The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop IFS Opinions for TF install

I'd like to hear some opiniosn and expereinces on IFS install for the Task Force trucks. I'm getting ready to do my 57 3100 and I want to benefit from the group's collective knowledge. I'm leaning toward the No-Limit Camaro-bassed solution because of the 8-inch travel and the one-piece design that seems to make for an easier install. However the Mustang II based system from TCI is also attrractive. It currently on sale (from CPP) with 6-lug rotors and free shipping for around $2K.

What do you guys think?

regatds,
Leon

for $2k, they should throw the shipping in.

Cant help with the TF trucks.

Scott

Leon -

I put in a No Limit wide ride on my 55 2nd series about a year ago. Everything went very well. The only thing I wonder about is the height of the coil over springs taht came with the kit. After I installed the Wide Ride, I installed a SBC 350 crate motor this past summer and the IFS springs didn't sink very much. I was told by a guy who helped install the motor that he also felt the springs were a bit tall.

No Limit Tech guys are not very friendly, but they were somewhat helpful - to a degree. The sales support people were cool.

The only thing that did not come in the kit was spacers for where the shock tops mounted to the cross member (Keeping the shock centered.)

Feel free to get back to me and ask any other questions.

I have a lot of pictures in my webshots location:(http://community.webshots.com/user/rericson01)

Ross

My opinion? Keep the truck suspension.

Ditto

Thanks for the responses, guys.

Ross, where did your ride height end up? What's the frame to ground height at the front wheels, with what size tires?

regards,
Leon

yea, for $625.00, i got a 3 inch dropped straight axle from Sid with everything new. king pins, tapered tie rod ends, steering arms and spindles.
love the old skool look.
and it all bolted right up with no mods...

leonard

Leon -

Without the front sheet metal in place, the center of the front wheel sits at 13". (12" at the front corner of the door)

I have 225/55r17 tires on it.

Ross

Ross,

I've got another question.
Did the frame modification obscure the VIN stamped into the driver side frame rail?

regards,
Leon

Leon -

Boy did my heart start to race when I read your question - I had forgotten where my VIN stamp was placed and I freaked for a minute!

But then I remembered, I have a stamp on the door/windshield pillar that has my VIN number on it.

I never did see a VIN stamped into the frame when I took the truck down to the bare frame (when I cleaned it/painted it).

I've read that sometimes they are stamped into the frame on top of the rail below the cab - But I did not see this on mine.

Ross

I used the Heidts MII crossmember on my 55 2nd and it did not go back far enough to get to my vin on the frame . I think the vin was right about at my firwall on the drivers side. Or close to it.

Ross,

I finally got a chance to snap a pic of my frame. The VIN is in the light green box. It looks like the crossmember welding will damage the last couple of digits. What do you think?

regards,
Leon

Hi Leon -

Sorry I have been gone for a while.

I will check mine out tomorrow. The area you show in green is an area I cleaned up and worked with. To my recolection, I don't remember anything there. I will look to see if the boxing plate welds or the cross member cover that area. I had to do some minor trimming of the frame rails to get the plates to fit right and it may have removed some of that area.

Based on what I see in that picture, I have a feeling that the cross member may go right over the green area.

(This is based on my assumption that I am looking at the axle seen in the bottom - Am I am corerect in what I am seeing?)

I will get back to you.

Ross

I just looked at my frame and I can not see the vin from under the hood I thought it was further back under the cab but maybe it is right where the crossmember was installed , I'm not sure now with my cab on my frame I can't see it now.

I installed the TCI unit in my 55 2nd series.It has worked out very good for 5 years.The main thing is to read the instructions,measure,and measure again to make sure everything is lined up and square,before you strike that first arc.I had to make one phone call to cust.service concerning the power steering pump,and found them to be very helpful.The truck runs just great,and with the built 350 and 700R4 OD trans.,it is nice running down the freeway in the centerlane passing everything in sight.

Well i am doing a 69 chevy front on my 59 the nice part about it is minimal welding its pretty much a bolt in operation only welding will be in the either notching of the frame or as this artical does narrowing the frame http://www.thehollisterroadcompany.com/C10ifs.html
btw very well written artical but i am going a different direction on mine i will be updateing my profile and doing lots of pics soon as i get started on me "lol wish me luck going from no reference on the frame notch" lol

My vin # was partially cut out. I had a good experience with the mustang 2 custom installed by a custom builder for $2500 (4 years ago). Here's a picture from the gallery.

http://www.stovebolt.com/gallery/images/droege_matt_1955_03i.jpg