Mustang II front end

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Hi, I am just getting into street rodding. I have a 30 Ford model A coupe ,there is a stock Mustang II front end with it, can the spindles be switched left to right to put the rack on the backside?(I have seen some 30/31 Fords with the rack on the back and calipers on the front. Thanks for the help!

[=mike=]

i think it would be easier and look ALOT nicer to just stuff a nice I-beam back in there and do it right . I have seen IFS on old timey cars and they look like crap unless they are on a full fendered car . even then they are sketchy looking , but whatever . I'm sure someone on here will be able to help you .


ALSO for what it's worth . . . " streetrod " = bad
"hotrod " = better . . .

[Mai Ki-Ki]

dave e - If your interested in street rodding and posting here it's probably time to run for the Bomb Shelter...

*FIRE IN THE HOLE!*

[38Chevy454]

I think you should do an intro and reconsider what you are asking about. In HAMB-land we like solid axles on Model A's. It is also part of the accepted protocol around here to do an intro and let people know about yourself a little before asking a question, especially one as misguided as yours.

Must II is OK on other cars, just not early Fords. Late 30's and later are good candidates for Must II. If you really like examples of the cars you see on the HAMB, and be willing to do some fab work, then stick around and soak up some of the good advice available on here.

(I removed the paragraph about rack location, I was confused and had wrong info)

[tomslik]

MII rack in the back!?!?!?
not in THIS world!!!
they be on the FRONT side of the crossmember.
put 'em on the back and see what direction ya turn when ya make a right hander.. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

btw, i absolutlty agree that t,a,dueces look goofy with ifs on the front..

[Grumpy]

dude, do an intro and get rid of the MII. I've got one on my roadster and its uglier than a bucket full of assholes. its scheduled for surgery in oct.(why tear it down now) http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I have to ride around in disguise from the shame! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[skipstitch]

Must be why you're Grumpy http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif So should we expect a name change after the surgery? http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif

[delaware george]

have one on my 29 rpu,but you have to run fenders in delaware.....down the road it's on the list to be changed....the rack is on the front...if your car is fendered the front pan that goes in between the front frame horns will cover the rack

[Grumpy]

Naw. skipstich, I was at the HAMB met at Columbus GG's. I was the one hiding behind it in shame! I have changed a ton of stuff since then, but the MII is still hangin out front.for now..

[skipstitch]

Ha ha...Grump!!! Hell, I wouldn't be ashamed!!! Unless your disguise is a Power Puff girl or Sponge Bob http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif We removed a MII out of a '32 chassis a few years ago. What an improvement!!!!

[metalshapes]

I know a guy that was telling one of his cusomers how perfect the M2 shock towers are for mounting headlights on, on a fenderless car. This guy has built some very nice 4Banger T Roadsters, and I could see he was struggling to keep a straight face.

[Scribe]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi, I am just getting into street rodding. I have a 30 Ford model A coupe ,there is a stock Mustang II front end with it, can the spindles be switched left to right to put the rack on the backside?(I have seen some 30/31 Fords with the rack on the back and calipers on the front. Thanks for the help!

[/ QUOTE ]

Beware, if you do this you will have SERIOUS problems. Every suspension system has dialed into it what is called "Ackerman Angle." What that means is that when you drive in a circle, the inside tire has to turn sharper than the outside tire in order for the car to turn 360 degrees without dragging a tire. Anyone who has ever turned sharply in a parking lot and heard there tires howl know what a slightly "off" ackerman angle does.

If you switch spindles in order to mount the rack on the back, the Ackerman will be completely and totally off. That means when you go to turn the car, one tire will always be dragging, which is dangerous. If you want to keep the MII, you are MUCH better off calling a shop like Morrison or Heidts and getting new spindles to relocate your rack.

Dan

[metalshapes]

you are correct, Scribe,
Also he cant use the stock Rack, because the car would turn left when you steer it to go right.

[36-3window]

Mustang II's or any IFS just suck on any model a ford,fendered or not! even on a fenedred car much of the front suspension is exposed...and when i look in there and see ugly A-arms it turns me off on the car.

i do agree with 38chevy454....they can be ok on the later fat fendered cars. i once helped put a MII under a `46 ford coupe....where the complete front suspension is covered..the car rode,handled real nice....but probabilly not any better than a properly set-up dropped axle.here is why i say that:

about 15 years ago i built a `35 ford tudor sedan setup with a 4" dropped superbell axle,poisie spring,split bones,F-100 brakes,P & J shock kit,etc...i always thought that it rode/handled great. it went through a couple owners(all of them thought it was ok)...until the present owner,who is new to hotrods/street rods, was talked into changing it to a Mustang II by some of his "buddies" ...it's been in for a couple years and he now wishes he had't....and he sold the old front suspension to a "buddy" for $200....who put it under his `40 ford coupe

take it out and put in a dropped axle...IFS don't belong under Model A's.....greg

[bcharlton]

I am buying a 31 Chevey 5 window. I have nothing for the front end. I am not running with fendors and I am doing a 2' chop with channal. Itis my first project and I have read 3 books on Hot Rod building. I still do not have a clue. Should I run a dropped axel and forget about the M2 front end?

