Help identifying Front Suspension in my '57 3100 - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Dan87GT · 12-14-2014, 09:58 PM

Hello....new to the truck world!...I recently purchased a '57 3100....the previous owner had passed away and the family decided to sell the truck...so unfortunately I was passed no knowledge of it's history....

First question of many to come....

Any idea what front clip was grafted onto the frame?......it needs rebuilt badly....pictures below.....note....I have a master cylinder issues as well...

thank you!....Dan

mr48chev · 12-15-2014, 12:34 AM

It appears to be a rather crudely installed Plymouth Volarie front suspenson. It was the hot lick for independent suspension on the front ends of 53,54,55 & 56 F100 Fords in the late 70's and early 80's.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Plym...YGgDw#imgdii=_

**G&R's57GMC** · 12-15-2014, 01:33 AM

Yep its a Volare / Aspen / Diplomat / 5th Avenue . They made them from '77 to '89.

Wow they even bolted it in, usually they notch the frame and weld then in. The beauty of bolting in is is isolates the chassis from the road vibrations better.

Nice thing is the ride height is adjustable to a degree.

If you rebuild it use Moog parts for the best results.

Lets see some pic's of the engine and the rest of the truck.

Russell Ashley · 12-15-2014, 08:54 AM

If you read Classic Trucks magazine, surprisingly many of the Ford trucks featured still have that front suspension. I've had four Mopars with that suspension and never had any problems with it. It looks like the rubber mounts are cracked and need replacing but other than that, if it's installed well I don't think I would go to the trouble to remove it and install something else.

Dan87GT · 12-15-2014, 09:06 AM

Thank you!.....I had no idea!......I appreciate the fast response!....It makes sense...It's feels like it is a 80's resto....are there any good aftermarket suspension rebuild kits for the Volarie/Aspen/etc suspension?....or just rebuild as stock....

thanks again...!...Dan

Russell Ashley · 12-15-2014, 09:24 AM

Volare, Aspen, and Diplomat police cars and taxi's had that same suspension so there might be some heavier duty parts available. I don't know as I never did any work on any of mine. The only problem I ever ran into was finding someone who knew how to align them properly. Fortunately they don't need alignment much when you get them right. I put 201K miles on a 76 Aspen station wagon and it never needed to be aligned.

That's a great looking truck you have.

Highsider · 12-15-2014, 09:39 AM

Cool truck! I have a thing for any '57.

I had never heard of those front ends being used.
Mine was a "80s" restore/mod and mine got actual MII front end parts.

G&R's: they even bolted it in, usually they notch the frame and weld then in. The beauty of bolting in is is isolates the chassis from the road vibrations better
Very interesting feature of that method.

I learned a couple of things today.

12-14-2014, 09:58 PM	#1
Dan87GT Registered User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 22	Help identifying Front Suspension in my '57 3100 Hello....new to the truck world!...I recently purchased a '57 3100....the previous owner had passed away and the family decided to sell the truck...so unfortunately I was passed no knowledge of it's history.... First question of many to come.... Any idea what front clip was grafted onto the frame?......it needs rebuilt badly....pictures below.....note....I have a master cylinder issues as well... thank you!....Dan

12-15-2014, 12:34 AM	#2
mr48chev Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Toppenish, WA Posts: 15,306	Re: Help identifying Front Suspension in my '57 3100 It appears to be a rather crudely installed Plymouth Volarie front suspenson. It was the hot lick for independent suspension on the front ends of 53,54,55 & 56 F100 Fords in the late 70's and early 80's. https://www.google.com/search?q=Plym...YGgDw#imgdii=_ __________________ Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around.

12-15-2014, 01:33 AM	#3
G&R's57GMC Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Shasta Lake, CA. Posts: 1,619	Re: Help identifying Front Suspension in my '57 3100 Yep its a Volare / Aspen / Diplomat / 5th Avenue . They made them from '77 to '89. Wow they even bolted it in, usually they notch the frame and weld then in. The beauty of bolting in is is isolates the chassis from the road vibrations better. Nice thing is the ride height is adjustable to a degree. If you rebuild it use Moog parts for the best results. Lets see some pic's of the engine and the rest of the truck. __________________ Glen & Jane's Rides ‘57 GMC NAPCO Long Bed V8 4 speed Bought 2008 7 other cars & trucks , 5 trailers '56 Chevy Long Bed I6, 4 speed Bought 1990 Sold 8.22.2020 ’56 GMC Suburban Pickup V8, 4 speed Hydramatic Bought 1996 Sold 10.11.2020 My Other Tinkerings http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...75#post8967275

12-15-2014, 08:54 AM	#4
Russell Ashley Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lawrenceville, Ga Posts: 2,640	Re: Help identifying Front Suspension in my '57 3100 If you read Classic Trucks magazine, surprisingly many of the Ford trucks featured still have that front suspension. I've had four Mopars with that suspension and never had any problems with it. It looks like the rubber mounts are cracked and need replacing but other than that, if it's installed well I don't think I would go to the trouble to remove it and install something else.

12-15-2014, 09:06 AM	#5
Dan87GT Registered User Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 22	Re: Help identifying Front Suspension in my '57 3100 Thank you!.....I had no idea!......I appreciate the fast response!....It makes sense...It's feels like it is a 80's resto....are there any good aftermarket suspension rebuild kits for the Volarie/Aspen/etc suspension?....or just rebuild as stock.... thanks again...!...Dan

12-15-2014, 09:24 AM	#6
Russell Ashley Registered User Join Date: May 2010 Location: Lawrenceville, Ga Posts: 2,640	Re: Help identifying Front Suspension in my '57 3100 Volare, Aspen, and Diplomat police cars and taxi's had that same suspension so there might be some heavier duty parts available. I don't know as I never did any work on any of mine. The only problem I ever ran into was finding someone who knew how to align them properly. Fortunately they don't need alignment much when you get them right. I put 201K miles on a 76 Aspen station wagon and it never needed to be aligned. That's a great looking truck you have.

12-15-2014, 09:39 AM	#7
Highsider Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Southern Iowa Posts: 944	Re: Help identifying Front Suspension in my '57 3100 Cool truck! I have a thing for any '57. I had never heard of those front ends being used. Mine was a "80s" restore/mod and mine got actual MII front end parts. G&R's: they even bolted it in, usually they notch the frame and weld then in. The beauty of bolting in is is isolates the chassis from the road vibrations better Very interesting feature of that method. I learned a couple of things today. __________________ Jimi J from I-Oh-Way '57 Panel 3105 Met this deer... Roof Swap on my Panel Jim's Bread Truck Last edited by Highsider; 12-15-2014 at 09:46 AM.



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