The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Whats a good donor IFS

Iam still pondering my different options for my '49 AD. I would like to get one donor car for various parts. Rather then spending $1500-$2000 dollars for a mustang II IFS kit I would rather go the IFS donor route. My question is which cars have a IFS that I could use? Will a Nova work? or a older model truck? What are my options?? Thanks!

Dan

Look for Chuckthetruck on this site. He has put some pretty good info together on the various options.

Although I have installed a Mustang II IFS (kit from Progressive), I don't have the info you're looking for. I think you're looking for Chevy1's excellent site:
http://50chevy.freeservers.com/topics.htm#Topics

My two cents - even though it isn't on the ground yet, if I had to do it over I'd stay with the straight axle, rebuild it, go with disc brakes and still have money left over for more "goodies."

Thanks Chuck! I tune into your web site often. Its looking good! And that grill looks great next to the china cabinet. hahaha Dan

How about the Industrial Chassis Dodge Dakota IFS kit? I'm probably gonna go that way myself, maybe just get a donor Dakota for the whole thing. Supposedly much better than Mustang II for bumpsteer and anti-dive, and it's designed for high CG vehicles (trucks).

good luck!

What year model would that be? And is the industrial chasis differnt then a regular one? Thanks

Ah; Just a thought, 47 thru 54 AD pickup use
77-79 Malibu frame, get v-8 model donar, with steering gear behind front cross member.
check your frame measure and malibu should be close and fit better than nova.

jbennett
40 burb

for what it is worth ,i would leave the strait axel there .i put disc on mine and had local spring shop rebuild all 4 leaf springs and lowered it all the way around it drives great and sits well not near the $$$$$$$$

Chuck and PTE359,

You both recommend converting to disc brakes so I just looked in my Chevy Duty cataloge and see a Conversion kit for $100. Thank you for the idea. I had been wondering what to do with my 56. I have an opportunity to get a Camaro Rear with discs and positraction, but I wondered how to be able to have the same wheels all around. This looks to me like a perfect setup.

I am building (or rather going to build) this truck with the idea of occasionally hauling a trailer with a 3000-4000 lb antique tractor. I would think that this combo with a turbo 400 tranny would do the job. Oh, also am going to rebuild a 350 to power it.

Thanks,
Dave

The Industrial Chassis setup is custom fit for these trucks..... Go to Industrialchassisinc.com they are great with emailed questions, and they cover more apps than their website says they have ( They DO have em for 48-54 Chevys....

I'm not sure what years Dakotas would be best, they'll tell you. I do know that stock A-arms,.... are used with these kits and you get rack-n-pinion as well!
and disc brakes!

Went to Industrial Chassis Inc. but they said the Dakota IFS was not for the early AD trucks. They offer a Mustang II setup (but better.)

I've put a Dakota front frame clip in my '46 3/4 ton. It's a close fit width-wise, but otherwise it's a nice setup for this purpose. The RT version is supposed to be lowered 1 or 1 1/2 inches compared to the regular Dakota. 1997 and up are the ones to use. Plenty of room for mounting just about any engine you want too. My truck isn't on the road yet so I can't tell you how it drives. The biggest problem with this front end is that the wheels have a unique bolt pattern common only with the Viper and of course the Durango. So, getting different offsets and sizes is difficult and limited. I ended up using a Dakota rear end too so I wouldn't have to carry two spare tires. If you are interested in details or photos, let me know and I'll see what I can do.

I put the front end and rearend from a 1978 Chev. 1/2 ton in my 1949 Chev. 1/2 ton, which was a much easier "do" than the 77 Camero subframe which I had put into my son`s 52 1/2 ton.
The 1/2 ton pick-up running gear caused the truck to be higher from the ground than that of the Camero.

Check out this link. Sorry, I haven't learned how to give this a short name.
https://www.stovebolt.com/ubbthread...at&Number=571697&nt=2&page=1

Chuck

Mallard

Seems most don't want to go this route but i put a 69 Nova clip under my 49 suburban. Bought it for $200 at swap meet, spent $250-300 or so to rebuild, and had certified welder $100 install. Unless you get all control arms, etc from junk yard a MII is several times that amount. If you want to really think outside the box do a google search for Crown Vic IFS swaps from a 2003-2006 molice car. The F&@#d guys I know swear by them as it is an eight bolt swap with extra beefy components. Good luck

Mallard

Seems most don't want to go this route but i put a 69 Nova clip under my 49 suburban. Bought it for $200 at swap meet, spent $250-300 or so to rebuild, and had certified welder $100 install. Unless you get all control arms, etc from junk yard a MII is several times that amount. If you want to really think outside the box do a google search for Crown Vic IFS swaps from a 2003-2006 molice car. The F&@#d guys I know swear by them as it is an eight bolt swap with extra beefy components. Good luck