Thread: 1951 Chevy Deluxe Build

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Welcome. From what I have seen, putting a later suspension in one of these, like the MMII type, is the way to go. The early Chevy front suspension can be rebuilt and updated somewhat, but they still have those kingpins to deal with that require periodic greasing and attention, plus you are still riding around on 60 year old technology. Modern suspension and some radials will make this car handle and ride so much better. Probably will make slipping in a V8 a lot easier too as the crossmembers tend to be more compact on the MMII types.

Keep us posted and put up lots of pictures. It will help anyone else who might be thinking about doing a similar swap in the future. BTW, don't toss out the old spindles and brakes. Put them on EBAY, individually, and you will get some good money for them. 49-54 spindles are hard to come by as are the brake setups, and lots of straight axle guys use an axle with the Chevy ends on them.

Don

Welcome.............will be a fun build being that it will be with your dad. Projects are fun and frustrating but with family things seem to work out better.
Pics will be required as it gets done...lol........
Try Fatman as well for a front end or even google 51 chevy chassis and I'm sure you will find more places to look.

Welcome to the forum. We love photos, so keep our curiosity in check by posting updates. '49-'52 Chevys are cool!!

Rebuild the stock front end with dropped uprights, and disc brake conversion. Leave the econobox crap under the Pinto's!

Have you seen the article in Street Rodder Magazine?? They have been running a multi-issue article, "Project '51 for $15,000". The January 2011 issue is "Front End Fun", Part 3 Chassis Engineering Frontend Upgrade. Sounds like something you might want to peruse in your leisure time....

Originally Posted by R Pope

Rebuild the stock front end with dropped uprights, and disc brake conversion. Leave the econobox crap under the Pinto's!

I don't believe anyone suggested bolting on Pinto parts!!! They belong in the junkyard, however DOM tubing for A-Arms and forged spindles are hardly econobox crap!!!

Call it whatever you want, it was still designed to carry a little fourbanger in a 2000 pound econobox back in the '60's. Might be okay to roll on and off a trailer. It won't stand up under a 3500 pound car with a V8, if you are actually going to drive it in the real world. The original front end works well, and did so under Corvettes up until '63. Sure, if you chuck enough cash at aftermarket parts it can be made to work, but the stock Chevy stuff is already there and working.
By the way, did you ever drive a MII? Worst piece of crap on the American road!

Originally Posted by R Pope

By the way, did you ever drive a MII? Worst piece of crap on the American road!

I've sold and installed front suspension systems for better then 25 years now--none of them had stamped steel arms and floppy rubber joints like the OEM parts... The only thing that is MII is some of the geometry, and little of that! The quality units have little if any bump steer issues, anti-dive angle that keeps the front up under braking, and excellent adjustability on camber and caster static settings and gain settings. The MII nomenclature is nothing more then a name...kind of like everyone calling filler "bondo". The only thing MII on the quality units these days is the spindle, and the quality one's are forged spindles vs. the cast OEM units...

I've owned numerous Mustangs in the '79 to '05 range. None of them were world class handling when stock, but with some tweaking and parts changes they'll do an admirable job.... and yes, it talkes money to do this.... I work hard for my money and spend the majority of it on cars...I just like quality, I guess.