trakrodstr
New Member
Today I joined this C Body Forum to get at a specific question. Has anyone reading this post ever heard of swapping the C body front subframe to a 1950s Mopar? In this case to a 1956 New Yorker chassis. The nominal track width for the 1956 chassis is about two inches narrower than a C body front track width.
Yes I know there are hundreds of aftermarket IFS kits that range from inexpensive (Mustang II) to big bucks systems (eg, Roadster Shop, 3D computer scanned system at $25K).
I am frustrated by the lack of modern steering options/upgrades for the 50s Mopar kingpin system. I’ve tried both the vintage manual steering box and the sloppy coaxial “full time” power steering box on my car; the latter being a poor system from the start (sorry this PS system was not Mother Mopar’s finest idea).
Essentially, I want to keep the chassis in the Mopar family with a torsion bar suspension; but with access to upgraded steering gearbox options and ball joints instead of kingpins.
I realize this is a weird swap idea, but I just don’t want a modern A-arm coil over front suspension, I”m not even particularly interested in disk brakes, just a torsion bar/ball joint front suspension with improved steering capabilities.
The 1956 New Yorker frame is massive, and more narrow than a C body front subframe. So I understand major surgery will be required.
When I called some of the nationally well-regarded Mopar restoration/fabrications shops about this idea — I get no useful response. None of the shops were interested. They just want to install an expensive generic “hot rod” independent front suspension kit. Interestingly several of the shop managers emphasized that, whatever I did, I should NOT consider using a front suspension based on the Mustang II “tubular” A-arm system.
Any thoughts or information about the feasibility of this idea?
Yes I know there are hundreds of aftermarket IFS kits that range from inexpensive (Mustang II) to big bucks systems (eg, Roadster Shop, 3D computer scanned system at $25K).
I am frustrated by the lack of modern steering options/upgrades for the 50s Mopar kingpin system. I’ve tried both the vintage manual steering box and the sloppy coaxial “full time” power steering box on my car; the latter being a poor system from the start (sorry this PS system was not Mother Mopar’s finest idea).
Essentially, I want to keep the chassis in the Mopar family with a torsion bar suspension; but with access to upgraded steering gearbox options and ball joints instead of kingpins.
I realize this is a weird swap idea, but I just don’t want a modern A-arm coil over front suspension, I”m not even particularly interested in disk brakes, just a torsion bar/ball joint front suspension with improved steering capabilities.
The 1956 New Yorker frame is massive, and more narrow than a C body front subframe. So I understand major surgery will be required.
When I called some of the nationally well-regarded Mopar restoration/fabrications shops about this idea — I get no useful response. None of the shops were interested. They just want to install an expensive generic “hot rod” independent front suspension kit. Interestingly several of the shop managers emphasized that, whatever I did, I should NOT consider using a front suspension based on the Mustang II “tubular” A-arm system.
Any thoughts or information about the feasibility of this idea?