Best handling for the buck/who can I trust?

[SweTruck]

Hi folks,

I´m getting kind of tired of my ´57 3100´s road manners. I have original I-beam and leafsprings. So I figure to do something about it!

Q: what do you feel achivies the best handling concering money/effort? Is swaybars enough to make it allright, or do I want to go all the way and install IFS?

Q: Who makes the best stuff. I`ll gladly pay extra money for something thats really good, concerning quality, safety, abillity to fit etc.

Thanks in advance!

Take care!

//B

[BIG CHEVY 3600]

I have a Heidt's IFS that came with a sway bar. I went with Heidt's because they were the only mfg. that I heard no complaints about. They are the most expensive but I certainly wanted to get it right. Concerning sway bar only, I can say you should buy one and bolt it on and see the difference it makes. From what I've heard it makes a big difference in the ride.

[CAL 58 GMC]

IFS is the only way your going to get that car like ride and handling your looking for. There two way to get there. First is the Mustang II IFS as Big Chevy 3600 is talking about. There are several companies that manufacture kits, Heidt's & TCI are among the best. The second choice that was popular for many years and the least expensive why is to clip a Camaro or Nova sub-frame to your stock frame. Here in the United States there are wrecking yards full of these 70 to 81 Camaro’s to use as donors. But since you’re in Sweden they might be hard to find. Both ways are going to require fabricating & welding to install.

[SweTruck]

Hi all,

Thanks for the input!

I´ll probably go with an IFS, Possibly from heidt´s. The kits on the market are pretty much the same. As I understand the kit that comes from heidt´s is already painted and the crossmember welded together. That would save some time, which is good. The job itself dosen´t seem that hard.

A Camaro/nova donor wouldn´t be that hard to find. But then you´d also have to redo brakes/ ball joints and wash of 30 years old grease and dirt. It´s nice with new stuff obviously.

Take care

//B

[Atomsplitter]

I've only had my '48 on the road for about 2 months now, it has an original OEM style Mustang II IFS and I find that because the centre of gravity is so high the body roll is excessive when cornering. I ordered a sway bar from "Yogi's" so we'll see how much of a difference it makes in a week or two. It can only get better.

It's Universal Anti-Sway Bar Kit made by Chassis Engineering P/N SB0050PM for the Heidt's Economy A-Arm IFS for $130. Yogi's replied to my e-mail question that it can be used on an OEM style Mustang II IFS (narrow lower A-Arms with support bars) and they guaranteed it would fit.

Good Luck!

[1-ton of fun]

an ifs with proper spring rates and big sway bars can really handle well on a truck. i road race my DD truck from time to time, and it can hold it's own on a road course with mustang cobra's. i plan to go pretty stiff on my from springs, about 650 lb./in. springs with bilstein shocks on a nova clip.

also don't forget about tires. you can have the best brakes and suspension in the world, but with crappy hard tires, performance will be sub par.

[cameo]

I know this thread is extinct, but I have a similar question.

Camero/bird/Nova clip or Heidt IFS kit?
Running a SBC daily driver, like I stole it, smokin the tires, highway driving, 1/4 mile Sundays, corner carver, ice cream getting truck.
What's the best way to go?
Least problems with stealing shaft? Do ineed power steering? If I'm not a total wimp? But will the wife be able to drive it without?.

Please help
Thanks

[cameo]

Oops. Forgot to say...

1957 custom cab short box

Not sure on trans but planning leafs in the back

[mr48chev]

Today for that truck I'd say look seriously at the front crossmember that Steve at Industrial Chassis in Phoenix is building that uses Dodge Dakota pieces. It's well engineered, uses fairly easy to get pieces and you don't end up having to spend hours on end making the nose of your truck fit the subframe or have a couple K tied up in a hub to hub kit.
http://www.industrialchassisinc.com/

Check this customer truck with his crossmember http://montys56truck.com/monty%27s56truck/

I'd contact him and see what he has to offer. I'm pretty well sure the crossmembers are built to order and he has no stockpile in the back room ready to ship though in case you are in a big hurry.

[G&R's57GMC]

Check out http://www.nolimit.net

I have their wide ride IFS with air bags and their fat bar rear with a Currie 9" . I did this back in Dec. 2009.

Now for road handling and racing check out their Big 10 rolling chassis .
I would have gone that route at the time but it was just about to debut in 2010.

[Russell Ashley]

I'm surprised that no one has mentioned Scotts as a recommendation. http://www.scottshotrods.com/

First class products and you can call and Justin or Jeff will actually answer the phone. They also have a year end sale going on now.

[_Ogre]

I'd recommend the same thing today or the original 2008 thread post. You could try reading some of the threads in this forum. Many options and choices; and just as many opinions on how to do it.