The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop Corvette based suspension fabrication

I was curious if anyone has ever built their own corvette based suspension like an IFS. I'm toying with the notion of peicing one together and was wondering if anyone has done it and maybe has some information logged on the fabrication? Looking at pictures it doesn't really seem like its to diffucult, just getting all the geometry and everything right.

My truck is a 1954 chevy 3100 short bed with original frame.

Flat Out Engineering has kits for front and rear using Corvette suspension parts. http://flatout-engineering.com/products.html

I've thought about going that route but I figure by the I had it delivered to arkansas the price of shipping would cost more than the install kit. I was wonder if anyone has ever fabricated anything like this with success and maybe had the Geo logged.

Boss,
I had thought about going with a vette suspension but chose differently. I would not go with gutting a vette and try to fab it together, I would go with a kit that way you know that the kit was engineered for the application and it comes with instructions.

Bread

check you this link-
Progressive Automotive

I wouldn't mind buying a kit that way I knew all the geometry was spot on if I knew it wouldn't cost a grand for shipping. I guess I could ask if anyone has ordered one of these kits from pressiveautomotive or flat out engendering and what it cost them to ship several states away. I just can't justify paying that much for shipping but I may have no other choice.

I guess that leads to my next question... Has anyone ever ordered one of these and if so what did it cost to ship several states away?

Ok I was just sitting here thinking about it... I was figuring shipping on 1000lbs cause that's what the webpage says it weighs. There's no way.... I don't know what the heck they would be putting In the crate that weights 1000lbs

Why not use a tubular mII kit. google Gayle Bridges. he makes high quality kits for just about everything. kit cost, and shipping is very affordable.i've used these kits for a range of builds, and i am very pleased. - just a thought.

daren

Thank you Darren! That was some very useful information! I didn't know about this company. And the good thing about it is that its located in hot springs, Arkansas... Only about 2 hours from where I live!

Boss,
My advice is to look at how much are you willing to spend/afford and what kind of shop/tools you have available. Price/affordability always dictates which way you go. It's taken me several years to make progress, mostly because of access to the proper facilities and tools. It hasn't moved as fast as I had imagined but I know that I'm building what I truly want and can afford. Best of luck, man.

Bread
.

Affordability is my biggest issue at the time. In a about a year from now I will really be able to start putting a little money into it, but its not gonna keep me from making slow progress on it now! As far as access to tools and facilities I'm fortunate enough that two of my best friends are a welder and one works in a body shop. It is probably easy to say that if I don't have what I need one of then will or have access to it. It's been a dream of mine for a long time to build my own custom truck and I'm finally to the point where I'm ready to tackle it! It's kind of overwhelming all the decisions that have to be made ,but I have ideas and I willing to compromise a little as long as my end result is the same. I'm to the point now where I'm ready to box the frame and I'm planning ahead for the suspension. I'm not sure what suspension I will end up going with but I do know I want it to get LOW and look good of course!

Boss,
I did buy the flat out engineering kit from Chevs of the 40s. I'm located in MS and the cost of the kit plus shipping was $870 There is a place in Picayune, MS that is a corvette salvage place that bought the complete front suspension for $650, I happen to be down that way so there wasn't any shipping. I have actually be talking with Beard about this and here are some links that I found you can look at: http://www.bobcoauto.com/corv_susp1.html & http://www.streetrodhq.com/images/TRB-Feb-08_SRHQtruckarticle-ALL.pdf . It shows the same crossmember that I bought but it being install and also the first link shows basically the instructions on how to install it. Unfortunately I haven't install it so I don't really have any pictures other than what those links show.

Carson

Boss,

Not trying to steal your post but I was woundering if somebody has installed this kit in AD truck, if you would please PM me.

Thanks,

Carson

Carson I will forgive you if you give me the name and number to the corvette salvage yard!

Edit: nvm I think I found it... Dino's?

Boss,

You are right on. Dino's is who i am referring to.

Carson

Hey, how about emailing or calling Flat Out Engineering with your shipping question? The owner (I cannot remember his name right now) is very friendly and will help you: this is the only way to get a reliable answer! The rear kit comes in 4 boxes, not s crate, by the way.
And there are plenty of Corvette suspensions on EBay; I have found mine on the local Kijiji.

Ok I managed to find and 86 c4 front here in state from a place that restores and sells used vette parts. Is there anyone that has experience in using the stock crossmember for this install? I would like to use the stock crossmember but I guess it all depends on how much information I can get on it.

By stock crossmember I'm using that in reference to the corvette crossmember.

I've seen some kits that use the Mustang Cobra independent rear. Might be another way to go.

http://www.dustysgarage.com/xx6470MustangIRS.html

I've already purchased the corvette front. I want to keep it all the same make. Now I'm just looking at installing. I would like to use the factory corvette crossmember in it instead of buying one made.

