When I put my daily-driver 56 F100 together about 9 years ago , I used a Volare type ifs. I modified and used the factory Chrysler u-joint that fit the steering box. This past weekend I decided it was time to change to a "store bought" joint so I ordered one from Speedway. I installed it this evening and the truck steers great! I never realized that the old set-up had some resistance . Lesson learned - no more "factory" joints on my builds.

 

Good to hear, have you any pics of your 56?

 

#ad

 

Pretty nice driver, what are you running for a drive train?

 

Actually the truck has had a fresh, flat red, rattle can repaint after this photo. It has a 500 Cadillac , 400TH transmission, volare ifs, and a 8 3/4 Chrysler rear with 2.76 gears. It had been in a barn for 16 years when I bought it in 2006. It was completely disassembled when I got it. I gave the original front axle , springs , steering , and rear axle to a buddy.

 

It must scoot real along with that 500 Caddy in it.

 

And here I'm just stuck with this little stock 351.

 

Tom, I love your truck, especially the magnesium wheels. Just do not see them anymore. You said Volarie IFS. Is this from a car?

 

I like those wheels too Paul. The Volarie front clip was quite popular at one time , yes a car.

 

I am guessing, but did you use the torsion bars?

 

I would imagine so Paul but Tom could say for sure.

 

I always hated working on those when I was working for a Chrysler-Plymouth dealer. You learn a lot of new words when that bar shatters inside of the adjuster. I just loved the idiots that would crank them up to the limit so they could put wider tires on the Volarie's/Aspen's instead of doing it the right way. Crank them up, hit a pothole, break the bar, make the fender look like a dirt tracker and then blame Chrysler for their f-up. Then the idiots with the Chargers/Road Runners, dropping them down and busting their oil pans. Quite a bit of Warranty claims DENIED!

 

Yes, his has torsion bars, they go across the front, not like old days, front to back.

I used the front suspension from a Chrysler Cordoba under my 56 pickup. worked well, for me, I liked the torsion bars.
I used the u-joint from the Mopar box to the column from speedway too
I also ended up using a lower pressure spring for the relief valve on the pump.
Chrysler steering IMHO is touchy, and the lower pressure gave it a "stiffer" feel

 

I loved watching fools with the front cross bars when I worked for Chrysler. They will "Hurt your Ass" in a bad way. I watched a guy flip a Cordoba off of a rack by removing the bolts in the wrong one thinking he had let the tension off, but wrong side. I kept the pressure springs in my box for owner's complaint of no feel in the steering wheel. They are a snap to change. The only problem I could never solve while working for Chrysler was that damn imaginary sponge they put on the brake pedal. I would drive those damn Mopars all day, jump in my LTD and pull my eyes off of the windshield at the first light. LOL