What is every ones thoughts on Ifs for 55-59 Chevy Trucks? What Do you recommend?

[1957_Chevy_Truck]

I am 14 and My Dad and I are restoring a 1957 chevy Truck. I want the truck to sit low and all of the stuff needed for mono leafs and a dropped axle is pretty close to an ifs. I have no idea what to look for and I figured you guys have done it before or know someone who has.

[broey]

you have a budget in mind for the ifs swap?

[1957_Chevy_Truck]

I would like to keep it reasonable. I am thinking $2500 is definitely at my max. I don't yet, I am just trying to get a feel for what's out there that I need to look into and what to expect in the price.

[mr48chev]

Low buck (and simple) would be the front suspension from a XJ6 Jag sedan like a few guys on here have used. The aftermarket offerings are everything from a 299.95 MII crossmember that takes stock MII pieces and is advertised to be an exact fit in an Ebay listing http://www.ebay.com/itm/160977632222...84.m1423.l2649 To one of Scott's hub to hub custom crossmembers that runs around 3k but is world class.

Guys still swap the Camaro/Firebird subframes onto those trucks on a regular basis but that has lost favor with me simply because there are better ways to go and those subframes are starting to get more expensive lately. the other and biggest problem with subframes and my 48 was subframed in my avatar if it is red is that it's a royal pain to align the front end sheet metal most of the times.

[torchlight]

I just got a Scott's IFS for my 53 and I am quite impressed. But it was on the spendy side. To me, it was well worth it.
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[Kabwe]

After market

Mustang 2 units - they are cool but at the lower end of the aftermarket kits and it's what I could afford.
Flatout Engineering's cross remember - This would be my choice if I could do it again.

Jim Meyer, No Limit Engineering, Scotts hotrod, TCI, Progressive Automotive and Heidts Superide are really nice unit if you have the money.

Doners Cars

GM IFS (Carmaro, Firebird, Nova, Monte Carlo, etc. - I like the 78-88 Monte Carlos for 55-59 trucks because the track width). Cheap to start , requires cutting the frame, sheetmetal fitment must be figured out, rides nice, can bag if desired, after market plentiful, and if done right can look factory.

This list only contains the IFS I personally have experience with. I never installed a Jaguar IFS but I've seen them on trucks at shows and was told they are easy and ride nice.

[1957_Chevy_Truck]

Thanks, my dad has a full Monte frame but he doesn't want to cut it up. I was looking at this. http://www.nolimitparts.com/prodinfo...er=WRIFS3%2DAB I doubt i would get it but just something to think about.
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[Dan in Pasadena]

Just curious: For a 14 year old you write well (better than a LOT of adults on this board) and you're smart enough to plan, do research and ask people that can give you knowledgeable advice BIG kudos fir that. Youll likely do well in life.

How do you plan on coming up with the $2500 to maybe $3000 this will cost? Do you know an appropriately qualified welder to do the installation?
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[Wrenchbender Ret]

Why not leave it stock height & just fix it up real nice with the stock suspention. There is always plenty of work to do on them & you won't get in over your head. It will have better resale value also.

[dicer]

Originally Posted by Wrenchbender Ret

Why not leave it stock height & just fix it up real nice with the stock suspention. There is always plenty of work to do on them & you won't get in over your head. It will have better resale value also.

About the same age I worked with my dad on a 57, he wanted simple body mods here and there I wanted to keep it stock. I agree with the above post. Anyone can mess these trucks up, just look at all the craigslist ad's. I say try to do the most difficult thing there is to do, it is so difficult it will set you and your truck over and above everyone else, anyone can do a modification here and there. Do a pure factory stock restoration, I don't think anyone has ever done it on these trucks.

[1957_Chevy_Truck]

Thanks Dan, I have grown up with cars around me my entire life. My pap has a 1963 Impala SS and a 1966 Chevy Corvette with a 427 we have to put back in. He is 70 years old and has a 1982 Monte Carlo that has a 383 stroker. It is his Drag Car and this year he ran an 11.93 in the quarter mile at Pittsburgh.

About the money, I don't think I will be able to get every bit of it. Once it warms up I will mow grass. My dad is a mechanical engineer and he said that he could do it. He has never done a switch like this, but he is a pretty good welder.

Wrenchbender and dicer: I think the truck sits too high and would like it to be lower. I first looked into bolt on stuff that wouldn't be difficult or have anything to do with cutting up the frame. I then looked up all of the parts needed to lower it the way I want it and it was a little over $2000. I looked at the ifs kits and they run from $2000 and up. I thought I would look into it. I am not saying this is what I will do, I just wanted to see what everyone thought.


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=568447 My Build Thread

[Speedbumpauto]

I'll be the devils advocate here. Those were farm trucks made in the 50's. The speed limit was 55 and the roads were built in the 20's and 30's. In stock form they don't go very fast and don't stop very well and any input to the steering wheel is more of a suggestion than a command. They didn't even have seat belts. We did a Heidts on a buddy's truck along with rack and pinion steering, power disc brakes, a sweet little small block and T-350. Did the spring flip on the back and used a 9 inch with 3.25 gears and all on a budget. It sits a little bit lower but other than that looks absolutely stock including a spare tire in the driver side fender. It's not my cup of tea but with a split bench seat from a late model truck and a Vintage air system, it's a pleasure to drive, safe and dependable....and it STILL looks like a 58 Chevy.
Just my opinion, but follow your dream. You'll never be happy if you don't.

