The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Pacer IFS or original

:confused: Please help me! I have a 49 1 ton Chevy, wanting to put a Pacer IFS under it, can it be done for a 1 ton truck, or should I just rebuild my original front suspension? I have replaced the tie-rod ends, and rebuilt the drag link. Everything seems ok, but need some advice on what may be best. Thanks.

If you are going to use your 1 ton as a 1 ton, I would strongly suggest rebuilding the original. Those light weight IFS set-ups are for hotrods that never carry a load. Besides, who would want "Pacer" parts on their A.D. truck anyway.
Just my opinion, there will be many more to follow,
Scott

P.S. Welcome to the Stovebolt, I'm a relative new comer also.

Swabby,

As suggested above, if you are restoring a 1 ton truck, you need to keep 1 ton running gear under her. I have a 51 3604 truck with bias ply 7.50 16 tires and the truck drives fine. If I feel the need for speed and a comfortable ride, a one ton truck is not my first choice.

What are you trying to accomplish? Better ride? Better brakes? A hot rod?

I think I'd consider a 70's or 80's Chevy or GMC 3/4-ton or 1-ton pickup IFS in any case.

If you go ahead please contact me at my personal email address.

Alright - another Portlander! Straight axle up front will suit you just fine and an 8 lug disk brake setup is relatively easy to fab as well.

I have a 4400 that has excellent road manners and see no need to change it. If you take the time to do king pins, tie rod ends and draglink ends . . . AND if you really go all out go with radials - it will steer like a dream.

Here is something else to think about. If you happen to find a pacer front end you will need to replace bushing and tie rods and whatever else needs to be replaced due to the fact that it has sat for almost 20 years. By the time you do that you will have exceeded the cost of fixing up your original front end.

Hey thanks for the overwhelming responses! I've been working on my truck since 1998, when I bought it for 180.00, I believe that I'll rebuild the current front end, but this bring to mind another question or two. I would like to get a better highway speed out of the rearend, Jim Carters has a ring and pinion gear set for the 5.14 rearend changes to 3.90 or something like it, has anyone had any experience with these? and should I stay with the original 17" wheels?

Sorry, I have to put a good word in for the Pacer front end if you are considering getting away from the stock front end. It works fine at least on my 1/2 ton. You may have to put in springs that are stiffer (spring rate). All the parts can still be had for the Pacer front end unit. The Pacer was a goofy car but that front crossmember is plenty strong and heavy. Fits in relatively easily and will go in a lot quicker than a front frame graft. People put in stuff from a Mustang so what is wrong with using a Pacer front end? Usnavy, I took pics when I installed mine, let me know if you are interested.

really? how? i have a 59 1-ton, and i want to keep the straight axle, but put some power disc brakes on it. my main problem i see, is fabbing the brakets for the calipers.

RearEnd:
The 3.90 gear set only fits in the more modern carrier, I think for the years 67 to 71, but the range of years may be larger. The carrier from those years is also a straight bolt in for the older 1 Ton.

8 Lug front Disk:
I think there is a web site somewhere where somebody shows this. Any leads ?

There used to be a webpage by a fellow named John Dorsey...1 ton AD panel truck with the front disc conversion he did himself. I just checked over on www.chevytrucks.org and unfortunately, the link to his page is dead or needs to be updated, or something.

I think Mr. Dorsey used to come by here occasionally, can't remember for sure. Maybe someone here is acquainted with him? :confused:

Hope you can find something with this...

Regards,
Wannabe

I remember seeing that 1-ton panel disk brake conversion. Because things like that seem to disappear I've taken to saving them for future reference. Unfortunately I didn't get that one....

I'm thinking about converting my '52 6400 to 8-lug disk brakes. Anyone tried that?

All I know is pacers are good for one thing and thats falling apart. How many of those do you see driving still?? My buddy had one he bought for two hundred bucks and it was a piece. My two cents. Jess

I'll throw in one more concern that involves shocks & coil springs. You need to find out what your trucks front-end weighs (provided in various reference manuals)and then get the apropriately weighted springs and shocks to maintain the correct shock rebound & ride height. For instance,my '52 Burb front end weighs 1835lbs...I need 1900 lb front coil springs.