ifs height

[eugrides]

I want to install a mustang 11 ifs with 2 in dropped spindles and power brake booster mounted on frame, on my 53 gmc 1/2 ton long bed do I need to get the coil over springs to adjust height or can I position cross member to get a3 in drop . Want to get parts from Speedway . any suggestions Any help greatly appreciated

[shrek55]

I have a 55 1st series w/Speedway IFS. If you get their setup you should contact them for rough spring rates depending on your engine, a/c or not, for weight ,etc. You do have to cut off coils to get the proper ride height, if you buy their bolt-in subframe it has threaded upper adjustable mounts. I have this setup installed and did a full mockup alignment on my machine at work. The Speedway IFS is an awesome setup, nice workmanship, very stout crossmember. Good luck.

[shrek55]

Forgot to mention I did not use coilover setup, basic stock coil springs. But the Speedway setup can use coilovers and airride also.

[mr48chev]

Properly set up a Mustang II front end or clone front end will sit loaded with the lower A arms parallel to the ground or shop floor. You can tweak the height a bit but go very far and you start throwing the geometry of the front end off.

There is another thing to consider and that is your tire diameter. That is also going to determine your ride height.

If you want to stay within legal scrub line limits you have to consider wheel diameter too as the dropped spindles may put you below the scrub line with some rims. That usually depends on how your local law enforcement folks enforce the scrub line rule or more important, your local roads you drive on. It's a bit embarrassing to get hung up on driveway entrances or speed bumps on a regular basis especially when you are entering a spot where they are putting on a car show.

To get back with an honest answer to the question. what I have done in the past is to mock the truck up on blocks with no suspension under it on the shop floor at the exact static height I want to end up with and then figure out how high I need to set the crossmember in the frame and if I do or don't need dropped spindles.

[_Ogre]

i would ask the manufacturer of the parts your purchasing.
my 58 the fatman mustII dropped the front ~7''
2'' spindle drop would have me riding really low

[lazypineapple]

My 52 has MII front with 2" drops with. 225/60/15
367#pound springs 13-3/4" freeLength
No Coilovers justa gas shock
Lower arms and tie rods are level with ground.
350/700r4
Cross member sits 4-5" off ground, I can't get my floor jack under it.

Important to keep the lower arms and tie rods level when building a front end. And the lower arms mount in the crossmember. Moving the crossmember up would not be a good move.

I don't think I can safely lower my truck any more and drive it everyday
I have 2" block in the rear.