1950 F1 needs new IFS

[gabdog]

Hey guys, looking for good advice on a new IFS. looking at all the different manuf. I can't seem to compare apples to apples
thanks

[Bob G/Spanaway]

Rebuild the original front end.
They work just fine.

[GreenMonster48]

^^^^That's the best advice^^^^

[ford1]

if you really want ifs call fat mans and order the complete mustang 2 front suspension, expensive but every thing is engineered to fit, others out there but fat mans is the best

[jack orchard]

Mustang II is the way to go. If you figure the price of a disk brake conversion kit, replace the king pins, rebuild the shackles, replace the drag link, the tie rod, the tie rod ends, rebuild the steering sector, replace the shocks and the pitman arm, and the steering stabilizer, you are close to the price of a Mustang II suspension.
Are your spindles and springs are reusable? If not, add even more money. After all this, you still have a 60-plus year old suspension that might not ride, handle and sit at the ride height you want. Too high or low? add more money for spindles and/or springs. Sell your old stuff on the barn or EBAY and upgrade your truck. The new stuff even weighs less.
I rest my case...jack

[Barry-ct]

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Stay original, there's enough hot rods out there.

[Lawson Cox]

Originally Posted by Barry-ct

Stay original, there's enough hot rods out there.

Amen to that.

[joe plumber]

I put a Mustang II IFS under my 55 f-100.

[Karl Wolf]

I go with the leave it original crowd... But each to his own... (I wish that I had left my 1952 Harley in original trim...)
It's only original once, after that it's hard to go back... Lots of projects out there that get 1/2 done.
Karl

[4t8v8]

Spindle kit - $40. Tie rod ends (2) $32. Drag link repair kits (2) - $30. Gasket and seal kit - $5. Total $107, and my F1 drives as nice as any car or truck out there.
Cheapest Fatman kit - $2795 plus shipping. ???????????????

[sturgis 39]

If I wanted to drive a Mustang two, I would buy one. These conversions come and go. Corvair was the the cool thing at one time. I stay away from trendy things. A straight axle will never go out of style. Most people regret they did the conversion and most of them create some other problem. You can usually walk through a show and shine and spot the mustang conversions from the side of car without looking under the car.

I love the way the old Fords handle and the ride. Most conversions are done because the owner has some kind of ego problem, read to much advertising, wants to impress his buddies (that bad mouth the straight axle)or like a friend said the other day he is non functional.

They sell a lot of kits because of advertising and marketing. Hardwood floors are a good example. People could not wait to get wall to wall carpeting. Now those fake hardwood floors are the trendy thing to have. They are cold and alot of work to keep clean. Then the wife wants area rugs because the floors are cold. Now you have to mop and vacuum.

Stay with the straight axle.

[elwood]

my 50 f1 is original and id have it no other way.

[Ken Crans]

I swear by straight axles. If their rebuilt,they are just as good as an IFS.

[Tom Morookian]

If your not going to stay "original" then get a front clip off a newer P/U with disc brakes. Weld it on and your done.

[TJ]

Look at the "bolt-in" Mustang II front end from Chassis Engineering. I put one in a friend's 52 F-1 and it drives,rides, and steers wonderful. Simple to install and you get disc brakes, etc.

[jack orchard]

Originally Posted by 4t8v8

Spindle kit - $40. Tie rod ends (2) $32. Drag link repair kits (2) - $30. Gasket and seal kit - $5. Total $107, and my F1 drives as nice as any car or truck out there.
Cheapest Fatman kit - $2795 plus shipping. ???????????????

$2795 plus shipping? Not so. Try $1795 w/free shipping...jack

[sturgis 39]

Originally Posted by jack orchard

$2795 plus shipping? Not so. Try $1795 w/free shipping...jack

They must be having trouble getting rid of them.

I would not buy a car or truck with a mustang two kit. A lot of them are not installed correctly and they lower the resale price.

[blucar]

The question and answer to stock vs IFS is... What is the intended use of the vehicle?
If the engine power is going to be increased and the vehicle is going to be driven at "speed" on the highway/freeway... By all means upgrade the front end to a new aftermarket system.. The rear springs suspension should also be upgraded.
Don't mess around with the front suspension from a donner car. ie., Mustang, Camario, Volare, etc.. For my money FatMan makes the best units,, His units are fabricated to fit the vehicle you order it for..
I like FatMans Stage II, power rack/pinion.. Order it with a roll stablizer bar.. I have FatMan's Stage II under my 39 Plym conv cpe and my '49 Olds 88. The Plym has 11" disk brakes, the Olds has 12".
The units I used mated up to the original frames perfectly.. When it came time to hang the sheet metal, bumpers, etc., everything went right together.
Friends of mine that used other brands of front clips had to add various tabs, etc., when they started to add the sheet metal to the chassis..
Another thing I like about FatMan is that when I was spec'ing my Olds out, I was told that I would have to replace my rear end and suspension.. The tec people at FatMan said do not replace the rear end/suspension. Upgrade the bushings, replace the springs, rebuild the hydraulic shocks to the Olds 98 level and install Olds 98 2-1/4" rear brakes on the 88 axle unit.. The 88 & 98 units are the same just smaller brakes.

[Bob G/Spanaway]

Kinda funny....those front ends the rodders call "Mustang ll" were put under Pintos first.
You want a Pinto front end under your PU?
Nyet!

[sturgis 39]

A 39 Plymouth and 49 Olds are disposable cars. They have not been cut up like old Fords. Old Fords need to be preserved more than the Horned Owl. Plymouths, Dodges and Chevys. I would even stick an s-10 frame under one of those puppies and I hate s-10s conversions more than mustang toos.