Please help.

Brian

[53sled]

I am buying a 31 Chevey 5 window. I have nothing for the front end. I am not running with fendors and I am doing a 2' chop with channal. Itis my first project and I have read 3 books on Hot Rod building. I still do not have a clue. Should I run a dropped axel and forget about the M2 front end?

Please help.

Brian

WHy even consider it? a straight axle is just 'right' on a prewar car. I have seen the parallel leaf setup modified (search underslung and quarter elliptical) to look different, work well, and NOT be another mII wreck.

[dabirdguy]

Ok, this is a thread that is on topic for something I have been wrestling with for a while now.... Not to hijack the thread, but lets talk ALTERNATIVES for me and for the new kid here.
I have a '36 Chevy half ton. The Asshat I bought it from started to put a MII in it. It is tacked in at the moment. The mill will be a HEAVY Caddy flathead (900 pounds). The MII CAN be made to handle that weight. What else will?

[erock805]

thats where I am on this issue. I have a MII on my 34 (very 80s) and I am ready to pull the switch but I want to maintain my disc brakes and I dont want to buy all chrome stuff... I want it to look a little rougher. Can all u all point us out to the right direction? I see the difference suspension...4 bar, one bar, wish bone??? Heck I dont know...I guess i need a plan...

[jusjunk]

Hi, I am just getting into street rodding. I have a 30 Ford model A coupe ,there is a stock Mustang II front end with it, can the spindles be switched left to right to put the rack on the backside?(I have seen some 30/31 Fords with the rack on the back and calipers on the front. Thanks for the help!

Whats wrong with a good ol straight axle? That A aint gonna ride any better with the MII . Straight axle cross steer with a vega box and your in. If anyone tells you that you need a MII for a better ride in a small car like an A fuk em! they ride fine in the front. The rear is whats screwed up. Short wheel base no weight = no ride. It can be fixed though. The right set up and it will ride like a caddy..... Besides the MII just dont fit right on an A . You can do it with a super ride but the factory a shit makes em look like a 4x4 after you get it high enuff so the shit dont rub on the fenders......
Dave

[5window]

I've got a Mustang II on my '31 and running cycle fenders and if you don't like it that's just fine,it's my car. If every A and Deuce ran the same dropped axle we might as well all just buy the gold chains from you know who.

[the "eliterate"redneck]

yes u must intro unless your J.J.:eek:

[erock805]

I've got a Mustang II on my '31 and running cycle fenders and if you don't like it that's just fine,it's my car. If every A and Deuce ran the same dropped axle we might as well all just buy the gold chains from you know who.

not to take over the thread but can you post a pic of it? I was lookin at the price of front end stuff and I am seenin 1600...ouch. I need to figure out how to make mine look better.

[modifieddriver]

I say Amen to all you said :) . Except that I'll go one step farther and say original Mustang II suspensions suck under anything, including Mustang II's.

I've bought some good front axles from guys that were talked into doing a Mustang II conversion. Several were sold to guys converting from Mustang II back to straight axles.

I firmly believe that in the near future hot rod shops will be offering a straight front axle conversion kit and the sales pitch will be, "Replace your obsolete Mustang II front end with our state of the art axle system. Provides a nostalgia look with superior handling and ride comfort".


Mustang II's or any IFS just suck on any model a ford,fendered or not! even on a fenedred car much of the front suspension is exposed...and when i look in there and see ugly A-arms it turns me off on the car.

i do agree with 38chevy454....they can be ok on the later fat fendered cars. i once helped put a MII under a `46 ford coupe....where the complete front suspension is covered..the car rode,handled real nice....but probabilly not any better than a properly set-up dropped axle.here is why i say that:

about 15 years ago i built a `35 ford tudor sedan setup with a 4" dropped superbell axle,poisie spring,split bones,F-100 brakes,P & J shock kit,etc...i always thought that it rode/handled great. it went through a couple owners(all of them thought it was ok)...until the present owner,who is new to hotrods/street rods, was talked into changing it to a Mustang II by some of his "buddies" ...it's been in for a couple years and he now wishes he had't....and he sold the old front suspension to a "buddy" for $200....who put it under his `40 ford coupe

take it out and put in a dropped axle...IFS don't belong under Model A's.....greg

[5window]

not to take over the thread but can you post a pic of it? I was lookin at the price of front end stuff and I am seenin 1600...ouch. I need to figure out how to make mine look better.

Not sure if I have photo small enough to post and I'll need some time to reduce one. If I have a bigger one,I'll PM you>

[Shane T.]

Heidts superride. Rear steer, tube a a rms , looks awesome handles great About 2499 dollars anywhere. And you don't have to butcher your fenders or mounts to get it going.
Shane T

[Richard D]

This guy joined in 1969?!? He's posted thousands of times and started hundreds of threads. Seems odd that he's new to "Streetrodding"....

[ProEnfo]

This guy joined in 1969?!? He's posted thousands of times and started hundreds of threads. Seems odd that he's new to "Streetrodding"....

Seems odder that everyone is responding to a question asked in 2003..:p

I am wondering how he joined 36 years ago though ?

CC