Boss,

PM your private email address and i'll forward you a email conversation I had with a guy who did this. I'm sure he won't mind you emailing him any questions you might have.

Carson

Ok thank you!

Thank you Carson for all your help as well as others in this thread, the information has been very useful!
-Aaron

I don't know of anyone would be interested in it or not but soon I will start another thread about my progress with using the stock corvette crossmember. Maybe the information I include will help the next person like me out that is using the stock vette crossmember. I've searched everywhere for I formation on this and only found incriminates so hopefully a full thread will be useful.

I think that's a good idea there Aaron. You ever get up with that guy I was talking with you about?

I've contacted him but he hasn't responded yet. I have ideas that I'm going to go with that aren't to far from his when he widened the frame. I'm gonna try and do it with only having to widen it maybe a 1/4 inch on each side if at all. I want to try and keep it where everything else will still bolt up in it original place as far and the bumper body mounts and everything else goes.

Sounds good man good luck

Hey Gents,
Having just scored an entire '86 Vette sans engine & tranny as a donor, I'm considering on installing the IRS out of it in my 51 3100.
How is the progress of this project going?
Imagine a '51 handling like a Vette?
AWESOME!
Is it possible to use the entire frame & set my body on it?
Any info or ideas are welcome.
Thanks, Bob

I, with buddies help, installed a '84 C4 on my ride. Stock everything. As with many projects there is the 'good, bad, and ugly'. My buddy has completed putting C4 front and rear units under a '48 International 1/2 ton. We completed both these tasks in the home garage. We also streched the '48 four inches. Admittedly, he has build a number of streetrods and has a wealth of knowledge. I think the most important thing I learned from him since we had to build (a ugly thing) a new frame from about 12 inces foward of the firewall was, "It will be just fine as long as it's perfect". I have a number of pics.

I haven't started the progress yet I just got the front last weekend and will start on it next weekend... I don't figure it will take to long but I'm not real sure but I will be posting the progress here and information on how I have done it.

He had to widen the frame 4"? If you don't mind sharing your pictures and some information I would like to look at it. I've been trying to collect as much info as possible before I start which stated in my previous post should be next weekend. My buddy helping me says he has a way figured out that doesn't involve widening the frame any place other than where the crossmember goes if at all but he can't explain it to me he has to show me what he's talking about. It doesn't involve altering the crossmember either so I'm curious on what his plan is.

As for transferring your body over I don't know if you can.. I think the c4 is a uni body or hybrid uni body. I could be mistaken though.

I realized today that it probably is a unibody.
I did find the kits at flat out engineering, So I can do it without any fab work.
I'm pumped about it. I'll try and post some pix if I can get my camera to play nice with my computer.
Thanks, Bob

progress pictures!


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as you can see in the pictures i notched the upper and lower flanges at the axle center line on the frame rail for the crossmember to set in. i notched the frame rails because the corvette crossmember is 28 1/2" where it sets inthe frame and outside to outside width of the frame is on 28. with the frame notched out it allowed it to flex just enough to slide the crossmember in.i was able to flex the front of the frame rails back in enough to its original position and bolted the front radiator support crossmember back in after cutting it in half to allow room for the rack. the process was actually a little easier than what i thought it was going to be... just took a little head scratching!i also had to c notch the frame for the rack as well

Boss,

I can't look at the pictures right now but glad to see you got progress and it worked out for you. After I get home I'm going to be sure to look up the pictures.

Carson

Slow and steady the progress will go I hope! I'm trying to figure out the best way to go with airs shocks right now. I want to be able to set it down when parked and pick it up pulling in places so it won't drag but I've never used anything like that so I'm stuck researching again!

I'm hoping I didn't do to bad of a job putting it in! Or cause myself any issues further down the road doing it the way I did as this is my first time ever doing anything like this! It still has to be cleaned up some... I need to finish the frame out behind it and and do some other detail work but I didn't want to start that until after I get the whole suspension front and rear mocked up and make sure everything will work out like I hope.

Newman Car Creations in Templeton, CA specializes in c-4 conversions. We are having our 46 1/2 ton being revitalized at Campbell Auto Restoration in Campbell, CA. Our chassis was sent to them and they grafted the c-4 front and rear. This is not inexpensive(retired, spending the kid's inheritance), but Paul Newman's web site is a good source for info. If you look up Campbell Auto Restoration on Facebook, you can see pics of the progress of our "revitalization" and where the kid's inheritance went.

That's going to be a good looking truck! Looks like he does really good work! What motor is that in it?

I didn't do a subframe I used the crossmember out of the C4 and put it in the 54 frame. Having a several visuals of the rear though will help me out quite a bit!