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Radius arm front??
- Thread starter SoCal'75
- Start date
Midwestern4x4Parts
1/2 ton status
I don't think you would like the results. The radius arms are short , cast and have seen many broken. A Standard 3 Link will outperform that any day. I would highly advise against it.I began that route with the S10. On a jeep or light rig it can work. Stock radius arms plain suck , and the money for new bling ones you may as well do real links. I have a local bud who runs em on his jeep. They work for him but he is light , and small. In the end the money isn't worth it to do it right.
years ago in i think peterson 4x4 mag thay had a sweet 67-72 longbed 2x4 converted to 4x4 via this method.
all 2x4 frt end stuff cone but coil buckets/pockets on frame rails. then 205 case from ford to fit chevy trans for diff to line up to tcase when done. and he made a custom cross member to hold the back of the radius arms and used lift coils for the ford. made a trac bar braket. then fliped the axle over the trailing arms in the back and used a block to level it out . when all done had 38" swampers under it.
so yep it has been done but i got the mag somewere in my vast pile of mags .
all 2x4 frt end stuff cone but coil buckets/pockets on frame rails. then 205 case from ford to fit chevy trans for diff to line up to tcase when done. and he made a custom cross member to hold the back of the radius arms and used lift coils for the ford. made a trac bar braket. then fliped the axle over the trailing arms in the back and used a block to level it out . when all done had 38" swampers under it.
so yep it has been done but i got the mag somewere in my vast pile of mags .
ya easy fix use aftermarket tube style and get the longer ones for more flex. and better angles and ride from length.
But it will still be a radius arm setup which is far, far from ideal.
If you're putting any money into this, build a 3 or 4 link or stick with leaves.
Midwestern4x4Parts
1/2 ton status
Exactly what I am saying. Polishing a Turd...
Not looking for a crawler. Just lookin to make the front ride alot nicer than leaf springs. It's just a camping/fishing/hunting truck. 1/2t shortbed 2wd now, and I want a 4x4. And I have a deal on a ford frame with a D44HP and coils/radius arms, I wanted to add that to my chevy.
-Lance
-Lance
Midwestern4x4Parts
1/2 ton status
Better check and see if it is cast wedges. Then if the bushings are bad it is more money ... etc etc. I looked into it. By the time I would have been done links were cheaper , and perform better.
Save your bank and buy a 4x4. With the resesion and gas prices going on, you should get what you want at a great price.
Desert Yeti
1/2 ton status
While I am certainly intrigued by the idea, it's rarely cost effective to convert a 2wd to 4wd in any way. Just save your pennies and buy a 4x4.
As for ride on the street, my constant wheeling buddy's rig is a 79 ford with the radius arms and it doesn't ride any better on the street than my nice flexy leaves. Now if you're running clapped-out negative arch stock springs, yeah the coils will be an improvement, but so would a new set of leaves for a lot less money.
He (the Ford guy) also destroys a set of radius arm bushings about once a year (even good aftermarket ones), so be prepared for that too.
As for a link setup (if you're intent on coils, it's the way to go!) if it's built correctly, it'll be GREAT on both street and trail. But not cheap.
As for ride on the street, my constant wheeling buddy's rig is a 79 ford with the radius arms and it doesn't ride any better on the street than my nice flexy leaves. Now if you're running clapped-out negative arch stock springs, yeah the coils will be an improvement, but so would a new set of leaves for a lot less money.
He (the Ford guy) also destroys a set of radius arm bushings about once a year (even good aftermarket ones), so be prepared for that too.
As for a link setup (if you're intent on coils, it's the way to go!) if it's built correctly, it'll be GREAT on both street and trail. But not cheap.