[Dan in Pasadena]

Originally Posted by Speedbumpauto

....follow your dream. You'll never be happy if you don't.

This is SO true. The only additional advice I would give (and a LOT of adults don't follow it - just check Craigslist for unfinished projects and you'll see):

Recognize your limitations: Your current abilities, the tools you have available, the money, the space. Don't obligate your Dad. I'm sure he wants to help but it'll be more satisfying knowing you did it to the limits of your OWN abillities with minimal help. You're a smart young man, I'm guessing you already figured most of this out Make SURE you post photos here!

[dicer]

Originally Posted by 1957_Chevy_Truck

Thanks Dan, I have grown up with cars around me my entire life. My pap has a 1963 Impala SS and a 1966 Chevy Corvette with a 427 we have to put back in. He is 70 years old and has a 1982 Monte Carlo that has a 383 stroker. It is his Drag Car and this year he ran an 11.93 in the quarter mile at Pittsburgh.

About the money, I don't think I will be able to get every bit of it. Once it warms up I will mow grass. My dad is a mechanical engineer and he said that he could do it. He has never done a switch like this, but he is a pretty good welder.

Wrenchbender and dicer: I think the truck sits too high and would like it to be lower. I first looked into bolt on stuff that wouldn't be difficult or have anything to do with cutting up the frame. I then looked up all of the parts needed to lower it the way I want it and it was a little over $2000. I looked at the ifs kits and they run from $2000 and up. I thought I would look into it. I am not saying this is what I will do, I just wanted to see what everyone thought.


http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=568447 My Build Thread

Sit's too high? Isn't it nice to be able to see over all those barriers they put on the sides of the roads and bridges? I like sitting up high. Gosh its even considered very cool with in the 4X4 community.
If you have a real good stock truck, sell it and get one of those ongoing projects mentioned above from craigslist, there would be lots of things left to do on it, and could save a good truck from ruination.

[Rude Dude]

Post some pics of your truck we would all like to see what your starting off with!

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by dicer

Sit's too high? Isn't it nice to be able to see over all those barriers they put on the sides of the roads and bridges? I like sitting up high. Gosh its even considered very cool with in the 4X4 community.
If you have a real good stock truck, sell it and get one of those ongoing projects mentioned above from craigslist, there would be lots of things left to do on it, and could save a good truck from ruination.

Dicer we are all waiting for pics of your perfectly restored truck. The truck that all of us guys that modify should be trying to emulate. Please King Dicer show us po little ole rodders how to save our ruined trucks. Show us the errors of our ways and how wrong we are to think that we have the right to do what we want to our trucks.

Why don't you tell us about the IFS units you have installed successfully, because that's what the original poster's question was. He wanted recommendations of IFS not your old beating of a dead dog tired old stocked is better or save the trucks from modification philosophy.

[Kabwe]

That is one great looking project truck.

Originally Posted by 1957_Chevy_Truck

My dad is a mechanical engineer and he said that he could do it. He has never done a switch like this, but he is a pretty good welder.

I'm sure your dad can do a great job on the clip. There are a lot of great examples on this forum of nicely installed clips from donor cars if you decide to go that route.

If you go with an aftermarket unit they come with instructions that are easy to follow. You also have also have some nice examples on the forum.

There are so many options today it can be overwhelming but having options is a good thing.

[G&R's57GMC]

I used the NoLimit Wide Ride IFS and their Fat Bar rear with a Currie 9" got it all from NoLimit.

[Chris.]

I got a scotts hotrods bagged IFS hub to hub kit for my 50 it is awesome. It was very easy to install, found the axle center lifted it into place, leveled it, and welded it in. You can get the same one with coilovers. They build to your specs as far as desired ride height and tire size. Their customer service is great I talked to them a couple times and got all my questions answered before I ordered. Plus you get a discount for being a forum member.

http://www.scottshotrods.com/frontends.asp

Give them a call they can answer all your questions
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[1957_Chevy_Truck]

Thanks everyone. Another thing is that this truck will be my daily driver during high school. I don't want it to be so low that I scrape pulling into a driveway or something. I would like a drop but not have the truck sitting on the ground.

G&R's57GMC: That is exactly what I would like to do. I think once I move out I will tear the truck apart and do exactly what you did to it. Great pictures.

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by G&R's57GMC

I used the NoLimit Wide Ride IFS and their Fat Bar rear with a Currie 9" got it all from NoLimit.

And it looks great.

[GMtrucknut!!]

That looks like an awesome start on a great truck keep posting your progress as you go !

[GMtrucknut!!]

Here is my 55 I am currently building ,it has a TCI frontend with stock height spindles

[1957_Chevy_Truck]

Thanks, your truck looks nice. Do you like the tci front end?

[dicer]

1957 has its own fenders. 55 and 56 fenders need to be dimpled for the 57 grill. I suppose you can either cut out or dimple 55-56 fenders or cut out the grill bracket.

IFS install? I would do it for someone else, for the right $, never on any of my trucks.
I really don't understand why someone wants to spend so much cash and time doing it.
I like a nice truck ride, and the sights you get to see sitting way up high, and not bending things when going over speed bumps, or the off road adventures, like when you have to park in a grass field for an event.