In another post I had asked you guys which IFS conversion was the best route, and you had some great suggestions!! Mucho appreciated!
Anyways...I was crawling around under the car yesterday, marvelling at the 'technology', and got to staring at the front suspension...glazed over look....
The design of it doesn't appear that bad? Double arm, uneven length etc etc. It even 'appears' as though an upright from a newer car may work (maybe a newer F-body) with some Ball joint work and fabricate some mounts for a steering rack, instead of the old worn out box. Fab some mounts for a shock, and maybe some new springs......
Is this at all do-able, or have I been smoking sumptin' good?
you've been smoking some good schitt man, really about the only thing ya can do w/the stock front-end is rebuild it, maybe put lower springs & dropped spindles on it w/disc brakes, but then ya still running 60+yr old technology under the car w/some upgrades. some folks think they work fine, others like myself would give that stuff away & upgrade w/all late model suspension, & the #1 reason is, the availability of parts, cause ya ain't pulling into any Car Quest, Advance, Auto Zone, Pep Boys or any other major parts chain & find what ya need for a 60yr old car. hell you'd be lucky to find some parts store thats been in business forever to even have them let alone be able to get them for ya. those places are few & far between, hell in st louis i know of only 2 places that can find parts for old cars like yours & they are in the same chain, go figger.
so personally, if i could afford it i would put something late model under it...........joe
Thanks for the response, Joe. (I am a bit scared to take it to heart since it was your 666th post!! )
Seriously though....
I definitely understand the availability issue, but the technology issue (?). I mean it's a double A-arm suspension, right? OK there is no provision for a shock absorber, but that's easily remedied. Is the geometry that bad?
ya got to remember we're talking about 1940, how fast were they truly driving. there was no REAL highways back then, the cars weren't really driving at speeds of 65+mph on any roads, your car came stock w/only 6 cylinders w/a stick in it along w/skinny tires and knee action shocks on it to boot. It just doesnt make good sense to do it, hell my brothers 39 Dodge is completely stock except the tires & wheels. I completely rebuilt his front end with ALL NEW PARTS & guess what.................. even w/the radial tires on it, it still drove like a 65yr old car would.
SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
here's whatsa ya do, go to some cars shows & cruises. ask the folks questions about what they are running under their cars & it doesnt matter what kinda of car it is, be it a 40 chevy (which i owned 3 of at one time), a 48 ford sedan, 53 Kaiser, 39 Dodge or what ever, I'll bet ya $$$$$$$$ at least 8 or of 10 folks will tell ya the front suspension ain't stock & the ones that are stock-ish will be cars & trucks w/straight axles & most will have at least disc brakes on the front.
AND the reason most likely they will give ya is the the availability of parts. just try to find front or rear brake shoes or anything just about for a 40 Chevy, a 53 Kaiser or a 39 Dodge at any chain parts store, your chances of getting parts there are about slim to none.
BUT then it is your car, if you think you would be satified w/the ride then by all means use the stock stuff, all I'm doing is giving you my opinion on what I would do & have done w/my own stuff.
Something else ya could do is ask this same question on other web sites, but I'll bet they'll tell ya just about the same thing I have said along w/others, now there will be a few who will say REBUILD it but then that's thier choice just like its YOURS........joe
Thank you Joe!!
I have already decided to go with Jag front and back (assuming it will work without too much modifications)...I still need to measure a few things.....alternately, I will go with MII....
Again, thanks for the responses!! Now I know!!
Tim
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