The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1954 passenger car frontend

I posted a question sometime back about this subject. I refered to one i had seen in Custom Classic Trucks. It is in the August 1998 issue on page 72. The truck was at the 6th annual Mid-Summer nationals in San Jose California.It is a 48 model that belonged to Roger Asay. He used a 54 car front suspension and said it was a bolt in swap. I know the whole front suspension will unbolt out of these cars. Any experience on this subject? I want independent suspension but do not want to cut the frame and get tired of hearing "camaro clip". ( nothing wrong, just not for me). Thanks
Blu64

I remember seeing your earlier post and maybe responding.

You might make an effort to contact Roger Asay. I saw a last name associated with a suspension discussion in a book, looked the name up on google, and discovered the guy has a web site and is active on a couple other boards and the yahoo old COEs list. I got to ask my questions of the guy who had done just what I was thinking about doing, plus made another friend!

When did the cars get IFS? Come to think of it, my boss has a 53 4 door hardtop that he said he would sell to me... Might be a worthwhile swap...

Chev cars got an "IFS" a way back before the trucks, but they weren't ball joint suspensions.

I know it was available in 1936. Don't know how much earlier. It was not a great system, and was installed only on some models.

Thanks! What would the advantages of the IFS from my bosses 53 car be over the straight axle of my 53 truck? What does the swap involve? Thanks and sorry to "hijack" your topic blu 64. whoa...what if you said "hi" to your friend "jack" who was across the aisle of an airplane?

As long as i can find something out, it don't matter who asks it!!!!!!!!

They did not make a 4 door hardtop until 56

The main advantages would be easy installation,better ride,better handling,providing everything is in good shape. If it's all worn out,the DIS-advantages would be scarey handling,tire wear,expensive to rebuild,get to take it aaaallll apart and put it back together again.

really? are you sure?

Check this out. Looks like one of those 53 4 doors to me.

"Hard top" refers to a body style without window pillars in the doors. Four door sedans were offered by Chevrolet in 1953 and even though the tops were made of hard steel, they were not "hardtops". I believe GM did offer 4-door pillarless hardtops in some lines prior to 1956 but not in the Chevrolet.

Ok sorry. Learn something new everyday. Thats interesting.Was it an option in and after 56? or was it a specific model that was a hardtop?

A early 50's Chevy car isn't a very good handler,the front suspension has poor geometry.
Better handling comes primarily from lowering the vehicle,getting rid of the high ride height.There are limits on lowering the stock solid axle front end,but it can be lowered a few inches by using monoleafs, And the addition of a front sway bar makes a huge improvement as does replacing the metal suspension bushings with urethane bushings.
Jeep Grand Cherokees had solid front axles until just the last few years,the solid axle model handle as well as any IFS SUV.Indy race cars had solid axles,front and rear,up into the 60's.
On smoother pavment,a straight front axle vehicle can handle quite well if the suspension is well thought out.
The bottom line,are you gonna use the truck to carve through turns like a sports car? or just like the lowered look?

In 55 or so Chevy cars went to ball joints ,the Vettes keep the old king pin type IRS.Early Vettes handled well compared to the cars of that era cause the Vette was much lower and lighter in weight.Can't say for sure if the Vettes suspension geomentery is the same as the cars.
Old Vettes ride and handle like Ox carts compared to new vehicles in my opinion,it's the lively engines that make them interesting.
It's your truck,do as you like.But I would go for somethin more modern If I was gonna re do the front end.
But what do I know, I think a beam axle is hi tech

Now this is what i like!!!!! A good discussion with a lot of different views. If the car frontend doesn't have balljoints, what does it have. I haven't looked at one in about 15 years.