1955-1959 Chevy Pick-Up Crossmember Kit Installation

Remember the basic rule for a successful installation:
1. Start your installation by supporting the truck on 4 jack stands. The truck should be sitting on the approximate angle that it does on the ground, or slightly lower in front.
2. Begin by removing all the stock suspension components from the frame. The front crossmember should be left in place.
3. Boxing the rails is next. The flange on the left rail should be flattened where the old steering box was mounted and made straight and true. The boxing plates are to stand square on the lower rail flange. The frame rail top edges should be ground straight so the boxing plates fit tight to the rail edges. Do not grind too much off the rails. The boxing plates are then clamped in place, with the front end of the plates against the back of the stock crossmember. Weld in short sections at a time in alternating locations to minimize warpage. It is also a good idea to clamp a bar across the rails to hold them in place during welding. Grind smooth when done. Figure 1.
4. Measure back 20-7/8” from the center of the front shackle hole in the frame and scribe a line around the rail. See Figure 2. This scribed line is the spindle centerline.
5. If you purchased a complete I.F.S. Package from HEIDTS, it was supplied with Full Lower A-Arms. Begin by installing the Spacers onto the crossmember. The holes where the lower control arms attach to the Crossmember must be enlarged to 5/8”. Mount the Crossmember Spacers and the Rear Spacers which were supplied with the Lower Control Arms onto the Crossmember as shown in Figure 3 using the supplied Inner Bushing Bolts, Nuts and a temporary spacer under the Nuts. DO NOT use the A-Arms for this operation as the welding heat will melt the rubber bushings. Tighten the Bolts and Nuts tight. Weld the Rear Spacers to the Crossmember all around. Weld the Crossmember Spacers as far as possible inside the crossmember on both ends. Position the Gussets horizontally, not vertically, against the Rear Spacers and the back of the Crossmember. Weld Gussets to Spacers and Crossmember. When it cools, remove the bolt.

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