AMC IFS donor The AMC donor mentioned most often in articles I've seen is the AMC Pacer. I don't know if the Gremlin uses the same IFS or not. Pacers in my part of the world are almost non-existent. Other than the IFS, there was no demand for used parts from them and most were crushed years ago. A fine old gentleman (also a streetrodder) at my local NAPA store couldn't find hardly any parts for it still in his system. You can find Pacers sometime on eBay, but by the time you go through all that and end up rebuilding an old IFS anyway, might as well go the Mustang II route. One man's opinion........
Thanks Kevin & Ken Yeah, I never made it to my second glass of wine last night... What's up with that? Friday night? I figured it was best to just pack it in for the night. Getting on this site always helps though. Interesting stuff! I swear- between the two of you, there isn't a web site that will be missed! I'd like the IFS for 1,300.00 Alex. And that is... "The person on this site with the most financial challenge." Umm, "Who is Zig?" THAT'S RIGHT!!! Seriously- When you add up the 300 for the dropped axle, the disc brake kit, bearings, rods, sway bar, shocks, springs.... and the time putting it all together... I'm sure that comes with a tape or dvd to help with the install. So tanks! The picture of my truck's frame is becoming a little clearer!
DOH ! Senior Moment Oh carp ~ of course I meant to say Pacer ~ . I see you're getting far better responses than I posted anyway . My stock I beam axle with new springs and good quality radial truck tires ride nicely and handles the busted up , pot holed desert roads as well as the inner city mean streets of South Central Los Angeles with aplomb . -Nate
Then again... Every time I think the picture gets clearer, Nate drops a simple post like this and the waters get all muddy again. Thanks for the "simplicity" angle, Nate.
Hey, i am gonna go to that on the 3rd, bit skint at the mo but well worth scraping together some cash to see wat i can find, if you could find that article for me that would be great, a friend of mine told me about that today. I have just started to strip my truck, i dont waste any time only actually picked it up at 12 today, really nice bloke i got it from too.. got 4 flat pack containers to set up 2moro then can start taking off the big bits !!!!!!!! ASH
Really Zig it all comes down to driver/builder preference. If you're on the fence about it then you need to try and find somebody that has an I-beam style front end no matter what it is in and ride with them. If you have a newer car of any sort then you know how IFS rides, then make your decision from there.
Cost. For me Kevin, I'll have to take what the defense gives me. Money, durability/longevity are the main issues, and how much I can do myself. All things concidered, I'd still say that 1,300 front end is the way to go. It would be all new and something I could bolt in. So again- thanks for the site!
Oops ! Did I do bad ? sorry . Please to remember : my truck is a work truck with a 235 InLine 6 banger and Muncie SM420 tranny , Torque Tube and tall skinny radial truck tires ~ yes I do drive it rather fast bombing up and down the mountains and canyons but I also know to slow way down when I see one of those crater sized potholes before I go jouncing through it . For me , this is a truck so a stiff ride is all to the better . If it's just going to be your hobby truck or have a V-ate stuffed into it , mayhap you'll like the IFS suspension better . I dunno . Cetainly the disc brakes will bolt onto either typ of front end (sayeth the man who still has Huck brakes ) Durable & cheap ? I - beam with top quality radial truck tires and of course , at least upgrade to the Bendix front brakes for safety's sake . -Nate
If i can do it, anyone can! It's easier to post a picture than it is to rebuild an AD! And less damage if you screw it up
Well actually... I have nothing against the ride of an I-beam. It's a TRUCK for Pete's sake! But, I know I want a brand new front end so I can count on 175K of my own to put on. If I didn't have this urge to lower my ride, I'd just be talking about disk brakes and new springs and rods. All the IFS I've seen start around 1,700. This one for 1,300 is something I gotta check out.
I'm trying to find you a few more options. Here's another site. I figured you'd like the name of the place. http://www.zigsstreetrods.com/Pages/crossmem.html Here is another company that builds their own. Don't know the cost but I am interested in the fuel injection system they have at the bottom of the page. If anybody wants throw their carb away on their V8 then this looks like the way to do it. http://www.messlerproducts.com/products.htm Okay Zig now that you've bought your front end here is an article of how to install it. It really does look very simple. This article has lots of pics ( I know how much you like pictures so I picked this one for you ) and would be very easy to follow. http://www.customrodder.com/tech/0609cr_front_suspension_installation/ And one more site if you want to go with some of the best in the business then here is Heidt's IFS mustang II. It's pricey at 2500. If I were you I would call on the 1300. I don't know how one company could build one much better for double the money. http://www.heidts.com/heip21.htm I hope all this helps in your journey to an IFS system. Need any more help then let me know and I'll do some more digging for you.
Okay I said I was done but I'm not. If you want to save some money and this would be saving about a grand then buy this one. It will need to be cleaned up and cut the old frame out of the front end, but it will work. It will be a little harder to install but not to bad. If you want it then contact him quick the auction is almost over. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/STRE...ryZ34200QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem And I also found another one on ebay that was selling from a company new for 1300. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/MUST...ryZ33583QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem Okay now I'm done.
No problem Zig, anything for my friends right? I couldn't sleep last night so I thought I'd research a little more for ya. Plus I found something cool for myself. I found that fuel injected intake that would bolt on to the engine I'm gonna buy. So now I can go fuel injected and still have the sound of a high rise cam in it.
