The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop mustang ifs

are there many that have used an after market front end kit on their ad truck?
what are the +'s & -'s of this swap?
also what kind of money are we looking at?
i am unsure of who i want to buy kit from?
oh. by the way i am thinking inexpensive...yup, i am cheap
thanks for any input
raf

I think TCI (Total Cost Involved) is probably the cheapest setup out there. Heindt is one of the more popular ones. There are others that are sturdier, stronger and more expensive too.

You still have to shop for the right vendor too. Some of the Classic Truck magazines shoot some good deals on IFS.

I got mine from JPL you can find them on Ebay. They have a Ebay store or search TCI or you can find them in the magazines. Good prices on TCI and they paid the freight.

Have you thought about a 'vette front end? Looked at them in the swap meet at the NSRA street rod nationals last weekend. Used but look pretty good at around $975.00.

Just remember you get what you pay for. Cheapest isn't always going to be the best or safest. Not going to knock a particular supplier but there's one who advertises in one of the rodding magazines at prices far below anyone else, however judging by complaints at the BBB and on many boards, what you get is not what you are made to believe you are getting. If someone is selling something for several $100 less than every other supplier there's usually a good reason.

Are you planning on doing your own install? If so you might also consider ease of installation. Some are easier than others. Do a search here on the "Bolt" on IFS and get some ideas from those that have gone through this experience. After investigating this I decided on Heidts and have no complaints.
You asked what + and - there are. I know of no negatives; however those that favor stock restorations will chime in on that point.

There are many way to add IFS to your truck. Like Robin said, cheapest isn't always the best way to go. I wrestled with the same thing when I was looking to do mine. I finally went with the front end from a '79 1/2 ton because it was relatively inexpensive (I have about $500 tied up in it including the cost of rebuilding it and having the crossmember narrowed) and I could do most of it myself. Although it's along way from being road ready, it's coming along pretty good. What ever you decide on make sure you do your homework. Good luck!

interesting...thanks for the advice...i am just about ready to get that ifs set up...yes i am going to do my own install...
again, thanks

raf

Gee Robin 58, have you priced a 'vette front end lately? At last years "Turkey Run" at Daytonna I could pick one up for around $800.00 plus change but had to hump it back to the house. Given, it's another year, another vendor and most of all the NSRA Nationals where I'm sure vendor spaces can cost you your next born. $975.00 ain't cheap.

Sure have, beltfed. My overall cost of the Vette suspension came in cheaper than a MII.

PS beltfed I just reread it and I guess you thought my response above was geared towards you? It was meant as a warning to Cruzer that price isn't everything when buying something crucial like an IFS. In particular I addressed it with Cruzer in a PM warning him about one particular supplier of MII's and in fact I recommended he looked at a corvette system from Flat Out as I've dealt with them and was extremely pleased.

Sorry Robin 58, I guess I bruise easy. I have been bouncing between the MII and 'vette for a couple of years and as of late decided on the 'vett. After 'Fatman' quoted me a price on the MII including a crossmember plus the fact I may after years of running the inline move up to a big block, the 'vette front end just make more dollars and sense. I would love for one of the car mags to run a 'no-holes-barred shoot-out' of the two types.

its been a few years but I went to the local junk yard and purchased the entire set up from under a 78 Stang and paid $75 for it. I even got the rack n pinion to use as a core for a new one along with the mc/booster. I then rebuilt the bushings,balljoints etc myself. I paid a friend to plate the side of my original chassis and put the spring towers and cross member under it with the motor mount, fabed the bracket for putting hte master cyl under the floor board and ended up with less than a thousand in it. Yes, it took some time, but hey, it was cheaper than the alternative. Would I like to use a kit.....well, maybe if I had the cash!!
OH, if you ever get one out of a scrap yard be sure to get it from a stang that had a V8 in it to get better springs!
Just info to add to the conversations guys.

Regarding using the later Chevy truck swap for an AD, does anyone know if a GM van front end / saddle will work ?

I have a pacer IFS and have had it for about 20 years and mostly satisfied. if have had to replace the rack once and if i have to do it again i will go with MII. there are seal problems. a co. makes an install kit that i bought for 100.00 and used complete unit cost me 100.00 and i am not sure of the labor cost was after all these years but i think it was 200.00. of course that was 20 years ago. good luck on your decision. Ron

hey guys
there is an out fit in moultrie ga that sells vette parts...last fall i spoke to them, they had multiple assemblies raedy to go...asked them how much for a front clip & rear clip...$600 each...i did not have my ad truck at the time but, i thought what a deal for someone...cox auto parts in moultrie ga, 229-985-0310. ask for john...i just spoke to him
raf

by the way how hard would it be too install a vette front end...does it have the one tranverse spring ? do you weld it in or bolt it in ?

again thanks
raf

It's weld-in.

http://www.seattlestreetrods.com/corvette_suspension.htm
http://www.progressiveautomotive.com/sweet.htm

And an install article:

http://www.webrodder.com/article.php?AID=242&SID=23

If you're looking for bolt-in, rbsauto sells a MII bolt-in setup:

http://www.rbsauto.com/product.asp?Product_Id=173048&d_Id=17224&l1=17224&l2=

You may want to look at my site under chassis you will see a TCI M-II being installed.
http://community.webshots.com/user/zeker6
I found the 2" drop spindles too low and installed standard spindles later in build. Zeke

I bought a "hub to hub" hiedht's kit and hired a local welder to weld it in... the kit was fairly pricey, but well worth it, because i got all NEW components...

as opposed to the Pinto front end under my Binder... the pinto works, but it still needs to be completely rebuilt (it's also a bit light for a truck that one might be using to haul stuff).

The 2 inch drop spindles put BOTH front ends pretty low, so i bought new stock height spindles.

You can save a couple hundred $$ by buying the hard parts from a vendor, and putting on junkyard spindles and FLAPS brake parts.

zeker
the pictures are great...just what i plan to do to my ad...i like the rear end install as welll
thanks
raf

ok...i ordered & received my front end ifs mustang kit for my ad...hub to hub including braided brake hoses...wish me luck!

raf

Robin-anyone make a bolt in for a 55-59?

Thanks,

Keith