Nice rig, good photos. What kind of gauges did you use? What are the bucket
seats and console from? Thanks, Bob KNOTTS, PHX, AZ
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeff Engel" <jengel@ghnaes.com>
To: "List, Truck" <oletrucks@autox.team.net>; "Carl & Becky Ham"
<the_hams@hotmail.com>
Sent: Friday, January 03, 2003 8:50 AM
Subject: RE: [oletrucks] Any more advice on IFS or Rear End swaps for TF
trucks out there?
> Carl:
>
> Let me throw my hat in the ring. This is going to be a long one so just
> bear with me I 'm trying to help, really! I did a lot of research as well
> before I did anything to my 56 TF.
>
> My first decision was: did I want to weld in a front clip from a donor or
> weld in an MII crossmember? I chose the MII route because I don't have
the
> skills to do too much fabricating. Not that all front clips require a lot
> of fabbing, but I just didn't want to worry about it. The MII seemed
> easier. The trade off was initial cost.
>
> The next choice was: which manufacturer did I want to use? I knew I
wanted
> to go with someone that has been around a while. For me, that narrowed it
> down to Heidt's, TCI, or Fatman. I didn't like the way the Fatman
> crossmember attaches to the frame. Looked like it would let the frame
rails
> twist. The TCI and Heidt's crossmembers looked very much the same.
> Although, TCI's setup was cheaper than Heidt's. I ended up going with
> Heidt's. Why? Well, I ended up winning a couple of auctions on ebay for
> some Heidt's tubular upper a-arms and Heidt's 2" dropped spindles. Since
I
> wanted to use all components from the same manufacturer I ended up going
> Heidt's. Instead of buying the complete front end package, I started
> piecing it together over a period of 2 or 3 months. I got the big brakes
> from here, power steering rack from there, and a lot of stuff from Yogi's
> (They had free shipping on Heidt's stuff at one time). After I had
> everything, I had the big brakes, power steering, tubular a-arms, all name
> brand stuff for less than the cost of buying the complete package all at
> once from TCI or Heidt's and it was all new stuff as well.
>
> You have to use the big brakes (11" Granada rotors with GM calipers is
what
> I used) on the TF trucks. The 9" rotors just aren't going to cut it.
Also,
> make sure you use the steering rack extenders so you don't have to use
> extended tie rods. This is for Heidt's, I don't know about the others.
> Heidt's says that using longer tie rods than stock will introduce
bumpsteer.
> Another thing, if you are using a GM power steering pump with the Ford
rack,
> get the spring kit from RB's. It matches the fluid pressure of the pump
to
> the rack. I can say this, my 56 drives very smooth and handles well with
> this front end setup. I have been driving it for about 3 months now and
> have about 300 miles on it. About half of that at highway speeds of 60 to
> 70 mph. Overall, I am very happy I went this route. The truck drives
very
> "untruck" like.
>
> OK that settles the front end. If you have any questions let me know.
>
> Out back I used a Ford 9" rear end from a Lincoln Versailles. This gave
me
> disc brakes in the rear as well as the front. I flipped the stock leaf
> springs and C notched the frame. The only mod to the rear end was to move
> the leaf perches out a little. The Lincoln rear end is 58 inches wide I
> think. This is a little too narrow for the TF truck. It sits low enough
> that the calipers hit the bed. I am working on making this work and it
only
> hits if I really nail something. Although, I would advise a wider rear
end.
> A wider rear end fixes this and the fact that your wheel selection will be
> more varied. I used Chevy Rally wheels that were custom made. 16x8 with
> 2-1/4" backspacing in the rear and 16x7 with 3" backspacing up front. If
I
> had used a wider rear end, my wheel selection would have bee better and
the
> backspacing would not have been an issue. Wheels of Steel in Vasalia, CA
> made my wheels for about $360. In my opinion, this setup rides a little
> stiff for me and the caliper issue is not acceptable. I would like a
wider
> rearend and maybe the coil overs & 4-link setup from Heidt's or TCI. My
> current setup is not as smooth a ride as the front end.
>
> I know you didn't inquire about this but I thought I would add some
> additional information on my drivetrain and my choices there. I had a
1985
> IROC Camaro that was totaled. So, I took the Tuned Port Injected 305 and
> 700R4 tranny out of it and put it in my 56 TF. Computer and all. This
> gives me good mileage and performance. I also used the steering column
and
> the front calipers. The overdrive tranny coupled with my 2.73 gears
really
> helps on the highway. Low RPM, high gas mileage. I had 3.70 gears but
they
> started to howl. So, I swapped the center section with another center
> section that I had from a different project (67 Mustang GT fastback). It
> drives much smoother with the 2.73's but not as snappy as the 3.70's.
> Another trade off to think about.
>
> I have some pictures of the front end, engine and truck on Shutterfly.com
if
> you want to take a look.
>
> www.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=67b0de21b332b02e6500
> www.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=67b0de21b332b0366518
> www.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=67b0de21b332b033e42d
>
>
> I hope this gives you some of the info you needed and if not hopefully you
> weren't bored to tears!
>
> Thanks!
> Jeff Engel
> 1956 TF
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-oletrucks@autox.team.net
> [mailto:owner-oletrucks@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Carl & Becky Ham
> Sent: Thursday, January 02, 2003 2:36 PM
> To: oletrucks@autox.team.net
> Subject: [oletrucks] Any more advice on IFS or Rear End swaps for TF
> trucks out there?
>
>
> About a month ago I posted a message asking for advice or past good/bad
> experiences with independant front suspension swaps and newer rear end
swaps
> for a TF (55-59) Chevy truck. For the record, my truck is a fair weather
> driver (summertime) and I don't plan on trying to win awards or drag race
> the truck. It has a 283 V8 and 4 speed auto with original front and rear
> suspensions. I simply want to finish upgrading the drive train to
> newer/better riding and handling and more reliable components
>
> I only received one reply for the IFS and 2 for the rear end swaps. For
the
> IFS, Heidts or Total Cost Involved (TCI) mustang II's with tubular upper
and
> lower arms were suggested and I've found the TCI unit is about $800
cheaper
> than Heidts. I would appreciate any further comments or advice as I will
be
> buying an IFS in the March timeframe.
>
> For the rear end, it has been suggested I either use an S10 or Ford 9
inch.
> I'm told the S10 may be a direct swap (width-wise), and the Ford 9 inch
> would require some custom work. Any suggestions from other list members?
> Appreciate any and all comments. Thanks,
>
> Carl Ham
> '56 Chevy TF Stepside
> Pontiac, IL
>
>
>
>
>
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