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Anybody know what type of suspension there would be on a stock 1948-1950 Ford pickup? I found one pretty cheap, just cab and chassis and thought it would make a pretty neat old school first project to leave it cab only on the frame. I just wondered if any of the original suspension would "look the part" without fenders over it?
Thanks,
CHAZ
A 50 Ford pickup has two fore-and-aft springs and an I-beam axle. The trouble with this setup when doing away with the fenders is the fact that the axle is just about centered under the engine, giving an awkward, front-heavy look. Just opinion, perhaps, but fenderless rods look best with the axle out front of the engine, with nothing further ahead of it, so cross springs or coilovers work best. Since you don't have the front suspension anyway, why not go for a Deuce-type setup?
Yeah, R Pope is right about the parellel springs not quite looking right on a fenderless car usually. I have seen a couple of rods in the past, and in fact one posted on here by a member that actually looked pretty good, but they had to position the grille shell back near the axle centerline to get it to look ok.
Just fab up a T bucket style front crossmember and hang a traditional cross spring front end on it as he suggested and that would look good.
Don
What is your opinion on using the suspension pieces on a custom frame? I was thinking about having a frame built with a severe kickup in the rear, and having the front axle dropped? Is it possible to move the front suspension out front far enough to look good?
Thanks,
CHAZ
Well, opinions are like belly buttons.........we al have them and they are all different. Personally, I think this sort of setup doesn't look as clean as the traditional single cross spring set up, mainly because it positions the front frame horns out in front of the axle by a distance of maybe 18 inches or more, so it gives you a lot of metal sticking out in front of the grille and axle.
However, there are some advantages, i.e: no need for radius rods, bump steer shouldn't be as big of an issue, the springs do all the locating of the axle, and it might even ride better. As I mentioned above, I have seen several rods over the years, some in magazines and one on this forum, that looked pretty good, so it can be done
Build it the way you feel is the best. After all, if the rod world were only made up of Porche Red '32 Fords with 350/350 combos and the very same suspension setups, it would be pretty darned boring. The uniqueness of each car and the little details each builder brings to the table is what makes this hobby fun and interesting. I think it would actually be easier to mount this sort of setup vs the single spring for the reasons mentioned above.
Don
PS: I just reread your title, and see that you are talking about a '50 Ford pickup? If that is the case (I thought you were asking about a fenderless car) you would only be limited by the room you have from axle centerline to front fender forward edges.
I am doing it fenderless, just using the '50 pickup for suspension and cab. This will be my first build and I am trying to keep it as simple (and cheap incase I abandon it) as possible. I want a "rat rod" for lack of a better term. Just frame, cab and maybe bed sides maybe not. I have seen several examples of this and I think they look cool. I think I have found a good cab and chassis close to home so I am close to "pulling the trigger."
CHAZ
Bought a truck, get it next week.
I found a few examples of paralel front ends, but I can't post pics right now for some reason.
CHAZ