Observed at a local show this past weekend: 3 really high dollar '55-'56 F-100s with all the latest in drive line and ch***is mods including I.F.S. . All three still displayed that most obvious visual defect in those particular trucks: the front axle sits 1 1/4" behind the center of the wheel arch. You'd have thought the builders would have taken advantage of their opportunity when installing a whole new front end to fix the problem.
Age old issue. One I point out repeatedly. The answer is almost always "well it's Factory wheel base" ,, Who gives a **** when it looks wrong? The Wizzard
The uni-bodies have the same issue, front axle too far back. Really like the look when they are centered in the fender opening. I wonder why Ford did that...maybe turning radius or center of gravity. If that's the case, then the opening could have been adjusted.???
Were they built by pro builders, or home built? I'll be willing to bet the "kits" came with measurements and the guys were just following the instructions.
Damn, I thought that was common knowledge with the F-100s. Stretch that puppy an inch and a half on any pre '65 F100... Hell, Elpolacko's kits always came with instructions that explained that right in them. Used to get tons of calls "is that really the right way to do it?" Yup. Pretty sure his new kit for early sixties trucks that indexes itself into the rails so you can't screw it up is set up the same way.
I'm getting parts rounded up for my 53F100 build & was wondering if the whole spring set up could be moved forward an inch or so? I will keeping stock frame & axel~Chuck
Yep, perzactly why I mounted my I.F.S.exactly 1 3/4" ahead of the original center-line when I dumped the fornt end of my '55.
Mid fifty makes a spring that moves it forawrd an an inch and lowers it, thay also have a longer drag link to go with the springs. I don't think you can move the stock springs without making new spring hangers due to the frame design
I moved the whole thing forward but I moved 4 1/4"-moved the wheel arch in the fender 3". However, you're correct-the frame swoops down at the front so when I moved the front spring hanger it ended up lower than stock thus raising the front of the truck. It took major spring mods to get it back down where it should be. In fact, another 1" would be even better. If I run across a '57 axle (which I understand has 1 1/4"-1 1/2" more drop), I'll swap it.
For an original axle...couldn't you just drill new centerbolt holes in the axle an 1 1/2" to the rear, thus moving the axle forward when you mount it up? You would have to extend the draglink as well of course...
On my old 55 f100 that has long been sold....I put in a 71 monte front clip ( my first GM clip installation)...I moved it forward one inch....looked great and centered...had 30,000 miles on it when it went to NJ.
We did this one at 1" and it looks fine. The IFS was almost a disaster because the stock upper control arm was out of travel for camber adj. ,it worked out but if i had to do another i would move the spring mount out a 1/4 " beyond the supplied specs.
Hanging an independent front end with the axle line centered on the original axle line exaggerates the wheels not being centered in the opening when they are turned a bit. That is one thing a lot of the guys who are **** about keeping the factory wheelbase miss until it's too late to fix it.
mid fifty does have the correct center bolt and springs to center the wheel only for 53 to 56...you have to extend the drag link for sure...you can purchase a new drag link or sleeve it yourself
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