What to do, thinking about the much discussed frame swap.

[rawkinbones13]

This is my first post, I've been looking around the website for about a year now. I own a 58 Apache and it's my daily driver. I love the truck, it's a short wheel base fleetside. I've done some engine work on it and installed an A/C. I still have all of the original suspension underneath the truck.

My truck
http://instagram.com/p/H2O5RqklyY/

I'm really getting the itch to upgrade the suspension, I have some ideas of what I want it to look like. Mainly something more like this.

What I'm shooting for
http://pinterest.com/pin/7248049370899663/

I guess the main reason why I'm posting this is because I don't have a lot of knowledge as far as trucks go, this is my first old truck and the first vehicle I've ever wanted to lift. I've lowered several and parts are numerous.

This is what I'm wanting to do, I'd like to replace the original suspension with an independent front suspension. And try to get as many creaks and groans out of the chassis as possible. Does someone make parts to lift these older trucks that I haven't come across? Is an IFS difficult to lift? Has anyone seen this truck before and have any additional information on it? I'd love to know more about the tire wheel combo. For what I am trying to accomplish is it best to stay with my original frame or just make the jump to a newer frame and just swap out the body? The frame swap doesn't scare me, I know people who have done it with other vehicles and said they would be willing to help me with mine. I have a lot of the tools and know how to handle that project but honestly if I can reach my goal with my original frame I'd rather do that.

Anxious to hear what you guys have to say. I hope the pictures work too. First time on a web forum.

[rawkinbones13]

I was trying not to put to much info into my first post but I think I didn't quite put enough. I want to give you some more info so you can make a mor informed decision.

I guess other than the overall look of the truck what I am wanting to do is have a dependable smooth riding truck that I can also tow things with. My wife and I have plans to eventually own an airstream, I also have an older tractor I need to get from place to place. When I bought the truck it already had a 350 installed, along with a manual 5 speed from a early 90's blazer. The guy also installed a rear end out of a firebird. After I bought the truck I pulled the motor, checked the rod and main bearings replaced all the gaskets and gave it a paint job. I reinstalled the motor, bought the FAST EZ-EFI system installed it along with a Vintage Air A/C. Installed a new wiring harness, radio and the Lizard skin insulation and sound deadener. I also moved the fuel tank out of the cab and bought a 30 gallon blazer tank and installed it at the rear of the frame. Some future plans for the truck is to replace the weatherstripping and try to get rid of as much road noise as possible. Also, depending on which way I go with the frame would like to install some new body mounts and possibly a power steering system. I want the truck to be as solid as I can make it, it doesn't have to drive like a new truck but I know it can be better than how it is now.

As I stated earlier, really anxious to hear your take on what the best route to go is.

[Maximus]

since nobody else has chimed in ill be the first to say - don't swap your frame.

with a truck in as good of shape as yours, swapping frame will only take away like 5 years of drive time and add a million headaches. i would only ever suggest swapping a frame is the Org frame is damaged beyond repair. I have not done it personally, but i feel like it would be very easy to lift your truck if thats what you wanted, but I have a feeling it would not tow near as well lifted. There really isnt much weight to these vehicles so towing is going to be minimum in terms of weight - i doubt any resource will tell you to to over 5000 pounds, if even that...

if you want a 4x4 truck, change axles and upgrade suspension of the current frame, if you want a 2wd truck, look at the million resources on this site explaining the differences between MII suspension, Camaro clip, and keeping stock. I went Camaro route and love it, but if i were to do it all over the MII would probably be easier - i was 16 and BROKE When i started my build...so my choice was made for me.

the first thing u need to do is find the weight of the airstream you want, and find out if these shortbed pickups have enough weight to them to safely pull it...

Nice truck!

if it were mine, i would pull the front i-beam, get a quality Mustang II suspension kit installed, replace your brakes with modern upgrade if not already done, and drop a new steering column and go! - thats just me...

[mr48chev]

I'm with maximus in that I wouldn't suggest swapping frames unless your frame is for some reason (rusted out, bent, bad modifications) unusable and you need a frame that works.

From driving my 71 3/4 ton GMC daily I can say that having an independent suspension in a truck doesn't necessarily mean that you won't have squeaks and rattles.

You might check with Steve at Industrial Chassis. http://www.industrialchassisinc.com/

He builds independent front ends using Dodge Dakota pieces and also does a lot of one off suspension work. His work is on a par with anyone's in the country. You can expect to pay a premium but for what you want I'd think this would be worth investigating.

[rawkinbones13]

Thanks guys for the responses. I didn't want to change my frame, and you guys just made me more certain of that. I'd still really like to change out my suspension and get a better ride, I'd also like to jack it up a few inches if anyone has any details on that. I don't really have a reason for a 4x4 truck, 2 wheel drive will serve my purposes just fine. I forgot to mention but the guy who owned the truck prior to me also installed disc brakes on the front a master cylinder with a brake booster. So, stopping isn't an issue. As far as the creaks and groans I'd like to think I could eliminate most of them with polyurethane bushings. The rubber I'm riding around on for the most part is mostly original.

I've been reading around and I think the Mustang II would be the best way to upgrade the front end, I just don't know if it will perform well in a towing situation. Granted, I won't be towing all the time, maybe once every other month or maybe less, but if I ever want to tow something. I want to know that the time and money I put in installing whatever I go with has the capability of handling what I hook up to my truck. As I said before, I don't know anything about lifting a truck especially one with an IFS on it. If anyone has any info, it would be appreciated.

[Maximus]

Lifting a truck with IFS isnt really an option that i would consider - the suspension travel pretty much eliminates the ability to 'lift' the suspension - i would think the best you could do would be to lift the frame around the suspension. Most people here work in the opposite direction and build the IFS 'high' on the frame so that the truck sits low, im sure you could build the IFS 'low' on your frame rails to lift the body of the truck, but this wouldnt do a darn thing to your ground clearance at your IFS setup. - if you want a lifted truck, i would seriously consider leaving the leaf springs, and pulling that i-beam for a diff. and make it a 4x4 -

that being said, i think if your heart wasnt set on lifting the truck, you could enhance your ride comfort alot by converting to an IFS setup.

if you use a heavy duty enough IFS setup i wouldnt see it posing a problem during towing as long as its installed correctly - i think towing in general is going to be limited by the weight of the truck and the wheelbase, not so much by the front suspension.
I wouldnt think twice about my Camaro (formula firebird actually) IFS not being able to handle tow weight - i would actually trust it more than the i-beam -

I am not an engineer or expert on towing - but in my opinion - with all new bushings, heavy sway bar and great braking power the camaro IFS is more than beefy enough to handle the stresses of normal towing (as long as installed correctly)

I think your truck would look and perform great with a IFS setup, and i am not a fan of SLAMMED trucks, but i think the idea of a lifted 2x4 might look misleading heh

i say keep it near the ground, put on an IFS drivability will reward you