[nev68]

Hi All,
Starting my research on converting our 56 pickup from LH to Rh drive.

I have looked at a few kits from the US, considered a HQ/HJ Holden front end graft,and looked at HT Holden front end/

US kits look nice but not sure on engineering approval on some.

Sort of gone off the HQ graft as I want to keep the chassis pretty close to original

HT holden front end track width is too narrow

Jag IFS (XJ6 model) looks like the right width, has disc brakes, Chevy/HQ 5 stud pattern, power rack and I think spares should be readily available. Overall it appears to be the way to go for me.

Anyone used a Jag IFS front end for a steering conversion?

Any advice / feedback appreciated.

 

[nomadawhat]

Nev
Good choice. In Vic they want you to keep as least two original crossmembers for the authorities to still regard it as an original chassis. Not sure about SA, but pretty sre you should be able to keep the original front crossmember and add on the Jag suspension - all you should have to do is work out your ride height and make up some shocker mounts. All the suspension geometry/braking/steering will remain the same so you should not have any rego problems. And the price on them has never been better.

Cannot recall any 55-57 pick ups here with the Jag front but a guy near here has done several to mid 50's F100' s and he says its a breeze.

Check out the Ozrodders.com forum. There has been lots of discussion on there about which series is better, and also lots of pics on there showing how they did it to various vehicles. Probably need to look in the "construction" area and you will need to register to get into that area.

Now all you have to do is decide on a rear end.

Cheers, Des

 

[nev68]

Thanks Des.
I found a series 2 XJ6 front end today about 60 Km's from me.
I hope to pick it up next weekend(all going well)

Pickup already has a Dana 44 rear end so I will probably stay with that.
I will have to change stud pattern as it is 6 stud and I want to go for common GM 5 stud pattern, 5 x 4.75"

 

[nomadawhat]

Nev
There is lots of good advice on Ozrodders re these front ends, and lots of debate about welding them in Vs bolting in using the original rubber mounts. Lots of good advice there from "oldcol" (Colin Bates) and he was probably the one who pioneered these front ends in cars when he did a 39 coupe about 30 yeras ago. he has one thread going on re his business 38 years of Custom Auto Chassis Design - lots of reading in there, and if I were to pick anyone's brain about this front end, it would be Col's.
Good luck with the build.

Des

 

[nev68]

Thanks Des,
I have had a look at Ozrodders.
Tons of information there, so I am sure I will chew up lots of hours.

 

[nev68]

Step 1. locate and purchase Jag front end.

Needs a bit of work, but it's a start.

 

[gudgyz]

I have a mate here in NZ that has fitted jags to a heap of cars and pickups including his own 56f100
If you want his email PM me and I will forward it.
Cheers
Kevin

 

[nev68]

I have a mate here in NZ that has fitted jags to a heap of cars and pickups including his own 56f100
If you want his email PM me and I will forward it.
Cheers
Kevin

Thanks for the offer.

 

[AUSSIE55]

G'Day Nev,
When i bought my 55 it had a jag front end,i did a hq graft,i have a heap of photo's,i will try to put some on here,to give you some idea,it was bolted on.The engine mounts are for ls1 and it had air bags,i think you just need to make a mount for your shocks,alot of the standard front suspension and metal is removed to fit this,it was done by TJ customs at camden,he does alot of work on Mario callilo's cars,WILDCAD.

Nathan

http://www.trifive.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=70238&stc=1&d=1360758344

http://www.trifive.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=70238&stc=1&d=1360758344

http://www.trifive.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=70238&stc=1&d=1360758344

 

[nev68]

Thanks.
Yours is a 55 car, right?
Mine's a pickup.
The pick up chassis is extremely basic with leaf springs on all corners, so the Jag IFS gotta be an improvement.