The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop where to find IFS kits that don't lower the truck

I am rebuilding/restoring a 46 chevy 3/4 ton pickup and would like to keep it's original look as if it still had the old front end underneath it. But after talking with Heidt's and TCI it seems there isn't a way to incorporate one of their kits without lowering the truck and looking like a hot rod or resto' rod. Does anyone sell kits that aren't meant to lower everything? I am aware that lowering the front end changes the geometry and thus enhances the drive-ability but I sure wanted to keep it looking old, but driving like new.
Thanks,
Lane

try fat man his kits fit good

also depends on your fab skills, the ride height of mII is dependent on placement of the crossmember.

daren

somehow I thought the placement of the cross member had to be precisely as the manufacturer directs with little wiggle room. what and how would I have to fabricate?

thanks for your idea

lane

gray area(MII in a chevy truck-who knew?). as long as it is plumb to all measurements in relation to the ground. use a universal kit to place the framerails higher in the cradle. you also may need to trim the rail for the upper spring/a-arm support.(usually not on a chevy)but it needs to be boxed anyway where you install the crossmember, and you will retain the strength needed.

daren

If you're after stock height, why not stay with the stock axle? Disk brake and power steering upgrades are available, and properly rebuilt, the leaf springs do not ride very bad at all. Add a set of radials, you can have a stock height truck that will handle every bit as well as a modern truck.

Bill,

This makes more sense than dropping 2500 or so on something that is a pain to install, not to mention changing the stock look of my old 3/4 ton. Who would I get to 'properly' rebuild the leaf springs or is it do-able for me [a lay person] to pull off?

Lane Brigham

I did mine myself, mainly replacing the bushings and shackles, as well as cleaning the rust scale from between the leaves. Wasn't too bad of a job to do. There's an excellent tech tip on how to make the tool for removing the bushings http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/bushingpuller.htm. Installing them isn't too bad to do either.

Bill,

Thanks .... and one more question - I have yet to find power steering or power assist kits for a '46 and have looked in my catalogs and online ..... do you or anyone know who sells these? So far i have only found them for 47 and up. Parts for the '46 seem more rare and hard to get. I imagine that there aren't enough of them out there for manufacturers to commit to design and implementation of things for these trucks [window regulators and so forth come to mind].

Lane

sweatpealane
Check with Scott Danforth here on the "Bolt".
He makes an IFS cross member that uses S-10 components and lowers the ride just 1 inch. It's for the AD trucks but might be adaptable to a '46. Scott might know.
Happy Truckin'
Cliff