The Ford Barn

cuzncletus · 08-28-2012, 02:15 PM

If you're leaving a flathead in your pickup, then putting an IFS under it is just plain WRONG! Flatheads are nostalgic; IFS isn't. It's that simple. I don't know if anyone makes or drops F-1 axles, but that would seem to be the way to go. Disc brake conversions are certainly plentiful enough.

If you're not leaving the flathead in, then it's an open field. The next thing that's just plain wrong is clipping the truck. Remember, sooner or later you're probably going to want to sell the thing, no matter how much you love it now. Nothing is uglier or more often done wrong than a front end clip. That trend died 20 years ago, for a good reason....and good riddance.

Right up the road from you is a man who's on his second F-1 street rod. He's an experienced fabricator, having built more than a few first rate cars. He's in the process of putting a Fatman under the second F-1 because Fatman's kits fit. With the tubular A-arms, they also make a clean looking installation opposed to clunky factor components in a Detroit factory front end. If the crossmember isn't installed correctly you'll never get the caster correct and the truck will steer.......well, worse than a truck. Fatman kits are almost foolproof, though we all know there's a world of very creative fools out there. The other positive thing about a Fatman kit (or any good one versus a clip) is that the conversion is reversable. You can save all your front end pieces, make a couple of cuts to get the Fatman conversion out, then re-install the original axle.

By the way, the first IFS conversion rides well and steers great. The other good thing is I get to scavenge all his discarded front end stuff for things like brakes and steering boxes, not to mention engines and transmissions.

08-28-2012, 02:15 PM	#25
cuzncletus Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Sevierville, Tenn. Posts: 391	Re: 1950 F1 needs new IFS If you're leaving a flathead in your pickup, then putting an IFS under it is just plain WRONG! Flatheads are nostalgic; IFS isn't. It's that simple. I don't know if anyone makes or drops F-1 axles, but that would seem to be the way to go. Disc brake conversions are certainly plentiful enough. If you're not leaving the flathead in, then it's an open field. The next thing that's just plain wrong is clipping the truck. Remember, sooner or later you're probably going to want to sell the thing, no matter how much you love it now. Nothing is uglier or more often done wrong than a front end clip. That trend died 20 years ago, for a good reason....and good riddance. Right up the road from you is a man who's on his second F-1 street rod. He's an experienced fabricator, having built more than a few first rate cars. He's in the process of putting a Fatman under the second F-1 because Fatman's kits fit. With the tubular A-arms, they also make a clean looking installation opposed to clunky factor components in a Detroit factory front end. If the crossmember isn't installed correctly you'll never get the caster correct and the truck will steer.......well, worse than a truck. Fatman kits are almost foolproof, though we all know there's a world of very creative fools out there. The other positive thing about a Fatman kit (or any good one versus a clip) is that the conversion is reversable. You can save all your front end pieces, make a couple of cuts to get the Fatman conversion out, then re-install the original axle. By the way, the first IFS conversion rides well and steers great. The other good thing is I get to scavenge all his discarded front end stuff for things like brakes and steering boxes, not to mention engines and transmissions.