1953-1956 Ford F-100 Pickup Crossmember Kit Installation Instructions

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 frame rails should be flattened and made straight and true. The frame rail 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 and tack welded in place. 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 19-3/4” 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.
6. Trial fit the new crossmember up into the rails centering it on the scribed spindle centerline. See figure 4. If it does not quite fit into the frame, slightly grind the upright ends of the crossmember until you can get it into place. Make sure that the crossmember is fully seated on the underside of the frame. Tack weld in place, double check the location and weld in place, welding all around both ends, top, sides, and the underside of the bottom of the frame.
7. Next are the spring towers. They sit on top of the frame rails. They are prefitted for your frame and are located as shown in Figure 5. They are 1-3/4” forward from the front of the crossmember, measuring as shown in Figure 5. The high side of the spring tower goes towards the front end of the frame. Clamp in place, double check your dimensions, and weld all around, including the gusset flanges on the sides of the rails. For added strength, you can also weld the inside of the gusset flanges.
If you are using stock components, you will need to install strut rod brackets, purchased separately, part no. MP-003. Continue on to Step
8. If not, then you are finished and proceed on to the assembly and alignment of your suspension.

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