Independent Front Suspension in a 32 Ford

The only complaint people have with IFS is ............ LOOKS.
This has nothing to do with engineering integrity or any other cognitive decision [only emotions]

The IFS beats a straight axle in performance hands down. And in a full fender 32 it should be a no brainer.
Personally a full fender 32 is the better looking car [based on looks]
You can make the stance really work, the running boards create the illusion of being lower.

The lower A-Arm is the most visible component [then the coil over] but these can be blacked out.
Also adding a front bumper with shortened brackets [mounted close to the frame horns] will do wonders for the stance and make a visual barrier .

example here [the front looks low]


Good suspension/handling will "make or break" a hot rod .
There is plenty here about "death wobble" "harsh handling" "bump steer" "Geometry" and "poor brakes"
Choose the spring rate wisely.

 

Mimi, I was just thinking I hadn’t seen you post lately, can’t let Kerry have all the fun!

Also very good advice as always.

 

I chimed in because "my old man" is getting cantankerous
He is just about "over" all car forums because of boredom.

 

IFS isn’t necessarily ugly.
An OE set up hanging out in the open is
Ive got a subframe graft in one and doing another. No straight axle setup exists to set em stupid low without a m***ive engine set back.
Pretty? Don’t care. It works great as far a lowering. Ride is very good but not necessarily the goal.
My merc is retaining the stock stuff with dropped springs.

The biggest advantage for ifs is that dialing in spring rate and ride height is easier
As far as arm angles. I really don’t care as long as it works. We ain’t road racing. Just cruising.
The extremes demonstrated in lots of simulations don’t apply.

 

You can dial the stiffness with spring rate and/or motion ratio. Make it softer and add a Anti-Roll bar
This can also be done with a coilover sprung drop axle.
You can eliminate death wobble with IFS , and make it a better "Drivers Car"


I don't like Hiboys [I prefer full fendered] but this Hiboy below has IFS that looks right [except for the 4wd]
This car is the '32 version of a Lotus 7 autocross racer.



If it was 2wd with cantilever A-Arms [instead of pushrod rockers] it would look "clean"

Here is an example of cantilever A-Arms [The coilovers could easily be hidden between the Radiator and Grill]


But this ^^^ is just engineering for the sake of engineering

 

I’d drive that

 

@ekimneirbo
This looks interesting
Tag looks to say 1948

 

That’s a Planar front suspension, it was used by Willys-Overland on 2wd station wagons and the ‘48-‘50 Jeepsters. Upper control arms, transverse spring and king pin mounted spindles.

 

Does anyone remember the spit I beam , IFS that was being sold for a bit a long while ago ?

 

Would that be this one...???



... or the Ford Twin I Beam system?

 

The tube axle is what I remember . Did not seem to be around long

 

Tried to fix something that wasn't broke!

 

not under standing the post???? the car in the pic has a drop axel???

 

here's been my experience .. had 2 32 roadsters and a 32 sedan.. all had drop axels and road real nice... ch***is's mirrored each other... the sedan was 4 bar... the other 2 were hair pin.... all 3 were in for front end swap to ****** front IFS... we measured the ride height on all and recorded... the sedan was full fendered and layed low... with the cross member in as man. required , and springs they said to use... raised the front 4''... car was wishy washy and would get lot of body roll..... that and it looked like hell.... so started the spring changes... figured out real quick that it would not ever be as low as it was... I had a test road by the shop . there was a section with wash board surface... the ifs hit and it washed the front out and had to almost stop to get around the turn... getting in our drive at the shop... all cars did fine.. with the ifs lowerd / back and front tires rubbed.. sooo... called the manufactor ,... the owners son******* came to my shop... first thing he said was , Steve, you know this IFS will never ride as good lowered as a drop axel... it's what people want... i would never do this to my 32

 

Fatman Fabrications played around with the idea for a while. Never really caught on.... or worked properly.
There was a tube axle version as well.

 

Well, it for sure fixed any cross steer problem...

 

The only positive thing that it accomplished was it made wheel fitment easier due to how much of the beam was removed in the center of the axle.
I'm thinking possible liability may have led to the decision to stop offering them.

 

Straight axles don’t handle well?
Tell this guy

 

Or created one...

 

Duhhh! Read it again instead of cherry picking pieces for the sake of arguing.
I wrote.............

The photo was of a full fendered car with front bumper [shortened brackets]
In that photo it is really difficult to see the axle [ A-Arms would be just as difficult to see]

 

Sorry, just trying to learn something...

 

23 or 24''tall 50 series tire???

 

anyway... hope all goes well,.. I tried to talk you out of doing this so I feel I've done my part...you seem like a good guy...so do what makes you happy...