Hi! A question for you experts out there As you might have guest, i have a 52 Chevy, and it needs a new front end, a****st other things. But i have seen some adds on munstang II front ends for this kind of car, more or less "Bolt on". Does any one have any experience of this kits? any suggestions on a exect kit? Cause i do like the idea of some good brakes and powersteering. and more easy to service. And if so easy to find airbags for it. Which i very much would like to have in the rear, Please some tips on that to. Thanks for a great forum.Sorry for any bad spelling. / Jonas
That front suspension is the same that was under the Corvette until the early 60's. Personally I'd rebuild what you have(parts are available), add a power steering kit & disc brakes if you want them. And don't worry about bad spelling, I don't think the Spell Check Police is anywhere around here...joe
find a jaguar front end. from what i have read they are a very easy swap into a 49'-54' chevy check out www.chevytalk.com lots of info there on upgrading your ride. where are the pic's?
for what its worth, my 52 has a rebuilt stock front end with 2" lowered Fatman's uprights and power disc brakes with stock steering and i like it just fine.
I have a stock front end too with no issues. But, you can also swap in a Camaro/Nova subframe. Mine came with one, but I sold it.
some, but no worse than any other old car i've ever owned. my steering box is all slopped out and could really use a rebuild so i can't really quantify just how bad its hunting.
For the cost of a disc kit, rebuilt steering, lowered uprights and new bushings, you can pay for one of the kits. The problem is getting it installed properly and safely. Read ElPolacko's post on the bad side of mII swaps.
I put Jaguar IFS on mine, works really well with nice brakes, even the powersteering hoses mated up to the chevy power steering pump.
since you are inquiring about a bolt on kit I'm figuring welding and fabrication are not your forte. I would recommend the Ch***is Engineering MII. not sure who else my make them, but C.E. seems to have a good reputation. I have heard no bad things about this kit. got a good welder handy? go with the FatMan Fabrications "ultra low" MII. I can't imagine why anyone would put a camaro clip ona 49 - 54 chevy. unless you have no money and plan on installing the 20 - 30 year old suspension without any type of rebuild. stock front end... it's a ***** to park with the manual steering and slow ratio. if you want disc brakes and have a few items that need rebuilding you could be in it for $800.000 before you know what hit you. add a bunch of money for dropped spindle uprights and you are very close to MII as far as $$$$. I made the mistake of doing this on my old 49. for some reason I wanted to keep the stock front end?? never again
Some guys put a Saab rack & pinion on the stock front end, seems to solve the wander issues and make the steering easier. I grabbed a '54 box to put on mine and see how it is. They're supposed to be a little better. But I didn't have any trouble with it just lot driving it turning it around in the driveway, and so on.
Hi All, thanks for all replys I forgot to say the "Main Plan", it´s gonna get a healthy V8 in there. and i think that the economics on rebuilding the orginal compered to a munstang conversion, is not all that much. i do like to have discs in front. Thanks for the tip of Chevytalk Pictures? of my ride? well, here she is
Hi again, there were some answer i didn´t se there I´ll read the ElPolacko's post on the bad side of mII swaps. I don´t mind welding at all, thats not a problem, just looking for a kit with a-arms and brakes, You know the hole encilada . . And i do need to rebuild most of the front and so . . This "FatMan Fabrications "ultra low" MII" is there a websight for these?? I´ll be sure to look up these other kits that you talk about. Thanks again, From a Swede in Phoenix, AZ = Jonas
I took a look at the http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/208...Control-Arm-Independent-Front-Suspension.html That is what i´m looking for, but there is some choises to be made. 5 x 4-1/2" or 5 x 4-3/4? I´m gonna go with a 350/th700r4 setup so wich springrate should i choose. 500lbs; 425lbs or 350lbs ? I know that it´s not easy to say which one to choose, but i have little or no clue to which one. I do understand the importanse of getting this setup in corretly. Maybe i should spend the extra bucks for tublar? " Why go with tubular control arms? The most obvious reason is the looks. Tubular control arms and strut rods give your hot rod a much cleaner and hi-tech appearance than the stock type do. Also, when using the strutless style, you gain more clearance because you no longer have the strut rod or its mount in the way of headers, etc. Another bonus is that the tubular control arms are available in 1" narrower than stock, which helps tuck the wheels up under the fenders without having to buy expensive special offset wheel. " Thanks
Hey Jonas if you are in Phoenix right now ya really need to get by Industrial Ch***is and see Steve [El polaco]. Steve is one sharp guy on suspensions.
I have had the Ch***is Enginering one in my car for years. It was easy to install and has given me NO issues. FONZI
I´ll try to do that, just get to get my car in working order Do you know of any god car shows here in Phoenix. i know of 3 so far, pavillion-scottsdale i belive, 83@ safeway, and one on fridays at northern and 35th. I looked at the Ch***is Enginering and i´ll think about it, as allways there is a budget to be considerd. i do how ever just wanna spend my money once if you get what i mean. thanks
Hey Jonas I hang out at the Friday night 35th Ave. and Northern one. Just look for a 27 primer black T roadster with a 4 banger in it. Usualy got a blue cap on that says Eagles on it. Hope to see you there. The 83 ave and Beardsley @ Safeway on Sat. has more rods the the Scottsdale Pavillions one.
When I made the decision for my 54, i added up the prices for me to bag the stock front end, with a disc brake kit, dropped spindles and steering arms and rebuild the front end. It came out not much less than a mII clip and the mII clip came with everything,plus rack and pinion steering like you said... you only wanna spend the money once. I went with a fatman ultra low stage 4 kit with airbags, not done puttin it in yet, but very happy with it so far.
MSII kits...just finished helping do a install... Theres MSII all over the place, weld ins, bolt on's, conversions.... suspension types, powered/ rack ..there is many routes to give you a quality result. I know my buddie went with a no limit IFS manual with air bags for his 54 bel air and it was simple to do once the process of installation was finally obtained. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=257882 If you want to keep your king pins there is also many vendors out there that make rebuild kits.. the limit is pretty much what your willing to pay for. Hell i pretty sure he would sell you the front end he took off **king pin already converted to disk**.
Sounds good guys, I´ll be down to northern this friday, but not with the car. It still need some brake job before i´ll take it to the street.
I have a complete 52 front suspension that is rebuilt with dis brakes, new schoks,ss brake lines for sale $400.00. brojohn
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