Front Xmember sectioning - probably a dumb question

[Longstep70]

So this is probably a dumb question but what the heck. I've been reading around about the IFS front swap ideas for 55-59 AD trucks and i guess the reason the 67 and up front IFS X member isn't used is because of the track width, correct?
Has anyone sectioned and narrowed one of these things? If not why not? Presumably taking a section out of the middle of the drag link is the issue? Is this not feasible?

[noteron]

I've searched for threads on that same topic... I could have swore frizzle sectioned his.

[Frizzle Fry]

Not me. Luckin Fou: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=277621

[RunninLo]

I did the stock one out of my 1972 c-10 burb into a '51. IIRC I took 1.5" right out of the middle. Got so far as to have it bolted into the frame and a rolling chassis before the owner decided the track was too wide and wouldn't "tuck" the rim like he wanted. For a static it would've been great put the wheels just outside the fender. he was looking to lay frame and even as the cambered in on the way down it still hit the fender.
attached a pic bare and with front clip. too bad it got scrapped and now rolls s-10

josh

[Longstep70]

Lou was talking about having a new center link made for him though; how did you handle that issue RunninLo?

[leftcoast66]

I've seen it done before. IF customs did it on their matt eye project. Narrowed it 2 inches IIRC so that they could get a better turning radius when lowered. Go figure they have a dead link where the pics are of him narrowing the crossmember before he got killed...

[Longstep70]

Not familiar with that build, do you have a link? Any idea of their approach to modifying the drag link?

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Longstep70

Not familiar with that build, do you have a link??

...Look here- Iaccino Fabrication & Custom

[RunninLo]

Originally Posted by Longstep70

Lou was talking about having a new center link made for him though; how did you handle that issue RunninLo?

sorry reply took so long had to go out of town. What you see is as far as we got with it before the owner switched gears and we started going S-10 stuff.

My plan was to find/make a sleeve for the drag link, chop 1.5" ( i think. it was 2 yrs ago) out and use two pieces of angle to clamp it back together straight to weld @ the cut then slide the sleeve over the weld and weld both ends of the sleeve in place. seemed like a sound idea at the time I just never got to test it. KDrodworks316 is saving the x-member from the scrap pile for a friend so I may get a chance to try it.

Josh

[leftcoast66]

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

...Look here- Iaccino Fabrication & Custom

Thanks for posting that up.

I don't think the truck made it to paint, but grand kustoms did the bodywork and such on it. Turned out great in bare skin, but I believe they ran all custom steering on it while they were under there.

[Longstep70]

how do you think that would hold up? What are the safety issues with welding on a forged piece like that?

[RunninLo]

Well my tohoughts were that the joint would be stronger than the stock piece. I was planning on using the TIG process as I always do when welding on cast weather it be aluminum, iron, etc. My one area of conceern would be the heat affected zone on the outer ends of the sleeve. A little proper planning and it should have turned out fine as the weld is always stronger than the cast metal and anything that would break a narrowed drag link would more than likely have broken the stock piece first.
Josh

Also a new custom drag link could have been fab'd ot of DOM tube and heims as an alternative if you have access to money easier than a competent welder.