[scheiderer68]

i bought a 37 ford truck complete cab. im just building a rat. i have some box tubing for my frame, but am wondering what would be a good cheap used set up for front suspension?

[pasadenahotrod]

The swap meets are full of front end assemblies for early Fords, complete with spring, brakes, wishbone. They're usually only a couple hundred and sometimes $75 or so. Try to get one that's 37-48 so you'll have spindles which there are disc brake kits for on the market.

[Good Frosty]

I dunno, but I'm starting to appreciate the none-dragging the ground look of paralell leaf springs as opposed to the normal "suicide" set up. Where the front axle is in front of the frame.

[demonspeeder]

I'd just do a traditional solid axle setup with dropped spindles and put it low, not necessarily in the "weeds" but 30's rats look good low...atleast to me

[heavychevy83]

just get the whole front clip off of an 80's model mustang and you can have the disk brakes and easy to find parts for.

[cboy]

I'm with the posters above. If you can find an affordable straight axle set up, go with that. It will provide the cleanest and most traditional look. However, keep in mind that your total cost may go well beyond the pieces you find at a swap meet. As Pasadenahotrod mentioned, you'll no doubt want to upgrade that old 30s/40/s straight axle with more modern brakes and spindles and if may also need other upgrades as well.

Also, being HR.Coms resident twin I-beam junkie, I can't pass up the opportunity to plug the Ford setup. There are a zillion of these twin I-beams out there in the bone yards, they are inexpensive, and they come with modern spindles and disk brakes. Here's how it looks under a full fendered car and also a fenderless car. Just another option to consider.

[playsinthedirt]

is that twin i beams from like a ranger?

[home brew]

Originally Posted by playsinthedirt

is that twin i beams from like a ranger?

You obviously haven't looked at the fantastic cboy's journal. It is from a 1981 F-150. The build of the black roadster hot rod starts at post #200 in this link:

http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/jour...ge=5&reverse=1

[cboy]

Originally Posted by playsinthedirt

is that twin i beams from like a ranger?

As Home Brew points out, these are F-150 suspension systems. The one in the red pickup is from a '78 and the one in the roadster is an '81. I'm also currently putting together another chassis which will have the beams from a '79.

Personally, I don't think the Ranger beams are really appropriate. They are shorter than the F-150 beams and they are quite "modern" in appearance. I also don't use F-150 beams made after 1981 because they changed the style and they no longer have the drop forged traditional look.

[scheiderer68]

ok this might sound gay but it was offered free. front clip off an 86 daytona? i could weld up some motor mounts. id have steering and the whole bit. just seems wierd

[pasadenahotrod]

What the heck is an 86 Daytona?

[home brew]

Maybe he meant Dakota?

[playsinthedirt]

hmmm previous to this discovery my biggest concearn about building a roadster hot rod was front suspension. i think i could get some i beam for not too much, and apparently make it look real nice

[OneMoreTime]

Originally Posted by playsinthedirt

hmmm previous to this discovery my biggest concearn about building a roadster hot rod was front suspension. i think i could get some i beam for not too much, and apparently make it look real nice

They are a bit on the heavy side but that is not all bad..I am using one on my project and having all stock Ford brakes front and rear makes things a bit easier at the parts store when one needs pads and rotors and such..

Sam

[home brew]

I'd forgotten about the baby daytonas.