Thread: 1970 F100 SWB CVPI IFS/TBird IRS build

I don't have any pictures of the truck before I started. This is as close as I have. Here is my truck after "defarming" her and a few mods. Off came the big truck mirrors, step bumper and receiver hitch. In the shot as all blue the front coils were heated to lower the nose a bit. Yep messed up the camber but wasn't driving it much so didn't matter. I wanted to see the stance. I am hoping to keep that rake when the suspension and tires are done. Currently sports a 302/auto with plans for a 460/auto next year. I opted for a '67 grille, the '70 grille was in very bad shape & I prefer the '67 grille for this series truck. Other changes include tilt steering, power tinted windows (out of a 1990 F150), shaved handles, peep mirrors. I have replacement fenders at this time that will get installed soon.



When I bought the truck I had planned on doing front and rear suspenion swaps. I knew I was going IRS. I was originally thinking a MII IFS kit with a Jaguar XKE type rear suspension. I started doing some homework & came across a couple very interesting swaps. The first was using a '03-'11 Crown Victoria IFS. For a front suspension swap I believe it to be the easiest out there. It is also inexpensive when compared to other options.

The other swap I found was the IRS. Ford put IRS units (MN12) under '89-'97 Thunderbirds and a few other models. This as with the IFS is a totally contained single unit. Again an inexpensive option to what I wanted. The final icing on the cake for me was they are both from Ford going under a Ford truck. I have a complete step by step of the MN12 install here & at this time am planning on doing the same for the CV IFS.

This thread will walk through our project just brushing the points of suspension swaps. The detailed information concerning the suspensions can be found in the HowTo articles. One day going through Craigslist ads I found a guy parting out a '95 Thunderbird. Gave him a call and I picked up the complete IRS along with 4 wheels and a pwr rack unit for $125. Another day while rummaging around in Craigslist I came across an ad for Crown Victoria Police Cars being parted out. A couple phone calls later with a $250 change of hands I was on my way home with the complete IFS. Gotta just love Craigslist.

I decided to do the IFS first. Here are a few pics from the process. Out with the old suspension.





Getting the IFS lined up staged to put under the truck.




A few pics of the truck sitting outside. We still have the original CVPI springs in the truck at this point.




The blue pickup belonged to a friend of mine and is an all stock 2WD '68. I took these pics to get an idea of how the IFS swap affected our truck.




I had built fender scoops into the replacement fenders and here is a pic of the truck with stock springs both front & rear along with the fender scoops.

I went ahead and ordered a set of 1 1/2" drop springs from Eaton Detroit. Here is our truck with the same '68 from before with the drop springs installed.




At this point we had a 7 1/2" rake in the truck. I took 2 leaves out of each side to drop the rear down a bit until the rear suspension swap. The tail came down 3". You will also notice the wiper holes are gone.




I pulled the front bumper for a couple mods. I am also contemplating swapping out the hood badges for the pair shown here. These are pitted but wanted to try them before putting out $175 for a set of new ones. I also have a pic in this group showing what the IFS looks like behind the bumper.






Hood badges swapped out and the bumper back on. The plate recess has been deleted along with setting up the bumper for blind mounting. I have more mods planned for the bumper in the future. The distortion in the pics are just the difference between chrome and the areas where the chrome was ground off.

Can we say "spare parts"?


Rear swap well under way. Here the truck is sitting on the ground on it's own new suspension.






Bed back on.


Here she is sitting outside driveable again.




A few pics from a local cruise in with a friend of mine's all stock '68 LWB 2WD. He has my old wheels on his truck now.

A few more pics from the cruise in.








A few pics for scale. I am 5'11" tall.






These arrived yesterday. All the factory pieces to put the 460 in the truck. They will need modified to work with the CV crossmember but if I am able to use these pieces I will be using stock motor mounts that can be bought at any parts store.

Hold

Hold

Are you not planning on having windshield wipers?

No wipers. Might as well think of it as a motorcycle. It hauls as much weight as a motorcycle also. When I envisioned the truck finished the wipers were in the way so they had to go I have more mods to come. I want to sink the tail lights 1", build rectangular driving lights into the front bumper, narrow the bumper to tighten it up to the body along with moving it back a bit to tighten it up that way as well. The slightly humped section of the hood is being raised 3/4" to give it a very subtle cowl induction hood that if I get it right will look like it came from Ford that way. I am replacing the instrument cluster with one from a '65/'66 Custom Cab. It will require blending the two dash's together as the cluster is not a bolt in for my truck.

Rolled pan out back with the plate set off to the right side. You can buy centered plate and no plate. If you want the plate on either side you have to build it. The handle on the tailgate is being moved to the inside & I am contemplating moving the center section of it outward flush with the slightly recessed area around the tail lights. I am playing with the idea of chopping the top and a frenched antenna into the passenger side of the cab right behind the upper portion of the door.

If I do chop it I am thinking about shaving the drip rail and moving the front of the roof back even with the windshield frame. As it sits now the roof slightly overhangs the windshield. I don't remember what Chevrolet they were on but something had a roof scoop that faced backwards. I might incorporate that scoop into the roof if chopped as well.

A couple night pics.


My wife and a friend of ours, Brandy.

Pics of the dash. Here it is as purchased.


This is the plan for this area. The 2 idiot lights changed over to green and utilized as turn signal indicators. The PRNDL changed out for a correct display for the C6. The 2 switch wells painted to match the dash in the current blue areas. The left side will house from left to right ignition switch, headlight switch, emergency flashers. The right side will house HVAC controls. That is all the switches that will be in the dash. The speedo head will be modified to house 4 gauges.


This shot is of the left "wing". They are staying. I will cut them off where the door opens and attach the pieces cut off onto the inside of the doors.


The right "wing"


The glovebox door will be welded in along with the ashtray. The holes for the radio, clock & HVAC controls will be closed up. The hole in the top for the speaker will be closed up. I will create speaker mounts in each end of the top of the dash. One of the things I really like about this particular dash other that appearance is the defroster vent. It is all along the windshield. The trim piece that goes at the base of the windshield hides it letting air escape at the base of the windshield. I am also planning a long thin slit added to the bottom of the dash that will be utilized for HVAC vent instead of traditional louvers.