The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop camaro clip, mustang ii, lowered straight axle

Im still up in the air about which route to go with. I currently have a 56 chevy pickup with a 4 inch lowered axle with stock springs. I need disc brake conversion and power steering. Or should I yank all that out for a camaro clip or mustang ii. Please help with your guys advice. Thank you guys.

Camaro clip is the easiest route.
'70s Camaro clip is common and cheap to buy. It is also strong enough, gives you power disc steering/power brakes. You also get a standard Chevy bolt pattern, and engine mounts for Chevy engines. You also get a lot of aftermarket choices for the Camaro clip (anti-sway bars, shocks, ...).
Sure, you have to weld it in...
I have often read that Mustanfg II is too lightweight for the job.
Stock axle looks "old school", but will never be an independant suspension...

I'm building my 1956 3100 with the straight axle...I didn't want to cut the frame. Everything I have done is bolt on and can be undone.

I installed the sway bar from a 1956 Suburban/Panel truck.
I installed disc brakes with 5-lug rotors (don't remember who I bought the kit from).
I installed the power rack and pinion kit from POL. Their kit has the rack bolted to the axle.

All of this might be more expensive than a Camaro clip, but it's the way I wanted to go. I have never been a fan of a clipped frame. I always worried about how well it was done and if it would fall apart due to poor design or workmenship.

Mike B

Yes I like the idea of keeping my straight axle I just think its cool. But by the time i spend $600-$1000 for power steering and another $650 for a complete disc brake kit and then whatever odds and ends I need. I just cant afford that right now. Everyone tells me im not going to like the ride so I dontwdontwant to spend that money and not like it. Cuz I know I canrlt get my money back out of it.

i have done both the camero and mustang. the camero is cheaper and easy to do the hard part is makeing the mounts for the rad and front sheet metal and bumper to fit. with the mustang you still have the stock mounting points if you go with the mustang i would fatman or tci

Which route did you like best?

could not tell the difference in the ride or handeling but i am putting a fatman under my suburban for the ease of remounting the front sheetmetal and bumpers

Im so confused on which route to go. Theres a local guy that will sell me a complete frame with a camaro front clip installed for $1000. Mustang ii with installation and the kit will be at least $2500 and power steering and disc brakes for the straight axle will be about $1000 too so im so lost. Im thinking about just leaving the lowered axle and adding disc brakes and driving it. But I dont know. Any advice from you guys is appreciated.

as already mentioned,the Camaro/Nova could be cheaper,but the rad. and sheet metal and bumper mount can be a problem.Mine has a Nova.It works fine,but is a bit too wide,so with two people in it tires can rub on the fenders in tight turns.
The M11 kit is designed for your frame.Clearances and engineering have already been dealt with for you.
If money is the main issue,buy the frame you mentioned for $1000.
I sure used the word "mentioned" a lot,,sorry
Boyd

I've got a 4" dropped axle in my 53 3100 and I've done the power disc brake kit with it. I had to cut, flip, and weld the ends of my steering arms and pitman arm since the tie rod had to be flipped upside down to now run under the springs instead of over them. The job has been done fro quite some time now and I really wish I would have gone with a clip or a Mustang II. The ride and the steering is not what I was looking for in a daily driver. My brother's 56 F100 has a Camaro clip and it rides so much nicer than my truck. After ALL that time (and there was a ton) and money I spent to go with the straight axle. I think I'm going to do it the "right" way now. It's a bummer. I'd like to move to the next project instead of doing this one over.

I picked up a 74 Camaro from a tow yard for $500. Used the entire drive line and suspension. Put in polyurethane bushings through out the front end and it drives really nice. I welded up a jig to locate the rad cross member before I cut the frame and everything went back together like it was supposed to. Where else are you going to get all of the suspension, SB and trans that cheap? It cost a little to go through the eng and trans and a little effort to line everything up and get it professionally welded ( I weld but didn't trust myself welding/boxing a frame) and I am really happy with the finished truck.

I also used a camero clip , and drop spindles. Very happy with the results, mine is a 39 half ton. I made a jig to located all front mounts out of angle, and used the cab holes for my control points. Then cut off the old and added the new bolted the jig on and then made the brackets. A guy called Ted Smith, I think is the name has a book on frames that I used. Have some pics if it helps . Good luck

Maybe Tex Smith?

If you're wanting it low, in my opinion the Camaro clip is much too wide. I know a couple guys that have gone this route, and they have to run very narrow wheels for fender/suspension clearance (with a very low ride height). A Mustang II isn't going to end up much cheaper than modding your straight axle either. If you put the money into the straight axle and add a steering stabilizer (it's a shock that mounts to your tie rod. So Cal Speed Shop has them), you will have a good handling, good stopping truck.

You're right. If you want to run big tires and slam it to the ground the Camaro clip will give you fender problems. I only lowered mine a couple of inches mainly because I run the Camaro wheels and tires 245/60-14. I wanted mine to still look like a truck.