z48 said:
I have a 48 merc sedan and am looking for the easist and cost effective way to put independent front end under it. any ideas and suggestions will be gratfully accepted thanks
This might sound bad, but the easiest and most cost effective way to put an IFS in a 48 Merc is to buy it done.
Anyone working on a vehicle has three options: good, fast, or cheap - pick two! If you want it good and cheap, it will take time. If you want it good and done this week, it wont be cheap. anyway, I'm sure you see where this is going.
I guess the question I have is, are you doing the work or is someone else? If your welding skills are good, you have the equipment, the time, and a place to work... then you can probably tackle the job yourself. If you buy a "kit" IFS (like a mustang II IFS), they usually are more expensive, but you are starting clean with all necessary parts and often made to your application.
If you go with a vehicle for the same stuff (ie a mustang II IFS), you would most likely have to replace all the wear items, but everything is there for you and the assembly is usually cheaper (I was given a Pinto, and at a local auction, they couldn't even sell a pinto - free for the taking but they both had a mustang II IFS so keep your eyes open!)
There is also the subframe option... I bought a 81 Olds cutlass for $250. I cut the front half of the frame off and was able to weld it to the back half of my 47 oldsmobile. They fit perfect together and cost me the $250 for the donor, $20 for the welding wire, $10 for cut off / grinding wheels, $25 for new calipers, $55 for new rotors and pads, $60 for new ball joints, $80 for bushings all around. I could have bought a "pre-done" Nova subframe to do the same thing from a catalog, but at a much greater cost.
These are some options that you will have and decisions you will have to make.
best of luck