1956 F100 economical front suspension?

OLD SUSPENSION By the time i rebiuld everything and order the $500 drop axle plus the old steering, I will be way ahead to use the Ford crossmember or weld in a front clip.
Plus WIntewr is looong and cooold in Chicago- I need something to do;
Thanks for the tip and i think i will got to the boneyard with my measuring tape

 

Looks like I need to Shut my Type'r and open my eyes-You guy's have already answered my question as to which Ford cross member
I get it --thanks

 

I'll add my .02 I m using down and forward springs ,57 up axle [approx.1 1/2'' drop] the 57 springs are wider, so i shimed the sides 1/16'' with saginaw cross steer. The toyota steering may be better. With this setup Bronco 2 sway bars work well with the orginal braketery modified. I also relocated the shocks for better geometry. Good luck and have fun.

 

Pretty close to the set up I was wanting to try. What size tires are you running up front? Any pictures of the truck? If not, how about a ground clearance measurement where the front fender and running board meet?
Larry T

 

Good point!
There are 2 video's on Utube of guy's that used 2003 and 2005 CV's for there 53 and 55 F100's. They used the front and rear suspension. Looks like the front crossmember fits in real nice. CV's are a dime a dozen in the junkyards plus they are qaulity amd modern(lots of parts)
This would be alot easier than aligning and boxing in a front clip. The Aerostar is good but I like HD suspension and big brakes of a CV.

 

got pictures?????just courious how ya did it.

 

Sits nice "damagedduck" I will look for an Aerostar tuesday. If they are readily available i may go with the aerostar. I can use 15 inch wheels which will save money in tires and wheels vs the 17 inch CV stuff. looks nice and worked well for you.
What rear end combo are you using????

 

I dont undertand the CV suspension conversion. CV's track widths are 5 inches to wide. 80's - 90's-2000's. My track width is only 59 inches and CV's are like 64

 

<<<<<<< Volare with 2" drop spindles. This sets just right. Then the dodge power steering box has a easy feel and good turning radius. Easy alignment.

 

WOW Sits nice!
Unfortunately for me the 'Clunkers for cash" BS eliminated that option in my area. Any Volare, Dodge magnum ect commands restoration prices if a bone yard saved it? They are not sitting around gathering dust as far as i can find.
Lots of CV's but how can it possibly work?
Will call about Dakota's or Windstar today

 

You lost me with tubbed rear.... is this still the HAMB?

 

Its like talking to a wall friend.

I'll never really give up myself but its like talking to a wall.

 

I sure wish someone would come out with another Dakota crossmember kit. It would be the way I'd go.
Larry T

 

Sorry, Not sure what H.a.m.b. stands for?
I learned alot about Superchargers on here and more than any other forum!!
I don't think to many pre 70's cars came with 6-71's ?
I put a Chevy 327 in a Porsche 911 and went to a Porsche club meeting once.
I then realized that the purist can get nasty and hardcore.(haters out there)
I wasn't welcome to say the least. Still have the car though and its fun
I am just a car dude and don't mean to upset anybody

 

Maybe try and Read This First! then do an intro. HAMB is Hokey Ass Message Board by the way. But in general it's about "Traditional Hot Rods and Customs" as in pre-65ish. No Billet, no Pro Street. And we like it that way. It's not a general car site, and there are plenty of those... Maybe take the time to figure out what the site is about, then maybe you'll understand what's on topic and what's off topic.

 

After looking at all your cool trucks i don't need to tub it. I like the lowered big tire stance and there is enough room under those big rear fenders for what i want to do

 

What's this big tire stance you talk about?

 

10" rim is about the limit without doing something with the springs, and it has to be tubbed for them.
Larry T

 

I understand and I will switch gears. It is ironic though how some of the most knowledgeable Customizers and old school Hot Rodders are on this forum!
Thanks for all the help guy's!!!

If I get some positive feedback i will post pics of my progress good or bad/
Up to you guy's?

 

Why is it ironic? That's what this place is all about, and pretty narrowly focused on that...

 

If you do the slightest bit of research,you will find that superchargers have been around almost as long as hotrodding itself.
Pick up Pat Ganahl's supercharging book,worth every penny.
It explains a lot of the history of blowers and how to set up and tune them for the street.

 

MY POINT in response to posts that this is not a customizer forum
They didn't come stock on a 55 chevy
I just saw a new thread on to CHOP a 55 or to NOT CHOP a 55?

My truck is rotted and missing the drive train so it is not a resto candidate.
I am going to continue learning and asking Q's on this forum and for the guy's that get it and have helped me thank you. Its been fun learning and I love seeing the pics of your trucks. F!00's are all new to me but I didn't know S#$%$ about them till last week.
i am going to ignore the negative comments and
the moderator can block me if i am truly upsetting the majority and going in the wrong direction

 

This is definitely a customizer forum. And wether to chop a 55 is a valid question, the answer is not always "chop it". This forum is about building cars like you would have seen around 1965 or before. Which you obviously seem to miss. It's not a resto site. As for your contention that you'll continue despite building something off topic. Well your total lack of understanding pretty much points to that anyway...

Now on the other hand, if you were to take a moment and try and actually figure out what this site is about, maybe just maybe you'd decide to build something that the HAMB community would embrace, or find the place where it would... dogfightmag.com comes to mind

 

Never mind,this is actually worse than talking to a wall.

 

pretty much yeah...

 

These can be lowered with dropped axles and or reversed eye springs. These were bult by Ford for work and are very rugged and
reliable. Disk brake swaps are pretty easy. With a budget in mind, the stock brakes properly rebuilt work vey well.[/QUOTE]

What amount of drop can I expect from a new mainleaf with reversed eye springs? ('57 chevy pickup)

 

I GET IT NOW! THIS IS A PEROD CORRECT FORUM. WHATEVER WAS COOL IN THAT PERIOD
MY BAD I DID nOT KNOW? OOPS
I will head over to HOTTRODDERS FORUM

For the guys that helped me Thanks Alot and I might contact a couple of you depending on which suspension I pick-out this weekend(most of you guy's seem pretty friendly and I may still need some help if you don't mind)
No Need to get up tight guy's. This hobby is my stress RELIEVER

 

Not strictly period correct, there is some leeway. For the most part if the modification isn't in plain view it usually gets a pass. Suspensions and stereos for one. But billet, big wheels with rubber bands, pro street styling, all get the "no go". I think krpfink coined the phrase "traditionally styled" and it seems to get the idea across. If the car/truck looks right then a lot of the stuff underneath will get a pass... If you notice the stuff you caught a little shit for was not the actual suspension, it was the tubs, the big wheels, that stuff.

 

Oh, Well then a little grief I can handle because I fit within the parameters of this FORUM! (great ) I want to go 15's (aerostar suspension ) and tubbing is nixed. I just want a 12 inch tire underneath the back and a 15 inch deep dish rim'. They will fit
A member on here talked me into going ford with my motor and trans>
(watch out haters)THE WALL IS BACK!!
There is more knowledge on here than any other site and I will need it for this one!
I will post some pics this weekend.

I went on the Porsche forum w my 327 chevy 911 and I got way worse (just short of death threats) They made me pull of the Porsche logo and put a chevy logo on it-LOL

 

+1 on the dropped axle, although I wouldn't use a tube, get one that's stretched. Cheap and quick compared to all the clips/MII/etc.

You can do a disc brake conversion and dual M/C and it will be plenty good. It's a very rugged design. Even a BB weighs about the same as a flat V8, I don't know that you need to do anything to the steering except rebuild it. If you have super-fat tires up front, maybe something to give PS would be worthwhile.