anyone use a Aerostar frontend?

Aerostar? What a miserable IFS. Piss-poor brakes, questionable rack and steering input angle and not to mention it's ugly like a bucket of armpits. Did anyone notice the bobweights strapped to the upper control arms?

Yeah, since when is it ever OK to deliberately ADD weight to the unsprung m***? I'll tell you, it is to control NVH. Ford new they had a problem with NVH and added the weight to dampen it.

Wonderfull.

Just because the donor IFS removes easily doesn't make it a good candidate for swaps.

 

Sorry if I missed it but,,,

What is NVH?

 

OK, So the Aerostar isn't the best...
What is?
Or at least what units do any of you guys who have installed more than two think are at least acceptible?

Not aftermarket, out of the s**** yard stuff I'm talking about.

Is the Jag XJ OK? Seems like it's easier to install than a Volare...
If not what are it's drawbacks, other than availability and price?

How about a "GOOD LIST" , a "FAIR if it's what's available LIST" and A "RUN FROM IT" list?

Remember, guys were installing the torsion bar front and rear ends out of Jag XK-E's at about the same time they were doing Corvairs.

 

Noise/Vibration/Harshness

Ever notice rubber dampened weights attached to ch***is or rear bumpers on new cars and SUV's etc?
It's for control of NVH that was incountered during roadtests. WAY cheaper than redesigning the structure to eliminate the problem.

 

Aerostar's do not have frames. They are a unit body construction.

 

It's just easier than describing it as "reinforced underbody suspension attachment rails"...
Besides...in most unitized vans the "reinforced underbody suspension attachment rails" run in a more or less straight line from front bumper to rear...JUST like a real ladder frame...except the floor is welded to it.

 

as traditional as a 350/350!

 

So are Jags, but they got a killer frontend that rides and handles right. I never looked at an Aerostar, but I can't imagine comparing to a Jag. I've put Jag frontends under 3 cars and they fit well, rode like a dream, and handle as good as a sports car. Also got killer 4-piston disc brakes and power rack & pinion. The ride height can be adjusted with nothing more than a spacer added to the lower spring mounting pan. Only drawback is you gotta have upper shock mounts. The shocks mount to the body on the Jag.

They are not expensive, as seems to be the popular opinion. I have bought them from $100-300 depending on the mileage and condition. I've seen complete cars for as little as $600, meaning you get a front end AND a rear. The ball joints are about the same price as the ball joints for my 98 Dakota, brake pads are comparable to any other full-size car. Traditional? Yeah...right.
But hey...we all have our preferences

 

I've been eyeballing the 2nd-gen Dakotas lately. Not sure I'd use one in a swap, but they drive like a car (good driving car too) and seem to be pretty rugged. I know I torture the hell outta mine. I drove mine in an Emergency Vehicle Certification course after we were done driving ambulances and fire trucks, and I ran the second fastest time. I beat the times of all our city and county cops in their cruisers but one. One Crown Vic spun out trying to beat my time. But that has little to do with the subject at hand.

Thought about a late-30s pickup on on of the ch***is, but never measured the width to do any serious thinkin

 

yeah ive never seen one done, but i do work on aerostars and other ford vans and i wouldnt use a damn piece off of one of those heaps.