Before I knew it, another Canada day was celebrated and I hadn't touched it. I thought enough was enough, time to drag it back in the garage or I'll be right back where I started.
Initially, I planned on using a Jag IFS but I couldn't find one anywhere. My backup plan was an 86-92 Supra IFS as they are a self contained unit other than the strut tops, they have big discs and rack and pinion steering. I've always been into early Japanese vehicles and have wanted to try the Supra clip in something for a few years. There are quite a few of them in various states of disrepair around here so it was easy to find something usable and pocket friendly.
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I stripped the front of the truck frame and offered it up
The mounting points are 1/2" too wide and the frame would need some massaging around the steering shaft but otherwise, I couldn't see any reason not to use it.
I wanted to keep it as a bolt in affair so I welded some 5/8" inner diameter tube to the frame. The sleeves for the rear mounting points need to be sectioned into the frame but the front sleeves can be welded directly to the outside as they are another 1/2" inch wider.
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I boxed the sleeves with lengths of 1x3 .120 wall tube on the outside of the frame and notched the frame up to the bottom of the 1x3. This isn't necessary but my ride height would have been about 7" with the lower control arms horizontal. With the notch, my ride height should be around 5 1/2" at the bottom of the running boards. I then boxed the inside of the frame with 3/8" plate, leaving a 1" relief for the steering shaft.
At about this time, I found a killer deal on some new QA1 coil-overs with two pairs of springs, 350 and 450lb/inch. Judging by the tables on the QA1 website, the 450's should be about right for one of these trucks so I lucked out on that purchase.
Now I had to mount them. I got a local fab shop to bend some 1 3/4" DOM for the hoops, then I made some stand-offs? towers? to mount the hoops off the side of the frame. I did this to be able to triangulate off the top of the frame and allow clearance for the inner fender.
I figure I ought to mention that I'm not an engineer and I'm making it up as I go. I feel that it's plenty sturdy but if anyone else wants to try this do so at your own peril....