Ifs Or Straight Axle ? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

69c10Lwb · 05-30-2004, 10:05 PM

i need some advice , actually i need to give it to my wife. she has a clean 52-5 window that she wants to be street rodded. my problem is with 2 things

1- she wants a 454 in it and im saying small block, because of weight and suspension rigidity.

2- she wants a ifs suspension and im saying a dropped i-beam, since it is a good solid frame i dont se why it should be hacked up. any way there are disc-brake kits and powersteering kits as well for the straight axles .

so what do you think ? i want to keep it simple and not get carried away. i realize she wants it to be comparable to my 69 lwb, bt i think it would take away from its value if too much is modified. any ideas will be appreciated.

TATE228 · 06-01-2004, 03:16 PM

give her a 400 small block, do a dropped i beam with disk brakes and power steering. tell get the classic rods of the 50's were actuall changes to the strait axles it's better and will handle the wieght better. and those things will stick in corners because they are so ridged.

TATE228 · 06-01-2004, 03:16 PM

It would be stupid to crap out your truck with ifs

solidaxel · 06-02-2004, 08:36 PM

11 YEARS ON A IFS in my 55 1st and I would not have a solid axle in the front again !!!!
Better ride, Rack and Pinion, disc brakes, use a a good shock, Bilstine is what I use and it works GREAT.
Don't forget to add A/C, so she will be confortable !!
As far as the value look on ebay and see the prices of rodded vs. stock!!

AzUnibody · 06-10-2004, 10:42 PM

Do you want to play with your other stuff? Do what the wife wants, besides she making some good choices for the 52'...I think she's on to something...Maybe cause I'm doing the same thing to my 54'....Joe

*chevytruckfan* · 06-11-2004, 09:48 AM

Go with a 72 up front suspension. It is a bolt in setup to your original frame with 1/2" spacers on both sides. That way if you decide to change back later you can. This will give you IFS disk brakes and power steering. It is a weekend project if you have everything out of the donor truck already. Plus it is already setup for the weight of a truck not a car front clip. I did this to my 47 and it was so easy.

*chevytruckfan* · 07-17-2004, 02:30 PM

Here is a link to an IFS swap for early chevys.

rebarjoe · 07-17-2004, 03:10 PM

Nice post. Although I have no intention to do this conversion, I run across so many guys asking about it. This is some good info. Some thing I can pass along to interested guys. That free server has a good writeup for wood bed restoration also.
Joe

05-30-2004, 10:05 PM	#1
69c10Lwb Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: san antonio,texas Posts: 37	Ifs Or Straight Axle ? i need some advice , actually i need to give it to my wife. she has a clean 52-5 window that she wants to be street rodded. my problem is with 2 things 1- she wants a 454 in it and im saying small block, because of weight and suspension rigidity. 2- she wants a ifs suspension and im saying a dropped i-beam, since it is a good solid frame i dont se why it should be hacked up. any way there are disc-brake kits and powersteering kits as well for the straight axles . so what do you think ? i want to keep it simple and not get carried away. i realize she wants it to be comparable to my 69 lwb, bt i think it would take away from its value if too much is modified. any ideas will be appreciated. __________________ 1973 pro-street nova back halved 632 cid 9inchford, disc brakes,2stges of spray,t-400 w/brake . almost done. 1952 chevy pick up soon to have a 468 bbc (hopefully momma will be happy with it and let me play with my toys more) nds.1983 ford bronco 400m auto matic 4wheel drive (war wagon, seen many battles and lost most ) another 1969 lwb project. suspension ?? motor ?? driveline ?? when you get it for free you dont turn it down... right???? 1992 suburban 4x4 no mods yet

06-01-2004, 03:16 PM	#2
TATE228 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: lake forest park, Washington Posts: 265	give her a 400 small block, do a dropped i beam with disk brakes and power steering. tell get the classic rods of the 50's were actuall changes to the strait axles it's better and will handle the wieght better. and those things will stick in corners because they are so ridged. __________________ -1971 K20 350/sm465 -2004 1500

06-01-2004, 03:16 PM	#3
TATE228 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: lake forest park, Washington Posts: 265	It would be stupid to crap out your truck with ifs __________________ -1971 K20 350/sm465 -2004 1500

06-02-2004, 08:36 PM	#4
solidaxel Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Cactus Patch So. Az Posts: 4,749	11 YEARS ON A IFS in my 55 1st and I would not have a solid axle in the front again !!!! Better ride, Rack and Pinion, disc brakes, use a a good shock, Bilstine is what I use and it works GREAT. Don't forget to add A/C, so she will be confortable !! As far as the value look on ebay and see the prices of rodded vs. stock!! __________________ 53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD) 53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25 55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73 62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327 340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis LS 3 4L70E 65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11 78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42 2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser) 2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42

06-10-2004, 10:42 PM	#5
AzUnibody Registered User Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Arizona Posts: 23	Do you want to play with your other stuff? Do what the wife wants, besides she making some good choices for the 52'...I think she's on to something...Maybe cause I'm doing the same thing to my 54'....Joe __________________ Joe

06-11-2004, 09:48 AM	#6
chevytruckfan Account Suspended Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lake Placid, Florida Posts: 930	Go with a 72 up front suspension. It is a bolt in setup to your original frame with 1/2" spacers on both sides. That way if you decide to change back later you can. This will give you IFS disk brakes and power steering. It is a weekend project if you have everything out of the donor truck already. Plus it is already setup for the weight of a truck not a car front clip. I did this to my 47 and it was so easy.

07-17-2004, 02:30 PM	#7
chevytruckfan Account Suspended Join Date: May 2004 Location: Lake Placid, Florida Posts: 930	Here is a link to an IFS swap for early chevys.

07-17-2004, 03:10 PM	#8
rebarjoe Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 31	Nice post. Although I have no intention to do this conversion, I run across so many guys asking about it. This is some good info. Some thing I can pass along to interested guys. That free server has a good writeup for wood bed restoration also. Joe __________________ Joe '49 GMC 100 '70 Ford F100 351m/400 '95 GMC Jimmy '98 S-10 4.3 Vortec 5 speed stick



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