[cmjm03]

Hey guys, I am new to hot rodding and am building a '53 3100. I have been researching IFS front ends and I am on a limited budget. I plan on doing this build by myself with a little help from a few friends and a lot of advice from you guys. I have 30 years in the auto body biz and can do limited mech. I ran into a website about a guy who has taken the complete frt suspension on a '77 chevy half ton and bolted it on the AD frt end. He says that the only thing that he had to do for this swap was put 1/2 inch spacers on each side for the width difference on the frame. Have any of you done this? Know someone who has? Thanks for any and all replies and your advice will be very appreciated, Jerry

[home brew]

I saw this done on a 51 AD. 1/2 inch plate was used to make up the space between the frame and the suspension.

Is this the web site you were looking at?

http://www.antiquechevytrucks.com/Co...ont_suspen.htm

[cmjm03]

Homebrew,
No the one I found http://50chevy.freeservers.com/bolt_...epedent_2.html
Looks like the same application though. Why aren't more people doing this swap? Looks like a pretty simple(if there is such a thing as simple) swap. Thanks for the reply, Jerry

[cmjm03]

OOOOPS!! Wrong website posted in previous post....
http://50chevy.freeservers.com/bolt_...pendent_2.html
Thanks guys, Jerry

[home brew]

Originally Posted by cmjm03

....Why aren't more people doing this swap? Looks like a pretty simple(if there is such a thing as simple) swap. Thanks for the reply, Jerry

This swap will not get your truck much lower in the front then it is now. You will have to cut coils or get shorter springs to bring it down lower. I don't know it there are dropped spindles available for those years.

Another reason may be that it is not as "exotic" as a MII swap and that it is older technology.

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by home brew

This swap will not get your truck much lower in the front then it is now. You will have to cut coils or get shorter springs to bring it down lower. I don't know it there are dropped spindles available for those years.

Another reason may be that it is not as "exotic" as a MII swap and that it is older technology.

"Older technology"??? Both use unequal length control arms and ball joints on the spindles. I have a big problem using a suspension born under the Pinto on a half ton pickup. I think the fundamental problem is that the 73-87 pickup swap puts the front wheels quite a bit further outboard than stock. Of course, you can fix that with custom wheel offsets.

[cmjm03]

Originally Posted by joe_padavano

"Older technology"??? Both use unequal length control arms and ball joints on the spindles. I have a big problem using a suspension born under the Pinto on a half ton pickup. I think the fundamental problem is that the 73-87 pickup swap puts the front wheels quite a bit further outboard than stock. Of course, you can fix that with custom wheel offsets.

Thanks guys for the replies. I know that the wheels will be set out farther with the swap and can offset with adapters. This just sounds like a fairly easy swap and it is something that is pretty available at the bone yards. This is going to be a driver and I am planning on driving this truck pretty regular and doing some towing so I am looking for comfort and cheap. I am with you on not feeling comfortable with a MII or Pinto frt end under a pickup. I also do not want to cut the frame and subframe it. I would like to keep as much of the original as possible. Thanks again for the replies, Jerry

[farmall_560]

Was just reading your post and the responses, and i also am in the process of redoing my 53 Chevy Pickup.
My question is If you can use the front saddle(suspension), then why couldn't you use the entire 77-87 pickup frame and move the 53 cab and box over to it???? Or is there a major change over problem by doing this??? Can anyone shed some light on this????
Oh Yeah say you were to swap the front suspension over to the original frame with the use of spacers, how can you make sure everything will be square and the tires won't wear uneven????

Again any resposes would be appreciated
Thanks Arnie