so..... I went with the heidts weld on kit instead and it came out pretty clean

Todd

Keahi,
Any luck yet ? Did ya get it ?

I didn't get it yet...I'm still selling things out of my garage to raise the cash and working out the shipping details. But once I get it and put it in I'll definitely let everyone know how it goes.

Bolt that kit in, get it right, then hire a welder to tack it in solid...

I've got a Hiedts weld-in kit in my 39 and love it,,, I've got a welded in Pinto in my 37 IH, and am bigging to dislike it.. news at 10.

Well, I hate to dig up my own thread but I had a few people PM me and ask me if I ever finished the IFS. I haven't. But I thought I'd let everybody know that I bought the CE kit. I just started putting it in today and I'll start another thread about how that whole process goes.

Keep us posted.

Keahi sounds cool the bolt in i like your reasoning behind putting the bolt in in. do you have any pictures? Later Earl :hammering:

Yep, I started a new thread with a few pics here .

Speedway motors also offers a bolt-in IFS for AD 1/2 tons that come with bolt in boxing plates.