Thread: More on the Fiero IFS

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It's 10 below zero this morning so I'm playing with my computer instead of working out in the garage. I just figured out how to scan photos, convert them to jpg format and save them in the right place.

I mentioned in a few previous posts that I put a Fiero IFS in my 40 Ford pickup. This was before I went digital and I shot a roll of 35mm during the process. Here's a picture of the installation before the engine was installed. As you can see the Fiero front crossmember fits the Ford frame without being cut or even disassembled. The piece of pipe across the front was welded in place before the stock front crossmember was removed and was later removed to allow the front bumper to be used.

The frame sits on the original Fiero mounting pads but the hole at the front was right on the outer edge. A new muont with wider bolt spacing was welded to the original mount at an angle to align with the frame. You can see the two new bolts on the lower right side rail.

The front cross member has two holes directly on the centerline of the spindles. The right side shows it. It's the tallest part of the spring towers. Put a straight piece of rod through these holes or tie a string across to align it with a square to a line you scribed across the frame rails before removing the old axle. With this aligned lower the frame onto the lower mounts. Measure from the right front corner of the frame to a point on the left shock tower and left to right to be sure it's centered.The upper mounts are made from 2 inch angle plate with two gussets at the top and two on the bottom. These are now bolted to the shock towers first then welded to the top of the frame rail. After this is welded you can drill the holes through the bottom mounts and bolt that in place.

The next step is to add the pivot point for the trailing edge of the lower A arm. This consists of two 3/16 plates per side These are notched to fit the the frame and weld along the side and bottom of the frame rail. I added a piece across the outside to box these mounts. This is the only part that will have to be made for a specific frame. I only have the dimensions for the35 to 40 Ford frames. But I have one of each Ford frame between 29 and 48 except for 32. These are bolted on to the A arm first before welding to the frame.

The shock mounts weren't installed when this picture was taken because I wanted to change the shocks for to the single bolt type. I had a pair of NORS shocks for a 49 to 54 Pontiac that fit right. A piece of angle plate was welded to top of the rear mount at a compound angle and gusseted.Then the Fiero unit is removed (10 bolts) to finish welding whatever couldn't be reached with it in place.

If you read this far you can see how much easier it is to install than the typical Mustang/Pinto IFS.(Or your totally confused) Besides the rack and pinion steering and disc brakes you also get the advantage of five lug wheels without buying custom rotors or wheel adaptors. This setup could make the Mustang/Pinto IFS as obsolete as the Corvair setup.Anybody remember them?

I have an extra set of mounts available if one of you guys want to be a pioneer in hot rodding. $50. Less than half the price of a Mustang/Pinto kit. I can make a universal kit where you notch your own rear mounts or when the snow melts I can fit one to a different frame.

AL