F-1 peekup discussion.. need some ideas for a digger hauler!

Big A thats some crazy ****!! Damn!!! hahaha...

 

F-1's make great dragster tow rigs.....

 

The F-1/F-100s don't have to be that low with Jag suspension, Sam. Fuller says there is a range of several inches possible, depending on how tall or short you make the mounts. No matter where you position the frame, you still have the same scrub line and clearance of an XJ6/XJS Jaguar -- plenty decent in the real world.

You also have the same suspension travel and performance of a hi-po sports sedan, plus its low road noise if you use the Metalastic mounts.

The rear suspension is just as easy to mount if you use the Jag subframe (Mart says they called the subframes "beam" in GB). What's particularly neat, is that the subframe adds sprung weight to the *** end of the pickup, something it's very much in need of, while greatly reducing the unsprung weight -- another positive.

So, what do you get for your effort? Great handling and ride quality, disc brakes all around (four-piston calipers in front, inboard brakes on the rear), four-wheel independent suspension, integrated power R&P steering with real road-feel feedback, and reasonably priced expendables.

If, however, you find yourself an F-1 and want to stay with the parallel-leaf suspension front and rear, let me know; I have a small collection of new reversed-eye springs for them, from individual main leaves to complete packs, both front and rear, and will give you what you need. All you have to do in return is take good clear pics of the installation work so you can gen a good how-to story.

 

Finally, for tonight, here's Boris' Photoshop rendering that is pretty close to the stance I'm looking for (without the left-lean flat-tire bias ).

 

As Mike suggested the Jag IFS is a very easy conversion.
I see more prolbelms with the IRS if you leave it in the cage.
Mike sent me some drawings, but you won't get the Truck (very) low in the rear. I used it without the cage and mounted the coil overs outside the frame.
If don't want super low, leave it in the "cage".
The most interesting thing is that if you move the IFs alitte forward(3/4 inch) you have exat the same wheelbase as a stock Jaguar XJ !!!!That should be perfect for good handling.
Bye
Michael

 

Hey I have a slightly less than cherry 50. Ok, it is kinda rough and I would get rid of it for 500. Got a good ***le.

 

Hey, Michael, long time no hear! I agree that if you're trying to get the back end severely low the rear subframe poses some problems, but not difficult to overcome. FWIW, using the outrigger mounts like those I suggested to you, you can park the frame 1/4 inch above the top of the subframe (to compensate for movement in the Metalastic mounts). This provides a drop in the rear of 3-4 inches.

I promote the use of the subframe because there's great potential for getting things wrong when you remove the dynamic elements from their carefully engineered relationships and remount them in thin air!

Please share pictures of your solution. I'm always looking for new ideas for the F-1s/early F-100s.

 

Mike, could you post a pic of the jag front suspension, all by its lonesome, for us to see?

I also want to send a cpy to my brother, John.

Sam.

 

Here you go. I lightened it so you can see some details.

 

Thanks Mike!

Sam.

 

AV8, is there a slick trick already designed for upper shock mounts?

 

I wonder if you could put a shorter shock on it and then build a mount off the upper A arm mount?

Or run a shock off the back of the lower A-arm and to a mount on the frame?

Sam.

 

Hi Mike,
sorry couldn't find a picture of the rear without the cage.
I agree with with you on the problems when you "remove the dynamic elements from their carefully engineered relationships and remount them in thin air!"
I takes a lot of fabrication and in the end It's not worth it. You take the Jaguar sports sedan charactaristics away.
The only advantage is you get the Car VERY low without kicking the frame in the rear so you still have a lot of room in the pick up bed.

Michael

 

With the Jaguar IFS getting you that far along into the scheme, figuring an upper shock mount that extends no more than 5 inches above the frame is not a major engineering problem.

 

1/2ton -1970Chevy FRONT shock is [bottomed out=9-1/4" topped out 14-1/2' long with 10-1/2" at median mounted length.

 

WE have a 50 at my shop that is completly dis***embled if you need parts.

 

[ QUOTE ]
Finally, for tonight, here's Boris' Photoshop rendering that is pretty close to the stance I'm looking for (without the left-lean flat-tire bias ).


[/ QUOTE ]

Here you go Mike. Fixed that flat for you.

...but it might be too low at the back now!

 

Bought this one just outside of Portland for $700 bucks and have about $1000 in it now. Need to put the 51 nose on it and still need a dropped axle. Don't think the flattie would be to keen for towing though. Good luck on your quest.

 

K-member.....you gettin rid of the front end that's on there now? I could be interested.
Mike Shelley

 

Yopu cant go wrong with the jag front clip.. they need a bit of tidying up but otherwise a fairly straight forward transplant. I am doing one on my 50 chevy just now.

Mike I was looking at your rear subframe in the ford ch***is You could easily get that down 5 inches and still retain the outer cage. It would require you to cut the ch***is off forward of the cage, at this point box the rails and add in a full width crossmenber, (this gets hard to explain) now drop the ch***is down till the top of the subframe is level with your installed crossmember ( or whatever ride height you desire) you will now have to fab mounts to pickup the jag mounting points on the cage.
With the rear ch***is extension you could chop out the excess that is the width of the jag cage, and with a bit of fabrication re attach the Ford rear ch***is so that you have al the pickup points for the bed. failing that fab a complete new rear ch***is section to support the bed.
It sounds like a whole lot of work but you are achieving a 5 inch drop still retaining all the jag geometry. Remember with these rear end swaps it is very important to fit the forward radius arms otherwise the rear end will rip itself from the ch***is. pic of my fromt end attached, i cut into the ch***is for an extra 2 inch lowerin, and built "platforms" onto the jag clip for the ch***is to rest on..

 

pic shows boxing plates that were used on the install.

 

Picked my F1 up for $7500 in Socal. 350/350 9" rear, dropped axle reversed eye springs. Tons of fun, got rid of a '95 Dodge peekup....The F1 is now my everyday driver....A blast to drive on LA freeways in Traffic!!

 

HotRod Von, your truck sits PERFECT!

Whatr suspension do you have under it? Front? Rear?

Thanks man!

Sam.

 

HRV -- How does that thing ride w/ the dropped springs & axle up front?


Thanks,
Ed

 

I would also like to know what the suspension mods are.
Is the 9" on top of the springs or below??

Pics would be cool.
Michael

 

redoxide -- What year Jaguar was your front suspenion harvested from? And did it have the forward-facing biscuit mounts?

With regard to rear suspension mounting, Fuller favors a long tube leading-link to each half-shaft carrier, anchored 3-4 feet ahead of the rear axle centerline, at the frame rail. With maximum braking loads exceeding maximum accleration loads, the tube leading-link makes good sense . . . IMHO

 

Sam & Edmurder,

Thanks for the compliments It rides ok. De-arched flat leafs in the rear with tall 750x16 ww and Henry's small rear fender makes it look low in back. Dropped axles and de-arched springs Do NOT ride as good as IRS. Just like bias plys don't do as good as radials on a grooved freeway. But, it's all good.

 

HotrodVon -- I like the look of your F-1, mostly. The giant 7.50x16 WWWs rears look out of scale to my tastes, however, and the fronts appear to be rather over-large as well. By small fenders do you mean the narrow F-2, F-3 fenders that were used on the wide and long-bed 3/4-ton pickups?

 

Sam, so you will feel better, I went by and it is a long bed, I do however know where another body and frame are that is a short wheel base.