The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Need help!!!

I'm putting a 84 chevy pickup frontend on a 54 chevy pickup . The front end I got was already cut off the 84 .I need to know what degree the A arms should be front to back? Any help would be greatly appreciated!!!

My only advice would be DO NOT DO THIS!

That is about the worst front suspension option for that year truck.

If you have your heart set on doing this then you must have already investigated all the other options and decided this was the best. If you have not done a search on this site for this subject and read what others have to say about it then you might want to do that before you pass the point of no return.

Wy do you say it's the worst? I know it will widen the frontend. But what else should I watch out for?

That suspension system is much too wide for the AD series trucks. The tires will stick outside the fenders unless you either narrow the track width (fab intensive) or find some rims with severe back spacing to bring the rubber back underneath. Even then you will not be able to lower the truck height even to what the stock height was without either using lowering spindles or doing more extensive metal modifications. Some have done this modification and may be happy with the results but it you are trying to make a hotrod out of the truck this is not the easiest path to a good end result. It may look like it would work well and be easy to install but that is not always the best path.

Do some more research on the subject before you pull the trigger.

The best subframe for the AD series trucks in my opinion is the rear steer Nova or 1st gen camaro system followed by the G body system followed by the 2nd gen camaro system. Others include Pacer and Volarie (spelling?) systems.

The best suspension system for your truck would be an IFS kit. The initial cost is higher but the added value you get makes it work it. Plus they are engineered systems that work.

Don't cheap out on this part of the truck.

If you do not have to make the decision now I would put off doing the front suspension until you get some other aspects of the truck completed. By then you may have won the lottery and can put anything you want under the truck or you may have had time to think it through and see some trucks that have the different suspension systems installed. From that knowledge you can make a better choice for your truck.

Here is one link that deals with the 73-87 suspension on AD trucks.
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...s&topic=0&Search=true#Post361896

Here is another old thread.

https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Main/20823/Number/137853#Post137853

I am sure some others can chime in with their opinion on this subject and add some links of their own.

I went this route and so far, things have worked out fine. I took the saddle & drag link to a local shop & had about 1 1/2" removed from the center. (I think they only charged me $50). After shortening the drag link, he welded a sleeve over the cut for added strength. Mounting the saddle was a bit challenging because it appears that he may have taken out a bit more than 1 1/2" but I just used a grinder to make it fit flush. If you plan on using a a V8 you wont be able to use the factory mounts as the engine will sit too low. I had some custom mounts fabricated but you could also modify them with blocks to raise it up. Do a search here for Joe Way. I came across some of his old posts where he did this awap. There were a couple of articles that helped me. Steve Andereggen Jr. has good info as well as this one and this one by Jon C Peters. You can also check out SW Radical, I believe he also went this route as well.

I have pics on my Webshots I'm using 16 x 7 Torque Thrust II's up front with 4" backspacing and the wheels don't stick out too far to me. I had the rotors re-drilled to match the Chevy II rear. 17 x 8 TT II's out back. I also installed a set of 3" drop coils up front. It's a matter of individual taste. Just do your homework and make a decision that works out best for you.

nice info h54. i have not seen that one on sub-frames
thx