I am building a 31 chevy roadster pickup on a 33 chevy coupe frame. Right now I am looking for front suspension. I have been told I could use a vw unit especially from a superbeetle. I searched the board, but couldn't find much on it. I am trying to build this rat rod as cheap as possible. I can get a vw unit for not too much. Has anyone used one before or knows how easy it would be to use it?

I believe the super beetle is a strut style suspension that will not be easy and will cost a lot to install. If you want to stay real cheap and simple look around for an older pickup axle with parallel springs that are close to your frame width. Your frame cam stock with this style of suspension on the front and rear. You could also go to a Ford style axle with a single crossover spring by installing a new or adapted crossmember.

Send me your e-mail address and I'll send to a couple of articles on installing stock MII X-members on early car frames. You can usually find a MII being parted out in your newspaper classifieds. On the ones I have done, I but the whole MII, take out the suspension then sell enough parts from the carcas to recoup the entire cost of the front end swap. Then call the junkers to haul off the rest. Can't beat a free front end! Cars with my 'cheapie' jobs have won awards and been featured in magazine center spreads so they can't be too terrible. see a close up of one in my photo album . Plus, you have the comfort of a unit designed by Detroit so the reliability factor is way up there.

I believe that the 31 Chevy has front fenders similar to the Ford. They will require modification to use the original MII suspension set-up. You will need to build a buldge in the fender where the upper control arms connect. If done right, they look pretty good for the money that you save.