Front End Upgrade??
4th Gear Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,407
From: New Mexico
RE: Front End Upgrade??
ORIGINAL: Rorin67
+1
Except for the Flaming River R&P - I, and several others here, would not recommend it at all. [:@] The FR steering box, however, is another question. [&:]
ORIGINAL: gothand
This is my opinion only, but I think the Mustang II front was a novel idea back in the day, but with all the other options out there now, I wouldn't touch it! You basically have to hack up your classic to put it in. If you're hellbent on rack and pinion, I'd stick a Flaming River or Unisteer, et al and upgrade the stock suspension to a Global West, etc. You'll get the best of the modern stuff without hacking up your ride.
This is my opinion only, but I think the Mustang II front was a novel idea back in the day, but with all the other options out there now, I wouldn't touch it! You basically have to hack up your classic to put it in. If you're hellbent on rack and pinion, I'd stick a Flaming River or Unisteer, et al and upgrade the stock suspension to a Global West, etc. You'll get the best of the modern stuff without hacking up your ride.
Except for the Flaming River R&P - I, and several others here, would not recommend it at all. [:@] The FR steering box, however, is another question. [&:]
5th Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,287
From: North Fulton, GA
RE: Front End Upgrade??
ORIGINAL: Rorin67
+1
Except for the Flaming River R&P - I, and several others here, would not recommend it at all. [:@] The FR steering box, however, is another question. [&:]
+1
Except for the Flaming River R&P - I, and several others here, would not recommend it at all. [:@] The FR steering box, however, is another question. [&:]
Heck, I'm fine with the stock steering. The input valve (or whatever they call it on this steering system which controls the amount of input feet to get the power steering to work) could be toned down a bit, but other than that ... it sure beats the close ratio manual steering that came factory with my '65 GT. That thingbuilt up your forearms like a lonely sailor at sea. [sm=smiley36.gif]
6th Gear Member
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,635
From: state of confusion
RE: Front End Upgrade??
ORIGINAL: MrMischief
was lookin into redoing my front suspension on my '65coupe,restomod style...hehehe. i like the coilover bolt-in upgrade, but i ALSO like the weld in mustang 2 front end. i dont really plan on autocrossing and whatnot, but i do drive like a bat outta hell. so i want yall's opinions. no matter which one, i want to drop the front and rear about 1 inch, maybe more not sure yet. anyhoo, what do yall think? its a 65 coupe, 289, 3-speed stick (its goin bye bye soon enough
). Thanks.
Cory
was lookin into redoing my front suspension on my '65coupe,restomod style...hehehe. i like the coilover bolt-in upgrade, but i ALSO like the weld in mustang 2 front end. i dont really plan on autocrossing and whatnot, but i do drive like a bat outta hell. so i want yall's opinions. no matter which one, i want to drop the front and rear about 1 inch, maybe more not sure yet. anyhoo, what do yall think? its a 65 coupe, 289, 3-speed stick (its goin bye bye soon enough
). Thanks.Cory
Those Mustang II control arms are pretty short, which means that the geometry will vary more as the suspension moves. That's not necessarily a good thing. Stiffer than otherwise necessary springs is sort of a band-aid just to keep the geometry from going too far off.
Longer arms with the Mustang II spindles might be better, but only after spending some quality time with a 3-D suspension geometry program to get the chassis side pickups in the right places.
Norm
I ♥ Acer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 17,565
From:
RE: Front End Upgrade??
ORIGINAL: gothand
This is my opinion only, but I think the Mustang II front was a novel idea back in the day, but with all the other options out there now, I wouldn't touch it! You basically have to hack up your classic to put it in. If you're hellbent on rack and pinion, I'd stick a Flaming River or Unisteer, et al and upgrade the stock suspension to a Global West, etc. You'll get the best of the modern stuff without hacking up your ride.
I know Soaring will agree with me on this one!
This is my opinion only, but I think the Mustang II front was a novel idea back in the day, but with all the other options out there now, I wouldn't touch it! You basically have to hack up your classic to put it in. If you're hellbent on rack and pinion, I'd stick a Flaming River or Unisteer, et al and upgrade the stock suspension to a Global West, etc. You'll get the best of the modern stuff without hacking up your ride.
I know Soaring will agree with me on this one!
5th Gear Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 3,302
From: Northernish Eastish Central Texas
RE: Front End Upgrade??
In this case I agree with Soaring. All the aftermarket systems are overrated, overpriced, and overadvertised. How many people actually need a race car front end?
New OEM style components by a brand name like Moog, good shocks, 620 springs, Roller perches, roller Idler (I LOVE mine), a little larger front sway bar, and a rebuilt steering box. It's half the cost and just as good.
The only thing missing is the brag-factor
New OEM style components by a brand name like Moog, good shocks, 620 springs, Roller perches, roller Idler (I LOVE mine), a little larger front sway bar, and a rebuilt steering box. It's half the cost and just as good.
The only thing missing is the brag-factor
6th Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,162
From:
RE: Front End Upgrade??
soaring the link i posted up there is the only mustang 2 kit that wont weaken your front end but takes alot of welding and hacking. i love mine too much to cut up like that rather use a coil over kit atleast then its removable if i change my mind later on. james some of the vintage racing classes wont let you race if you have coilovers or a mustang 2 kit
5th Gear Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,287
From: North Fulton, GA
RE: Front End Upgrade??
ORIGINAL: JamesW
In this case I agree with Soaring. All the aftermarket systems are overrated, overpriced, and overadvertised. How many people actually need a race car front end?
New OEM style components by a brand name like Moog, good shocks, 620 springs, Roller perches, roller Idler (I LOVE mine), a little larger front sway bar, and a rebuilt steering box. It's half the cost and just as good.
The only thing missing is the brag-factor
In this case I agree with Soaring. All the aftermarket systems are overrated, overpriced, and overadvertised. How many people actually need a race car front end?
New OEM style components by a brand name like Moog, good shocks, 620 springs, Roller perches, roller Idler (I LOVE mine), a little larger front sway bar, and a rebuilt steering box. It's half the cost and just as good.
The only thing missing is the brag-factor
... I redid the fastback suspension. I went full Global West, including new upper and lower arms, Koni shocks, front swaybar (no rear needed with this kit), and yet to be installed monte carlo bar and subframe connectors.
Even without having it aligned, the monte carlo bar and the subframe connectors installed, the difference in handling between the fastback and the others is shocking. Whether that is worth the added price is a personal decision. I don't even have the foggiest idea what the kit cost back in '94 when I got it, so I guess it is worth it to me.
I can tell you that it handles like it is on rails with no understeer.The steering components are still factory PS.
FWIW, the suspension with shocksin my Jeep TJ pushes $3000(which is the norm for a performance suspension) and I have another $1500 in the steering, so the Global West seems like a bargain in comparison.
