'51 new IFS installation

[ChuckDriver]

Looks great! Lets see some shots of the completed setup when you return.

[Deabt54]

Looks real nice, I'm using the Progressive Automotive setup. I was wondering, whats the distance from the tip of the frame to the axle center line? Mine is 20 3/4 stock.

[NickP]

Very Nice!

[NLR]

Originally Posted by bmacdona

Here's a couple of pix to show the final stance of the truck and to try to show the clearance on the fenders (questioned earlier).

Sorry about the quality, but it's a nasty day in Olympia and I'm off to Alaska for a month.

Perfect height !!!

[BigJock]

Nice looking kit,stance and installation, bet it'll handle like a slot car now!
Well.. compared to the original solid axle......

[bmacdona]

Thanks! Being my first project, there was quite a bit of hand wringing before cutting the frame, but the guys at Flat-Out were very helpful. I'm really pleased with the results.

[solidaxel]

Originally Posted by bmacdona

I don't have the receipts close by, but, these should be pretty close:

Donor Corvette suspension $500 (control arms, spindles, R&P, etc)
IFS kit from Flat Out was $795
Shocks were an additional $399
Urethane bushings, ball joints, etc (IIRC) approx $375
New motor mounts - $125

The motor mounts will install just behind the X-member (you can see the masked off portion on the frame in the attached pic).

I didn't have time to get the steering installed, I'm hoping to get away with 2 u-joints. The rack lines up pretty well (again, in the attached pic).

Track width for the AD is 59.5, on the '86 Vette it's 59.6

No decision yet on final tire size, what's on the truck now are 225/60-15's on the front, 225/75-15's on the rear

Here is what we ended up with after doing a lot of homework, it is from Scotts Hot Rod.
Thanks for your help with this decision process

[mr48chev]

That Corvette setup looks very clean and well thought out. Nice job on the installation too. The thing I like about that Flatout setup is that everything except the crossmember and coilovers are factory parts and replacements shouldn't be an issue down the road.

Well, maybe next winter you can do the rear in a like fashion.

[nebdrummer]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

Here is what we ended up with after doing a lot of homework, it is from Scotts Hot Rod.
Thanks for your help with this decision process

How much did scotts kit cost after everything. That looks even better!

[entourageguy]

Originally Posted by nebdrummer

How much did scotts kit cost after everything. That looks even better!

go up about 4 posts from yours and he has a price list.....

[72Mountaineer]

What year is the Corvette stuff? Is it junkyard stuff?

[bmacdona]

The donor was an '86, I bought it from Craig's list. (The seller was in the process of rebuilding when his shop collapsed and crushed the disassembled car.) I've seen them on Ebay for anywhere between $400 and $1000. There are different versions of the kit for any of the C4s.

[nebdrummer]

Originally Posted by entourageguy

go up about 4 posts from yours and he has a price list.....

Thanks but the prices listed is for the Flat out kit. Scotts kit is different. full adjustable control arms and a sway bar.

[m6z]

nice

[blu52]

bmac
do you have any picks of the completed front install without the front clip on?
thanks
Rafael

[Gabbyp]

Bmacdona, I am looking at your pictures of the Flat Out Engineering cross member that you installed and from the pictures I cannot figure out how it was installed. Was the cross member installed to the outside of the frame as the cross member is a one piece unit and then a spacer installed in the inside of the frame rail for support or was the frame modified to accept the cross member. Also I could not see if you “C” notched the frame for clearance for the steering tie rods like Progressive does on their kit. I have a 52 AD with a Pacer front end that I want to replace it and trying to determine whether to go with the Flat Out Engineering kit or Progressive kit. Thanks

[bmacdona]

Gabby,

The outside of the frame is notched and the crossmember slides into position, (well....not slides, needed some persuasion)...the frame is c-notched for the steering rack and they supply a formed piece to fill/reinforce the cutout.