Very expensive project slick

low6t4 · Post by **low6t4** » April 1, 2010, 11:38 am

You guys are a wealth of information. I appreciate all the input I have received from everyone. Thanks very much. I may have a lead to the guy who painted and then maybe he can tell me where he got it... I just want to know what I have ya know.

fire truck · Post by **fire truck** » April 4, 2010, 4:37 pm

I've got a 62 frame here if you want it to start a new chassis....

castruck_1964 · Post by **castruck_1964** » April 4, 2010, 7:47 pm

It is or whats left of a mustang II /pinto front end.
That setup as it is good for a stadium trailer Queen only.
The custom reverse strut arms give great tire clearance but no actual stability to the front end. They need to be straight not curved. from what I can see the have something welded to the top of them to stop them from bending. the cross member for the rack does almost nothing for preventing the control arm brackets from flexing. One good pothole or bump or minor incounter with a curb will bend if not tear the whole thing off the frame.
I don't like to be critical of other peoples work but that scares the C@#p
out of me.
My 2cents says new MustangII cross member like the one pictured earlier or as was also mentioned a Dakota setup would be another good option.

Again Just my opinion but I would replace that front end before i drove it very far.

ABA · Post by **ABA** » April 4, 2010, 8:00 pm

Been watching Barret Jackson and the whole time I kept thinking of the issues going on with your custom truck low6t4. Makes me wonder how many of the customs were rushed to make the auction.
Seen one that the announcer said you could still smell the paint it was so fresh.

I don't know man, as much as you paid for that truck it should have been right and the builder or seller should be the one making it right not you.

low6t4 · Post by **low6t4** » April 5, 2010, 1:45 am

Firetruck, thanks for the offer but I'll try and work with what I have.

Castruck, thanks for your comments. I'll probably replace the front end with a Fatman unit. Just replace the whole thing. While I'm at it I'll upgrade engine and tranny to something more correct for the truck. Just need to determine what I'll go with before I order the front suspension.

Houston Contingent:
I will be looking for a shop that's willing to take on this project while I am home this time. I leave to go back to Iraq the end of April and will be gone for about 4 months so I will need a shop that's willing to keep the truck and work it as the parts come in. Any suggestions hit me up on here with a PM or whatever. I would really appreciate that.

ABA, I agree... but unfortunately I bought the truck as is and this is one of those lessons learned the hard way. I can only give the advice to anyone thinking about buying a truck or any car thats been customized to have it checked over by someone who is knowledgeable prior to committing to buy. I got over 20 grand in a truck I can't drive across town without worrying about the suspension tearing apart. The good thing is I have it well insured and if the suspension were to get torn out of it they would pay...

The Big M · Post by **The Big M** » April 5, 2010, 10:40 am

castruck_1964 wrote:It is or whats left of a mustang II /pinto front end.
That setup as it is good for a stadium trailer Queen only.
The custom reverse strut arms give great tire clearance but no actual stability to the front end.

Thanks, that's what was throwing me off. I didn't recognize those arms as Mustang II, but they obviously are something custom-made. Now that I look even closer they look to be a fabricated box section made from flat sheet. With some ugly welds to boot.

On top of that there's not much support for the rear brackets either. A large portion of the inner lug is hanging off the flange of the frame rail.

low6t4, something you may want to consider when choosing a new front suspension is your final ride height. It's clear that the builder made some pretty severe compromises to achieve a certain look, like coping out the frame rails for steering rack clearance. I expect it will take some forethought and careful component selection in order to get it as low as it is now while still being functional and safe. It needs to be strong, with correct geometry, appropriate suspension travel, and adequate tire clearance.

castruck_1964 · Post by **castruck_1964** » April 5, 2010, 8:49 pm

with Big M.

