I am currently working on a '53 Ford F-100 pickup truck. I am going to use a '79 Ford 302 engine. I am thinking of putting a Mustang II IFS unit onto the truck. Most likely I will use a unit from TCI or Heidt's. My question is, do these IFS units have places to mount my engine on them, or do I have to buy other parts and attach them to the IFS? I never see such an item in the photographs and was just curious.
Brian Strube
Via email
Brian,
Most IFS conversions do not include engine mounts as part of the crossmember kit, but nearly every company that offers these types of conversions also carry a multitude of engine mounting brackets and mounts as well. I assume since people use a myriad of engine/transmission combos in their projects, it's much easier for the manufacturer to offer engine bracket/mounting kits for specific usages individually. Give your manufacturer(s) of choice a call, order a catalog, and check the index for engine mounts. You could also check out any number of the advertisers in this issue. You'll more than likely find quite a few that offer engine mounts and brackets (and transmission mounts and crossmembers, as well).
RIZ
No Limit Engineering advertises in your magazine and has an 888 number that is not accessible from Canada. Their website does not show any way of contacting them. Do they have a phone number that we can contact them by?
Bruce Adams
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Bruce,
If an American toll-free 888 area code won't work in Canada you can get a hold of the crew at No Limit on their tech line at 909-386-7637, or you can check out their website at www.nolimit.net and do your shopping online!
RIZ
My name is Floyd Groves and I live in Lakeland, Tennessee, which is a suburb of Memphis. I have a '92 Chevy pickup 1/2-ton, two-wheel-drive 5.7L with 700-R4. This has been my daily driver since 1994 and now has 198,000 miles. I would like to give the truck to my grandson, but his mother won't let him have it unless it has airbags. Does anyone make a kit to install airbags? Or is it possible to find a later model donor pickup that has airbags and transplant the dash, steering column, etc.? I have a '47 Chevy pickup that is sitting on an '84 S-10 chassis set up for the strip, an original '55 Chevy pickup (based on the Sept '09 issue of CT, maybe now is the time to put in an LS?), and a '47 flat-fendered Jeep with a stainless steel body (400/400). As I have built/restored all of these I don't think doing the mechanical part of the transplant will be a problem, but I would like to get started on the right foot, or maybe understand why it can't (shouldn't?) be done. CT is the greatest, keep up the good work.
Thanks, Floyd
Via email
Hello Floyd,
Mom's can sometimes be a bit over-protective to say the least, but in my opinion I'd think about staying away from a transplant of this type . . . that is unless you're an automotive engineer with experience working with active restraint systems. The last thing in the world you'd need is for a transplanted system to go haywire and fire off a bag while your grandson's driving down the road (very unlikely, but a possibility). If it were me, I might investigate (and then educate Mom) on some of the professional passive restraint systems on the market. I'm talking about full-on four-point racing harnesses as used in stock car, drag racing, and land speed record racing. I think they may well be the way to go-you'd think if airbags were safer than full harnesses they'd be using 'em in professional motorsports-just my opinion mind you. Check out www.crowenterprises.com for some professional safety gear, and then talk to Mom about it-I think it'd be easier, less expensive, and safer than messing with donor vehicle bags. Hope this helps.
RIZ