The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop IFS in a 58

Hey fellas, I want to try the 73-87 chevy IFS install on my 58 Apache. I want to retain the 6 bolt wheel pattern and have disc brakes. Is this going to create a problem? I've read 73-87's came with 5 lug only.

Does any one know if the GM rotors are interchangeable and if this is going to create problems with the spindles and A-arms?

58 Hound,cant help you with the 73-87 units.I installed the TCI unit in my 55,and man what a difference in ride and handling. I went with 5 lugs 4 3/4 inch bolt pattern all the way around.Number one reason,there ia a better selection for aftermarket wheels with the 5 bolt.Also I wanted all wheels the same,so I only need to carry one spare tire.Whichever way you decide to go,make sure you maintain the same front axle position.And oh yeah,my truck is used only for cruisins,and shows.

I have a set of American Racing wheels on my truck, that's why I want to keep the 6 lugs. I'm going the DIY route for kicks and grins. I recently picked up a 305 out of a 80-84 Camaro and a NV3500 5 speed out of a 1500. Just trying to get my weekend cruiser on the road.

The IFS unit is basically the same starting in 1963 through 1987 on pickups and a few years more on Suburbans and a couple other models.

Disk brakes became standard equipment in '71 or '72 and all disk brake 2-wheel drive trucks that use this IFS are 5-lug.

If you use the crossmember from a '63 through '70 you will have drum brakes with 6-lugs.

That's the easy part. The hard part is that the frame on your truck is wider than the IFS was designed for and this swap will require some cutting and welding.

Right, Old Sub, I've researched the swap and it appears straight forward to me. Keep the chassis square and level from side to side and incorporate the drive pitch.

I guess what your saying I can have cake with no frosting or frosting with no cake, i.e. IFS and six lugs with no disc brakes or IFS with disc brakes and 5 lugs.

Unless, I opt to go with a commercially distributed IFS with 6 lugs and disc brakes, right?$$$

What about the 3/4 ton suspensions on 60 through 87 years, will these switch out?

Thanks for the help.

The aftermarket may offer a disk kit for the 6-lug hubs. You might want to look into that.

1963 through 1987. The IFS before '63 used torsion bars instead of coil springs, but otherwise are very similar.

The 3/4- and 1-ton IFS look very similar to the 1/2-tons. I don't know if they are interchangeable. They have 8-lug hubs and changed from drum to disk at the same time as the lighter trucks.

I found out on the 67-72 Chevy Trucks forums that an '88 to '91 spindle with 1.25" rotors will work with an earlier IFS ('67 to '70). It will need a lower a-arm from a similar year ('67 to '70)3/4 ton because of the larger ball joints. The studs may be 14mm, so the rears may have to be drilled to match.

Are the '67 to '70 suspensions "bolt-on" like the '73 to '87s so that they can be removed from the donor vehicle?

Thanks for the info.

All that series of IFS are bolt-ons. Its something like 14 bolts, but take enough out and it comes off.

CPP has a six lug rotor that fits the stock '73 through '87 spindle, yeah!

So it looks like that's the best route to go if you don't mind cutting the frame to make the '73-'87 crossmember fit.

what wheels can I put on my 1948 stylemaster 6 lug?

othas - welcome to the shops - good to stop in the Welcome Center and introduce yerself and tell us what yer up to - to get some action on your question you need to start a new thread with an appropriate title - in an appropriate forum, rather than tagging on an unrelated topic ... engine and driveline might work

Bill

I have seen several of these IFS units under the 55-59 trucks, and can only say that unless you go with the expensive aftermarket control arms, or hard to find/expensive offset front wheels, it will be too wide for what you may want. Unless the truck is raised up and depending upon the wheel tire combination, the overall width with most commonly available wheels is too wide, and will create rubbing issues when turning. Seriously, talk with and look at the guys that have done this, and unless they have modified the control arms, or gone to a custom ordered offset wheel, I think you will find this setup is tricky, especially if you want the front end to clear while turning. Just my 2 cents!