48 5window suspension

[chevy_roadsta]

I just bought a 48 chevy pickup (roller) and I plan on dropping in my 6.0 lq4 with 4l60e combo I took out of a newer chevy with a 10 bolt from a nova. I've been up late the past 3 nights doing research and noticed everyone with theses trucks is swapping out the front suspension to IFS type. Why? Is there something so horribly wrong with the factory front suspension?

This truck is going to be a highway cruiser on 20's or 22's with a/c. (saw youtube videos and liked them) I found a few companies that sell a dropped front axle for about $400 or so. Would this be a bad route for a highway cruiser? Any help would be great! Thanks

1950 chevy truck on 22's - YouTube

[Denee007]

Hi! And welcome! I really liked your video and the truck! ; )
I wish I could answer your questions, believe me, you'll get plenty of opinions soon enough. Lots of great people here! ; )
Dne'
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[Rude Dude]

If rebuilt they ride okay, but 20's on straight axle turning issues may be a problem because of rim size etc.. Also have you ever riden in a truck with paralell leaf springs and an old steering box. Everything has to be rebuilt and it still don't change that type design quirts. If you are going to upgrade do it now before you stick a whole lot of money into the front end and decide an IFS would have given you a better ride.

Originally Posted by chevy_roadsta

I just bought a 48 chevy pickup (roller) and I plan on dropping in my 6.0 lq4 with 4l60e combo I took out of a newer chevy with a 10 bolt from a nova. I've been up late the past 3 nights doing research and noticed everyone with theses trucks is swapping out the front suspension to IFS type. Why? Is there something so horribly wrong with the factory front suspension?

This truck is going to be a highway cruiser on 20's or 22's with a/c. (saw youtube videos and liked them) I found a few companies that sell a dropped front axle for about $400 or so. Would this be a bad route for a highway cruiser? Any help would be great! Thanks

1950 chevy truck on 22's - YouTube

[mr48chev]

I'll be honest, you lost me with the plans for the cartoon wheels.

I've probably put 150,000 miles on my 48 with and I beam under it including towing a 16 ft U haul trailer from Texas to Washington in 1977. I've got 54 car front drums on it but with that kind of power I'd want disk brakes on all four corners.

What I would do if I kept the stock front end is completely rebuild it and add a sway bar. You don't want to lower it if you run those wheels and you might end up raising it above stock a bit.

On the rear you will most likely have to put mini tubs in the bed for tire clearance as even with the deep offset 15's I have under mine and 255 60's I have tire clearance issues and have less than a half inch between the sidewalls and the bed on either side.

As I alluded to above I think that big wheel look is the silliest thing going on older vehicles including fake patina but the Donk gang will no doubt greet you with open arms.

[Hot Rod Todd]

Down in this part of the World, we tend to use the 69-86 Jaguar front suspension and power steer as we can get the whole deal for around $300 and the suspension in a Jag is from a 4000lb car so its happy in our trucks.

Regarding tyres, I prefer to use a 15 inch diameter with a tall sidewall (235/75R/15 whitewalls at present) as they have a bit of give for our junk roads. If you are wanting to do 500 mile road trips a tyre with some sidewall makes for a nicer ride. I would think that a stock, tho dropped suspension with 20s on the front will give a harsh ride.

But in the end, do it your way. You have only yourself to satisfy, and if you follow somebody elses (like mine) prescription, you risk finishing up with a truck that falls short of your dream. So do it your way.

But maybe find an old truck with low profile tyres and ask the owner about the ride quality. If you get lucky, they may take you for a ride.

[G&R's57GMC]

If you keep the stock suspension, change the steering to power rack & pinion for straight axels http://www.nolimitparts.com/prodinfo...ber=PS%2DSA%2D

What with all the power from your 6.0 and 4L60E you will NEED Quicker Steering and Front Disc Brakes. See No Limit for conversion kit.

M.H.O. 20's ? Not so much ! 18's max on that truck. Get some sidewall on that ride, 45 series min.

Heck I've got 31x10.5R15's on my '56 and they will let you know about the pot holes !

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

I'll be honest, you lost me with the plans for the cartoon wheels.

I've probably put 150,000 miles on my 48 with and I beam under it including towing a 16 ft U haul trailer from Texas to Washington in 1977. I've got 54 car front drums on it but with that kind of power I'd want disk brakes on all four corners.

What I would do if I kept the stock front end is completely rebuild it and add a sway bar. You don't want to lower it if you run those wheels and you might end up raising it above stock a bit.

On the rear you will most likely have to put mini tubs in the bed for tire clearance as even with the deep offset 15's I have under mine and 255 60's I have tire clearance issues and have less than a half inch between the sidewalls and the bed on either side.

As I alluded to above I think that big wheel look is the silliest thing going on older vehicles including fake patina but the Donk gang will no doubt greet you with open arms.

I saw an early 70s monty carlo last sunday that had to have had 30" wheels. It was so jacked up that It had more ground clearance than my jeep

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by chevy_roadsta

I just bought a 48 chevy pickup (roller) and I plan on dropping in my 6.0 lq4 with 4l60e combo I took out of a newer chevy with a 10 bolt from a nova. I've been up late the past 3 nights doing research and noticed everyone with theses trucks is swapping out the front suspension to IFS type. Why? Is there something so horribly wrong with the factory front suspension?

This truck is going to be a highway cruiser on 20's or 22's with a/c. (saw youtube videos and liked them) I found a few companies that sell a dropped front axle for about $400 or so. Would this be a bad route for a highway cruiser? Any help would be great! Thanks

1950 chevy truck on 22's - YouTube

All kidding aside, IFS is so much nicer It will handle,ride, stop and steer way better for cheaper than you can rebuild and modify Your straight axle.
Think of it this way. every time one wheel hits a bump with a straight axle the other wheel serves as a pivot point causing both springs to react. IFS only the wheel that hits the bump reacts.

[mr48chev]

Truthfully the stock axle with stock height springs would probably be the best bet with wheels and tires of that size. That or a custom one off independent suspension designed to work with that setup.

One of my issues with wheels like that is on any older vehicle they dominate the the vehicle and you see wheels and then notice that there is a truck around them rather than seeing the whole vehicle as one package. On any of the really great looking trucks, hot rods Customs or even 4x4 trucks no single component dominates the vehicle's appearance but everything works together in one complete package.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

Truthfully the stock axle with stock height springs would probably be the best bet with wheels and tires of that size. That or a custom one off independent suspension designed to work with that setup.

One of my issues with wheels like that is on any older vehicle they dominate the the vehicle and you see wheels and then notice that there is a truck around them rather than seeing the whole vehicle as one package. On any of the really great looking trucks, hot rods Customs or even 4x4 trucks no single component dominates the vehicle's appearance but everything works together in one complete package.

Yeah like thet monty carlo the first thing I saw was these huge wheels. then how high it was. It was almost out of sight before I even thought of what the car was.