I have started the work on the truck. I am fortunate to have a almost rust free body but almost every mechanical item is worn out. I want the end result to be a cruiser able to be safe on the freeway and comfortable. Read that as auto, power steering and A/C. The trip must be comfortable for the wife. So. The option seems to be to set it on another frame or build new components on the existing frame. I am hoping to hear what you have done. Total cost of components and time may dictate one way or the other. What works best.
use the stock frame, split the bones, box the front use the kits from CE and put a 40 front end on it
I have a dropped straight axle under my '40 coupe, and a Mustang ll under the '41 truck. For around town driving not much difference. But for freeway speeds the M ll wins hands down. If you plan to "drive the wheels off", I would suggest going with the M ll.
That truck doesn't have a traditional Ford cross spring type front end, but parallel leafs and a beam axle. I had a '42 for quite awhile that I was adamant about setting up with a dropped axle and de-arched, re rolled leafs and "traditional" type suspension. When all was said and done, I could have simply rolled over to any of about 10 U-Pullit joints in Phoenix and bought a pre '86 Jag XJ6 front end for about 250.00. and spent about the same going through it. Much better ride, much better handling, properly scaled to the weight of the truck and about 6 times easier to install than the dropped axle and all it's attendant screwing around. Lower too. I would be seriously tempted to do the same for the rear as well, although mine came with a 9" that I remounted above the leafs and then rebuilt everything. As big a fan as I am of Mustang II stuff under appropriate cars, this is NOT one vehicle that I would use it under. Especially when the Jag stuff is so right for the occasion and cheap. My truck was set up with a Ford 302 C/4 combo That was terribly mounted but ran well, and I should have pulled and pitched for a small block Chevy. That's a personal thing with me, though. I absolutely hate small block Fords as I don't have enough time in my life to figure out every freakin' running change they made to the damn things! I did fix the mountings and sort out all the wrong stuff (part of my hatered of small block Fords) and it ran okay. I wouldn't build driver today without an over drive. There is just no reason not to. An AOD or a 200/700r4 is nothing but an advantage in southwestern driving conditions.
Nova subframe up front, 302 with auto, ac, power windows, custom interior,this is a nice cruiser my neighbour built over the past 20 years,,,not finished yet,,still needs the floor boards in box. My own truck a 41 Ihc i installed a Fatman IFS,, great ride and handling..
Not trying to hijack but I'm glad someone finally said this. I've got a nice (to me) '55 Chevy truck I've been hardover that I wanted to rebuild the kingpins on, install a disc brake kit on a dropped axle, use lowering springs or Posie's Super Sliders, etc. Yeah, I've read that Sid's can provide the parts to minimize or eliminate bumpsteer....all because the guys with earlier trucks/cars don't (generally) dump their stock suspensions. They improve the original suspension while lowering it. And my truck ain't getting any newer! But the longer I go without having done it I keep thinking of either a Jag setup or for more $$, Flat Out Engineering's C4 IFS & IRS setup. I want to drive this truck well into my retirement years.
My objection with the Corvette system is that it is super wide hub to hub. I have seen them transplanted beneath early trucks, but kiss the thought of standard offset hot rod type wheels good bye. The Jag is 58 1/2" (aprox) hub to hub and has a good spread between the upper A-arms for this sort of stuff. Plenty of room for wheels and tires too. When I do another '42-'46 truck again, (and I will!) that's the deal!
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