I own a fab shop... some time while I was napping...a new trend stepped up from the past... been years and years since we installed and IFS on a pre 36 ford...in fact we have removed more beside being none traditional and just not how you do things...and the $ factor that devalues the hot rod.. add a fendered car and you have such a ****py ride.... but... being in the business to make a buck....is this a one off deal??? or is the trend from 1980 comming back???
Me , I have 3 straight axels , Thinking of switching one to IFS, Or Torsion bar straight Axle with 4 bar . If I do not like I would / will cut it off .
Trends come and go and sometimes come back. Some trends from the 80's early 90's are considered old school by the youth of today . Not everyone wants 1920's handling in a vehicle they plan driving at 80MPH in traffic on twisty roads. I enjoy my IRS , IFS 28 A with mid 90's street rod stuff. I can run it as hard as my vette . Id build it traditional if I was building it today . On a fendered car I don't get all bothered by seeing a IFS I had to actually look for to see. If the customer wants it and is paying build it for them . If I had a real 32 id not remotely consider a IFS . Hot rods are always about imagination and right now traditional copys of what was traditional then are becoming almost belly ****on builds . Will some new trend or old trend made new like traditional is now come back? Very possable. Might see billet in 50 years again LOL.
I've had both types of suspension and I personally prefer the traditional axle, set up right they ride very go but I will agree the independent rides excellent ,if set up correctly. In my opinion, visually the dropped axle looks cleaner and better on a '32 Ford but I don't want to force way of thinking on anyone else. I had a couple of 1940 Fords and one had a dropped axle the other had independent front suspension, but road well and you couldn't see the ugly junk yard mustang II I stuck under the car. HRP
I voted for dropped axle. I have had a lot of cars. The ifs cars ride a little better, but not enough better to make it worth the effort, expense, and lack of styling that comes with them. Just my opinion.
Drop axle with torsion bars, if you want to get a little hi-tech. IFS 1935 and newer only…my personal rules. On 1934 and older IFS looks gayish…IMHO.
"Acceptable in the rear but not up front ?" if you gotta ask......???? might get some gayish response
Friend of mine once told me " if you are in it to make a living and they want pink flamingos you give them pink flamingos".
I guess I have the idea that the front suspension should be of stock style or design. I apply this to my newer vehicles as well. The rear suspension can be whatever is needed for the application of power. When you get in my 64 Fairlane it still feels like a 64 Fairlane because of the stock steering and front suspension although it has performance shocks and disk brakes. I want my old ride to feel like an old ride.
I hope you didn't get **** hurt when I said not to do it... it's your car,... do what you want.....I know this, I've owned 3 roadsters with IFS... took for ever to get rid of...and the constant "when you gonna put a drop axel back in it...." that and the cool part about a 32 is the front suspension...but if you look up top...80% agree... and the 6 that voted IFS,.. are from the bee hive and did it just to make me wrong...
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