428blown · Post by **428blown** » April 5, 2010, 9:38 pm

The Fatman is a solid kit. Here's a photo of a Fatman unit I put on a 66. At the time I bought it they only had a kit for 53-56's, so I modified the crossmember width to fit. Uses chevelle rotors and calipers, larger stuff than a Mustang II. Uses the Mustang rack and pinion.

jkimbrel65 · Post by **jkimbrel65** » April 5, 2010, 10:08 pm

http://fordtruk.com/forums/album_pic.ph ... user_id=28

The dakota crossmember is worth looking at.The bottom my front bumper is 10"off the pavememt. As a bonus you have 3 bolt paterns to chose fom 5/4.5 5/5.5 or 6 lug

The Big M · Post by **The Big M** » April 6, 2010, 10:15 am

And it's possible to get even lower than that, if I'm not mistaken. I believe you have the option of lowering springs and drop spindles on top of the base drop. Here's a shot of former Slick 60's member ELpolacko's truck (Warning: it's powered by an off-brand engine and the hood is open in this shot)

http://img52.exs.cx/img52/3051/hambdrags4.jpg

Another member, Garbz, installed the Industrial Chassis Dakota kit in his uni with a 2-inch "Z" in the front frame rails to get it lower:

http://fordtruk.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9479

ELpolacko used to produce the Dakota kits under the Industrial Chassis banner, but now that I just checked the website I see there's been a change in the company and the kits are now being produced in Seattle...

castruck_1964 · Post by **castruck_1964** » April 6, 2010, 8:57 pm

I''m putting an industrial chassis dakota inmy uni once my other truck is done.

Garbz · Post by **Garbz** » April 7, 2010, 7:10 pm

Do not drive the truck. It is a disaster waiting to happen. I have seen some pretty weird front suspensions but this one takes the prize. And yes it is missing the Cross member probably due to issues with engine fitment

Find a reputable shop that is prepared to fix the mistakes of others.

Industrial Chassis in Phoenix is one such shop that excels at fixing bad suspension work. Steve and the crew is in Austin Texas this weekend showing new product for the Roundup show.

Garbz

Garbz · Post by **Garbz** » April 7, 2010, 7:11 pm

castruck_1964 wrote:I''m putting an industrial chassis dakota inmy uni once my other truck is done.

Ken did you order one and recieve it yet? If not i would not count on getting one as Steve no longer produces them, he actually has to turn customers away weekly. Adam took them (the patterns and jigs) with him to Seattle and is to restart production up there building the Effie frames and kits. (again dont hold your breath).

Steve is thinking on the next great tuck suspension..........

Here is a Dakota with a 2" Z in the front frame. At ride height.

Garbz

The Big M · Post by **The Big M** » April 8, 2010, 9:48 am

Welcome back, Garbz.

PFM-64f100 · Post by **PFM-64f100** » April 8, 2010, 9:57 am

Garbz wrote:
Ken did you order one and recieve it yet? If not i would not count on getting one as Steve no longer produces them, he actually has to turn customers away weekly. Adam took them (the patterns and jigs) with him to Seattle and is to restart production up there building the Effie frames and kits. (again dont hold your breath).

Garbz

Wow so I'm glad I got my Dak done before Adam took them. So does that mean my value went up because Steve is not producing the dak anymore?

The Big M · Post by **The Big M** » April 8, 2010, 10:11 am

And is he still doing dropped axles, for that matter?

low6t4 · Post by **low6t4** » April 9, 2010, 6:18 am

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I got home on Tuesday and backed the truck out of the garage.... the truck looks sweet... the paint is nice... the interior is nice... the beds well done... overall I am happy with the truck... minus the suspension issues.

I back out on to the street and pull forward just a bit to wait on my better half. She hops in and I go to take off... well I romped the throttle a little... when I did.... boom>>pow>>> scrape....scrape...scrape...scrape...

WTF!!!! it sounds like something inside the rear end broke... I am still pissed off... I eased down the street with the door open and head hanging out the door listening. Sure enough there is something that rotates scraping and grinding like hell back there.... I turned the truck around pulled it back in the garage and shut the door. Thats where it will sit until I can get home for good I guess.....

Max · Post by **Max** » April 9, 2010, 7:04 am

That's what that noise was. THought it came from Ellington.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

Garbz · Post by **Garbz** » April 9, 2010, 10:22 pm

The Big M wrote:And is he still doing dropped axles, for that matter?

Nope, The press and equipment went to Seattle. If any one wants a drop axle go here www.raodsters.com, Dave Mann has them done by a dude in Oklahoma that just as good as the IC dropped units.

Steve is taking IC in a different direction. He is getting in to one off really cool stuff. Take a look. www.industrialchassisinc.com

Garbz

Garbz · Post by **Garbz** » April 9, 2010, 10:27 pm

Sounds like the horrible rear suspension unwound (flexed) and you dropped the drive shaft.

Contact Uncle Skip to help you out to at least look at it and see what happened.

Garbz

Very expensive project slick

Fatman front end