Well, Bill....I gotta agree with you and Jack both on this one. You can
indeed get into an IFS fairly inexpensively initially....that is, you can
get a front clip cheap, as Jack points out. The costs from that point
forward may begin to look an awful lot more like the costs of a drop-in IFS.
A junk-yard clip with several tens of thousands of miles on it would not go
under my rigs without inspection, and probably outright replacement of a
raft of hardware, from bearings to ball joints to brakes. Then...paying a
top notch chassis guy to disect and reassemble my frame....I dunno....
I won't even look at subframed trucks as potential candidates to buy any
more. I have seen so many butcher jobs that were said to be done by "pros".
While I have to say that a job done right would be as strong as Jack
asserts....my experience has been such that I would want to see examples of
the work that has been done, listen to other truckers who had used the
chassis shop.....the works.
It is not a straight forward trade....I have seen it debated in the
magazines from time to time....you gotta lay out the costs, benefits, and
and other critical decision elements that bear for YOUR decision and then
go. Shoot, even getting scheduled into a good chassis shop could be a real
pain. If the costs are close, the schedule issue alone could swing the
decision....
Gordon Tibbs
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-oletrucks@autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-oletrucks@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Jack Halton
Sent: Monday, September 18, 2000 8:31 AM
To: Whittaker Bill G Civ ASC/SMY; Old Trucks List
Subject: Re: [oletrucks] ifs or clip
Clipping can be a real inexpensive way to achieve an IFS. All of the brakes,
steering and suspension parts in one sub-assembly that can often be had for
a couple hundred bucks. It's labor-intensive but initially anyway, a cheap
way to go. At least that is the most common rationale I've heard - I decided
against it because it was beyond my skill level at the time, but I've since
seen some that were nicely done, and IF (big IF) properly reinforced and
done by a skilled welder/chassis fabricator, probably stronger and safer
than either the original truck frame or the donor vehicle....
Of course I've also seen some disasters where the wheels aren't even placed
right in the fenders, so it all depends on who is doing the work.
Jack Halton
51 GMC 1/2 ton
Winter Park FL
----- Original Message -----
From: "Whittaker Bill G Civ ASC/SMY" <Bill.Whittaker@wpafb.af.mil>
To: "Old Trucks List" <oletrucks@autox.team.net>
Sent: Monday, September 18, 2000 9:34 AM
Subject: RE: [oletrucks] ifs or clip
> Oh, man... I'm probably going to get jumped on again but here goes.
>
> If you want to put a clip on your truck, I'm not going to tell you not to,
however there are a couple things you need to think about in the process.
>
> There is only one way to install a clip correctly and safely and there are
a thousand ways to screw it up. If you feel you must destroy a perfectly
good frame just make sure your very meticulous about installing a new clip.
An experienced (certified) welder is a must in these cases and double and
triple check your alignment before everything's permanently welded in
position.
>
> In the street rod community it's generally considered that installing a
clip lowers the resale value of your vehicle. It seems people just aren't
willing to pay top dollar and trust someone else's skills when something as
important as a frame is concerned.
>
> I hesitate to see what the advantages of installing a clip are anyway.
Exactly what are you getting with a clip that you can't get from the
aftermarket? Disk brakes? They're available almost anywhere. IFS? Nope,
again available almost anywhere. Ah, motor mounts. Nope, a weld or bolt in
crossmember with Chevy mounts is readily available for about $60 from a
number of sources. I know... ease of installation. Nope, I don't think so.
So what is it then that makes people want to destroy a perfectly good frame?
I know, it must be the fun of hanging all that old sheet metal back on the
front once the clip is in place. That's got to be it, a chance for people to
show off their fabrication skills.
>
> Now don't jump on me guys... I was just trying to make a point here.
There's a lot to be considered before making a huge decision like lopping
off the front of your perfectly good frame. People tend to think they're
going to save themselves a lot of work by doing this but in reality they
cause themselves as much work as they think they're saving. There have been
thousands of clips welded on street rods and trucks and most of them are
very safe, all I'm saying is make sure that's what you want to do before
getting the sawsall out. Once you cut it, there's really no turning back.
>
> OK, my fox hole is dug.... Incoming!!!!!
>
> Bill Whittaker
> '53 3100 Hemi
> Built Like A Rock
> With Mopar Stock
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Terry Beynon [mailto:tbeynon@dsl.telocity.com]
> Sent: Saturday, September 16, 2000 12:21 AM
> To: Old Trucks List
> Subject: [oletrucks] ifs or clip
>
>
> While the embers are still warm, I'll fan them to a flame. Did I miss
> something or did we blow right passed the welded front clip say from a 78
> Firebird or Camaro. In all the discussion of weld vs. bolt, it seems that
if
> a weld were to crack (with the clip) there's a chance you could see the
> whole front of your truck fall off??? The reason I bring it up is we used
> Heidt's MII on the 55. I was leaning to an old Camaro donor car to get the
> front clip, rear end (3.08 gear) and the tilt wheel. Do I cut the frame or
> not?
>
> Terry Beynon
> 55-1 3100
> 51 3106 (Suburban)
> Chicago IL
> www.beynon.net/terry.html
>
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
>
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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