To mustang II or not to mustang II 53 chevy

[SpeedRacer2002]

well trying to decide on my front suspension setup.. right now its 77 trans am and its too wide... my question is im gonna put a single pump hydraulic setup on it with 6" cylinders in the front and im not gonna be hoppin it or anything.... do you guys think a mustang II is the way to go or should i find a older camaro or nova?

[36couper]

IMO, Must II all the way.

[38Chevy454]

Older Camaro/Nova will only get about 1 inch per side less width, I think you need more than that. Must II is a good option and with all the big brake kits and other parts available. Must II option is my recommendation

[Boones]

I love my MII set up....would do it no other way because all the factory set metal bolts right back on (just minor trimming for the spring pockets)... but if you are going with Hydros I would consider going with the subframe as the coils are bigger then those on a MII.. Why Hydro and not air? With a camaro subframe you can fit large bags with some minor trimming and it would ride even better..

[SpeedRacer2002]

Well i figured i would get a hard time from people if i put air ride on the car with the way im wanting to build it.

[DrJ]

Just thinking random thoughts out loud here...
If your peer group, the group you are aiming to impress will be most impressed by Hydraulics then put them on.
I think that is a perfectly legitimate reason for doing what ever.
Hydraulics are probably as reliable as air ride. They just take up a lot more room, and you may have to deal with battery acid and hydraulic fluid leaks and a lack of trunk space.

If you already had a '77 Trans Am front clip in the car you don't have the '53 chevy frame to add a Mustang II front to you have a '77 Pontiac frame to add M-II to up there, so you are possibly in for some retro-frame fitting, or stock frame replacing?
I think adjustable suspension shold take advantage of the longest and most similar in length upper and lower A arms you can fit in. that way you get more range of motion with less camber change.
You might consider going back to '53 Chevy front suspension, maybe with some dropped spindle supports.
Any way you do it, it looks to me like you are in for some frame rail replacement.
Would the wheels that are offset for front wheel drive cars move them inboard enough to help with your track problem?
That would be easy.

[ray]

if you already got a fireturd SUBFRAME under it, it will be a lot fo work to go to a MII! are you building a custom, a lowrider, what? doesn't the firebird susp give you enough room for even the stock wheels? you probably are talking about switching to a stock frame to pull this off. more reasonable might be looking into narrowed tubular A-arms for the susp. you have now. try speedway or some other company that caters to short trackers.

i would strongly recommend airbags over juice. a hard time from people? it ain't gonna matter which you have!

[gears-n-grease]

Do mII control arms bolt to 53 crossmember? Is trimming the spring pocket the only change? What kind of mII control arms have to be used? stock? tubular? What about the steering set up? How?

I wouldnt normally consider it but my spindles spun the bushing and I had a money crunch and had to sell my uprights- If mII would work I could probably buy most of the stuff off ebay and have less in the control arms, and spindles than I spent on just the uprights

[SpeedRacer2002]

Well i guess i did forget to mention that i was planning on switching out frames .... and i just prefer hydraulics... i have them on my 63 impala and never had a problem no leaks or breaking anything.... but the 53 is a sedan delivery and i plan on chopping it and channeling it this time around... only reason im re doing this car is because of the whole tree falling on it insodent....

[DrJ]

Just picturing an already-deaf bodyman inside the delivery, holding the dollie while you metal work the sides of the top during the chop... http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif


All the lifted lowriders I know around here still use the (modified)stock suspension.

[moondisc]

Is the frame already cut off, and the Trans Am clip installed?
If so cut it off and get a S10 clip. Much narrower.
If the TA clip isn't installed, is the stock front end in good shape?
If so no reason you can't use it. Disc brakes and a power rack & pinion can be installed if you want.
If you're not going to hop it, why hydraulics?
Air bags would give a much better ride.

[moondisc]

If you plan on channeling over another frame, I'd look at an S10 frame swap.
It kicks up in the back right behind the stock cab, but if your channeling it you have to build a new floor anyway, so it's not an issue.

[bigfive]

if your going w/hydros, and already made up your mind... stick with the stock suspension. m2s for coilover, nova clips good for bags... but for non-hopping hydros id go with stock front end, drop spindles w/disc brake conversions.