Mustang Front end in 55-3100

[Coleman396]

Hi Gang. Happy holidays to eveyone! I have a 55 Chevy shortbox that was for sale on Ebay. Nobody realized what a great deal it was and now she is still sitting in the garage.
Spring is not too far off so I thought maybe it is time to get working on the old girl again.
I don't want to clip my truck but would like to have a mustang front end under it. I understand there is a bolt in or weld in cross member that makes this job fairly easy.
Has anyone used this setup? What did you think of the installation process. Can it been done by a layman or is it best left to the pro's?
Any tips would be muchly appreciated. Thanks!

[rico_bob]

There are hundreds if not thousands of early pickups that have had a change of suspension! And the choices run from cutting the frame nearly in half to weld in a donor Nova or Camero front suspension. Or a donor front end from an American Motors Pacer, or a Chrysler torsion bar unit from a Dodge Diplomat, Aspen or Plymouth Volarie. Then there are those who have used front ends fron the early '70's GM pickups, etc and etc.

Then there are those of us who elected to use the easy to install Mustang II style IFS (independent front suspension). But again, even with the M-II, there are many choices!

The original M-II was just that. A front suspension was removed from a bone yard donor Mustang and grafted onto the front of a classic pickup/car. (Chevy, GMC, Ford, Dodge, Studebaker... you name it)

THE BEST NEWS IS...The M-II has evolved into a very good front suspension clip. You can get them in many configurations. You can buy just the crossmember then add your own stock Ford parts, or GM parts or with customized parts that include coil-over shocks, or airbags and they can be made to run GM or Ford spindles and a variety of brake combinations.

When I was looking for a IFS for use in my personal '57 1/2 ton, I did about a year's worth of study and research. What I discovered is that not all IFS's are the same. And like the old adage goes..."You will get what you pay for"

What I wanted was the strongest crossmember (nothing in the unit less than a 1/4-inch steel), and I wanted a unit that would allow me to retain the inner fender of my 57 Pickup without having to cut the bottom edge of the inner fender off like so many of the clips and M-II IFS force you to do. Yuck!

My choice, (and the IFS I now sell), is the Martz Chassis Engineering IFS for 55-59 Chevy and early Ford Pickups. Martz Chassis Engineering is just that... A firm that builds chassis parts for the racing industry and the Hot Rod Industry.

I personally went to Bedford, PA to see the operation and pick up my first IFS from Gary Martz. He is a very impressive race car owner, driver and builder. A legend in the racing industry.

My choice of IFS is of course personal, but I believe I made the best choice based on what I wanted. My IFS in my '57 has a power rack and pinion (from a Ford T-Bird), coil-overs and tubular A-Arms (made from Aircraft Tubing).

The IFS came as a complete unit with new 11-inch disk brakes/rotors and pads and new GM calipers. The unit is easily positioned on the centerline of the front axle, and welds to the underside and outside of the trucks frame. Boxing plates are used to reinforce the frame.

The other nice part of using an M-II "Clone" is that you do not need to fabricate the front frame horns for the bumper brackets and the radiator frame, as you do not cut your frame off at the firewall like Camero clips! Saving time = saving money!

With a Martz IFS, you will get power rack and pinion steering, coil-overs or optional air-ride springs, your choice of GM or Ford Rotors in either 11-inch or 12-inch (upgrades available to Baer Brake components and drilled rotors also available at extra cost) and the unit includes Borgeson U-joints and a steering shaft.

What do I think you should do?? Do some research... and then make the decsion on what you want to do. I would not recommend a bolt-in unit... My two cents worth! rico_bob


http://www.martzchassis.net
http://www.ricos-rods-and-relics.com (this is me)

[Coleman396]

Thanks for the reply Rico. As I put in my original post I am Not going to "clip" the frame. I know there are just too many options available to be butchering the frame and then fighting with the rad support etc.
How does the Martz front end compare as far as price goes to lets say a "Fatman" or others.
I would imagine with all the competition out there that comparing apples to apples the prices will not change a whole bunch.
I have disc brakes up front now so all the plumbing would be in place and I imagine my G.M. power steering pump should work with that setup.
Its time to start phoning around for prices and see what is available.
Thanks again.............John.
PS. Last chance..............anybody wanna buy a 55-3100?

[rico_bob]

email me at: rico_bob@hotmail.com

[ShamrockCustoms]

yes, there are any number of ways to throw in a m2 suspension to your truck.

you can try fatman fab, total cost involved, speedway motors, heidts, the list goes on........most have 55-59 m2 conversions available, price varies of course. good luck!

[N2TRUX]

Rico_Bob, I looked at the Martz site, and saw nothing for trucks. Am I missing something...?

[RSG]

Hey man, take a look at a No Limit front end. It's similar to a Mustang as there is no cutting the frame. It has a weld in x-member, tubular A-arms, uses camero spindles, rack and pinion steering, large brakes. Looks as easy to install as a Stang and there is a dealer in B.C. Are you anywhere near Port Moody? Someone posted pics of one installed on this site but I can't find where.

[rico_bob]

Martz does carry the truck IFS and I sell them for him...