[TheHarleyMan2]

Hello everyone, I am restoring from the ground up and building my Chevy Panel Truck into a sweet Hot Rod/Show Truck.

My question is this, I want to try my best to keep the truck at original ride height. But all the IFS that I have been finding have either 2",3",or 4" drop. I do not want to drop the front end that much. I want to keep some clearance from the ground so I don't let a speed bump rip my front end off. Yeah, sometimes we can't avoid them and some are pretty damn high.

I thought about and airbag suspension with the IFS to help it keep it's ride height but I really don't want the airbag suspension unless I absolutely have to. Anyone have any ideas or places to get what I am looking for? I do not want to build up any brackets to make the suspension be at ride height.

[powerrodsmike]

2 inches isn't all that much drop. I have installed them 1 inch higher than the crossmember was designed to be installed at, but not 2. The upper a-arm perches usually won't allow 2" . It does require extra fabrication . You can adjust the ride height an inch either way with a coilover setup. That would get you to stock height. If you don't like the idea of that then you could call fatman fabrications and see if they have a c-member designed for something else that will put the truck at stock height, or maybe they can make 1 up. hope this helps, mikey

[TheHarleyMan2]

Yeah your right, 2 inches isn't that bad, but when you look at the height of the front straight axle and leaf springs and the height of the chassis, it looks like it will be dropped more than 2", more like 6-8, but I could be wrong, remember I am new at this.

Me and my best freind I grew up with used to build hopped up engines, and I would paint his car, etc, but really never any body or frame fabrication, onlt building engines, doing paint and body work but never cutting any panels or chassis, this is going to be my first. I want to use the original chassis and keep my cost down somewhat. I looked and Fatman Fab, and I see their prices range from $4,999-$12,000. Of course what you want with it depends on the cost.

[1939beast]

I have a 39 panel. Contact Fat Man Fabrication in Charlotte, NC they make a great product and are super to work with. They make kits for almost anything and will make it to suit. It rides and handles as well.

[Deuce]

Originally Posted by TheHarleyMan2

My question is this, I want to try my best to keep the truck at original ride height.

If you want the Panel Truck to ride up like stock ....I would consider a frame change....... Now as a general rule....I try to discourage frame swaps... but in your case.........it MIGHT be the best route.

I have a friend who installed a early 90's Silverado chassis under a early 50's Suburban. Not a BOLT IN deal but not bad either.....it sits about like it was when stock and has PS, Power Disc Brakes and late model parts availability. Plus is is heavy duty enough to carry the weight......unlike some of the compact car front ends some rodders put under heavy vehicles ...

[powerrodsmike]

I'm not sure of how far you want to go with chrome and stuff but 4999.00 to 12000.00 is alot to pay for an IFS. (Man, if you will pay that let me send you my phone#. JUst kidding LOL) The basic hub to hub kits start at 1800.00. here is the page I saw
http://www.fatmanfab.com/06page5.htm
the kits are easy to install if you are proficient with a welder and a measuring tape. If you want to know at just what height your truck will sit at when the IFS is installed , ask for the spindles height as it relates to the frame. Heidt's shows this in their catalog as a distance from the bottom of the frame to the spindle centerline. Heidts says their kit will put the spindle C/L at 2 13/16 above the bottom of the frame with their 2" dropped spindles or 13/16" above the bottom using their stock spindles. I would assume fatman is close to that. The ride height can be adjusted up or down from there about 1"either way. You could probably go more but then you start changing the geometry. If you call one of the suppliers and give them your desired ride height expressed as spindle height above the bottom of the frame, there will be no misunderstanding. Hope this helps, mikey

Originally Posted by TheHarleyMan2

Yeah your right, 2 inches isn't that bad, but when you look at the height of the front straight axle and leaf springs and the height of the chassis, it looks like it will be dropped more than 2", more like 6-8, but I could be wrong, remember I am new at this.

Me and my best freind I grew up with used to build hopped up engines, and I would paint his car, etc, but really never any body or frame fabrication, onlt building engines, doing paint and body work but never cutting any panels or chassis, this is going to be my first. I want to use the original chassis and keep my cost down somewhat. I looked and Fatman Fab, and I see their prices range from $4,999-$12,000. Of course what you want with it depends on the cost.

[TheHarleyMan2]

Originally Posted by powerrodsmike

I'm not sure of how far you want to go with chrome and stuff but 4999.00 to 12000.00 is alot to pay for an IFS. (Man, if you will pay that let me send you my phone#. JUst kidding LOL) The basic hub to hub kits start at 1800.00. here is the page I saw
mikey

That pricing I had was for a complete frame with IFS, rear end, etc. Just depending on how much I want will give the determination on price from just the frame with IFS, up to a complete rolling chassis.