The Nuclear Banana...... Redux!!! Even "MORE" progress pics....

I am really fascinated with your idea. I 'd love to do a strut front but couldn't figure out how to tie it into the factory frame. I'll have to study what you have done! I guess you can always get lowering spindles and shorter springs if the ride heigth isn't smack on.

Do you think this would work?

Either one of those would work. The 2nd one is "similar" to what I'm doing, but a little different. Today I picked up my brakes, struts, & spindles. The rest will be here Tuesday of next week. After that, it's gonna get busy here.








Doug...

Good work and keep us posted.

AJE makes an F150 strut front end.

http://www.nloc.net/vbforum/faq-section-gen-1-trucks-check-here-first/203273-aje.html

http://www.nloc.net/vbforum/gen-1-lightnings/203312-strut-frt-ends.html

Good install pics here from Copperhead:
http://www.nloc.net/photopost/showgallery.php?cat=2007

I would've loved to do that swap. But unfortunatley, Keith (Copperhead) told me how much that set-up costs. Mine's gonna take more work, but it'll be a little lighter by the time I get the lightweight brakes and struts installed. If our calculations are correct, the truck "should" be less than 3000# with me in it this year. And, I'm in this set-up a 1/3 of the cost. Besides, it's cool to be just a little different.







Doug...

Gotcha. I haven't priced those AJE front ends, but wanted you and jones to know they were out there if you didn't already know.

Not a problem. Those are definitely a nice set-up for sure. Just a little out of my price range.








Doug...

Ya, I have been told that for the complete setup your going to be looking at $3,000

Yyyyep! That's the one.






Doug...

ooowie.

jones wrote:Ya, I have been told that for the complete setup your going to be looking at $3,000

You won't get them for anywhere close to that price anymore.

I gave 3k for mine, but I found a brand new Chrome-Moly one (mocked-up only) up in Indy. Guy decided to go with a full tube chassis.

If you don't get in on some type of a group buy with AJE, you can expept to pay up to 4500 (including the shipping) if you opt for the Moly over Mild steel, like this guy.
http://www.nloc.net/vbforum/gen-1-lightnings/205134-its-here.html

The kits are made-to-order and take a long, long time to get.


BTW Doug, your's is looking good. Keep up the good work and be sure to post plenty of pics.

OK guys, I was finally able to get something done on the truck today. Yesterday, I recieved the last of my frontend parts, so I thought I'd dive into it this afternoon. I got the tubular K-Member mounted in place, ride height set, & also got my strut mounts mocked up with some 22 ga. sheetmetal, so now I can use them as a template to get the steel ones made. Here's a couple pics:




I'll post some more as I get it done. Hopefully, I can get the strut mounts done this weekend. Then the rest is cake.




Doug...

Looking good Doug sorry i wasnt able to make the trip up looks like you are getting it done. That thing is going to fly.

Good progress Doug!!

It sure "looks" a bunch lighter!! Wow, look at all the room your going to have!!

Bill

It's a little lighter Bill. Light enough that I can grab the front crossmember and lift the front of the truck off the jack stands, and pivot it on the rear tires.






Doug...

ThndrChkn wrote:It's a little lighter Bill. Light enough that I can grab the front crossmember and lift the front of the truck off the jack stands, and pivot it on the rear tires.






Doug...

WELL that mite not mean much seeing how you are a Champion Dead lifter

That looks awsome, I can't wait to see what it looks like with the wheels a sheetmetal on. It looks like the springs are extra long, what length and weight?

The springs have no compression on them right now. I need to get the top plates finished 1st, so I can get it buttoned up. The springs are a 14"x175# spring rate. If all of my figures are right, this is going to put me really close as a starting point. Hopefully I'll have it done by the end of this month. That's my goal anyway, but we all know how that is, huh?












Doug...

Don't forget that any positive/negative caster angle numbers taken directly off any Fox design strut cartridge body it's self (or the outer threaded spring seat adjuster) are going to be "off" just a little & not be the actual "true" caster numbers since Fox body struts bolt to the spindle foward of dead center. The "true" caster angle is always going to be the imaginary pivot centerline drawn through the top strut mounting point/bushing & running down through the bottom ball joint.

Roger that, I was thinking about that yesterday while mocking it up. Thanks Dave, for the reminder.






Doug...

You might need to fab a brace to connect the top of the stuts together...................mine had a good bit of flex even with all the bracing I had. If you could tie them together with the front motorplate that would work also, but I'd still check it and add one if still needed.

Duely noted Jon. I drew up a couple designs a few days ago. Just gonna wait til the strut mounts are done, and see which looks better.









Doug...

looks really good Doug! I like your new idea with the fox body set up. I run fox struts on the 65 Fairlane.

Well, not much new on the truck this week. (So far anyway) But if things go right, I'll have all 4's on the ground by Monday of next week.

I'll keep y'all posted.








Doug...