I Have researched and have alot of ideas. Just wondering about the stock 48 stylemaster suspension i have now. Should i rebuild(where and who can do this in tennessee) or should sub frame/mustang 11. I do still want to use my 235 out of the 55 but if i sub/mustang the front alot of work getting it in. Could i just use the front i have and just replace the front drums i am not going to drive a 100mph but do want some safty for my family. I am making a tail dragger out of it and was going to order spindles from buffalo and convert to disc on the front but the money isnt here yet. So i need some advise please. I did some searches and am now confused. Please help. Thanks for your time. ben
hey, i have a 48 buick special --same front end stuff as chevy. all i did was upgraded to disc brakes and dropped spindles... (fat man) didnt even put in power steer. drives like a dream and stops good. gotta love the post war fat fenders.!! i have rear coils but chevy had leafs easy to drop in rear just put the fat old lady in the back seat!!!!
Keep your original Chevy suspension, steering and brakes! They are excellent and safe when new and set up right. I rebuilt them on my 48 last summer with all NOS parts, found online all over the place. Only thing not stock, besides the larger bore 6, are the 3.55 rear gears from a 54 powerglide. It's a daily driver and does long trips on freeways. No need to cut up an old Chevy that just has worn parts. - They are only worn cos nobody kept up with the simple maintenance.
It will cost you less to rebuild the front end yourself than to buy a MII front end, let alone paying someone to install it. Getting the knee action shocks will be the most expensive part, but there may be a way to convert to modern tube shocks. Other than that, you can get the entire front suspension rebuild kit from Kanter, or possibly cheaper from one of the other old Chevy resto suppliers
I have been running around on Chassis Engineering Inc. disk brake conversion kit and it is great!! Very easy to install right on the factory spindels!! You can keep the factory front but have the saftey of front disk brakes!! -COS
Bro's using stock '47 suspension...have been for the last 80,000 miles...still in good shape, altho we used tube shocks mounted aft of the A-arms...parts are still available, Kanter has all of it. I think Chassis Engineering also has a complete bolt in kit to upgrade from the stocker... R-
That is what i will do. I will rebuild my front and try to find the stuff. I just think this is a cool car and before this sight i would just sub it. I think i am on to something. Does this kanter have a web sight or a contact number. Thanks for all the help. ben
me again , you can get your shocks/upper a arms rebuilt at apple hydraulics(they have a web site) for around 140 bucks each. as for other parts try chevs of the fourtys (they also have a web site) they carry about every part there is for your front end. if that fails try cars inc.com tons of hard to find parts .......fat fenders rule....................
Thank you i will try them all. Can i just replace the whole crossmember drum 2 drum out with a 52-54 chevy. Been looking and researching on the site. A guy here in town is taking just the complete front drum brakes off his 56 nomad 2 put a disc brake conversion on it and said i could have them. Will these work on my spindels or just to much work. What year will work on my spindels to inprove the front drum brakes.
Kanter is something like Kanter.com. A simple search should find them. They are a major supplier of restoration parts. You can also try Filling Station.com Chevs of the 40s, etc, but you will have to piece the kit together. Kanter has it all under 1 part number
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