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Projects 1954 victoria Need help! Front clip swap

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by 49Chevysled, Jun 22, 2011.

  1. 49Chevysled
    Joined: Apr 29, 2010
    Posts: 66

    49Chevysled
    Member

    I just bought a 1954 crown victoria hard top And im planing on changing the front suspension, has anyone used a mustang 2 kit or a front clip from a donor ford car or other makes. if so witch mustang 2 kit or wat car year clip . Pics would be vary helpful thanx!!:D and also wats the best rear end to go with that will fit in the fenders. or should i stay wit the stock? i jus dont know wat drive shaft to use.
     
    Last edited: Jun 22, 2011
  2. Jonnie King
    Joined: Aug 12, 2007
    Posts: 2,078

    Jonnie King
    Member
    from St. Louis

    Last edited: Jun 22, 2011
  3. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    I saw a '55 T-Bird some chowderhead 'updated' to a Mustang ll.
    Handled 'waaay different than it did with its original Ford underpinnings...
    and NOT for the better.
    Consider some lower coils, and replace ball joints and tie rod ends. Set caster at 1.5 - 2 degrees positive, and camber at 1/4 degree positive. Toe in 1/8".
    It'll drive like a car, not an SUV.
     
  4. hotdamn
    Joined: Aug 25, 2006
    Posts: 2,383

    hotdamn
    Member

    I put a MII under a friends 53 Victoria, it was a Fatmans stub, worked beautifully and the car drives and handles great, esp with the sway bar on there.

    Atwater Mike, that could be a culmanation of SEVERAL different issues, the MII could have been incorrectly installed, it could have been a cheaply made on with poor quality parts, it could have been a stock style MII that wasnt aligned properly or the stub itself could have been correctly installed but the stub was incorrectly built to begin with, like there was no antidive or was out of square.

    I've said it before and I'll say it again, I worked at Fatmans for years and I did not leave on the best of terms but I do feel that they have one of the best products on the market, esp in the stub dept. 49 up mid 60's fords have to be clipped if you want a different front suspension, and Fatmans makes a very nice quality stub for them.
     

  5. Chaz
    Joined: Feb 24, 2004
    Posts: 5,016

    Chaz
    Member Emeritus

    I put a Fatman on mine... Fits nicely.
     
  6. cwayne
    Joined: Dec 24, 2009
    Posts: 220

    cwayne
    Member

    everybody beat me to it, but you'll be real happy with a Fatman front clip... i've installed two and they both drove like new cars.. easy to install and all sheet metal bolts back up where it should be..
     

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  7. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,388

    Squablow
    Member

    Not to be a dick but there's no such thing as a '54 Crown Victoria.

    I used a '70 Mustang 9" in my '53 and it's just slightly wider but still fits decent, the 57-59 Ford smooth-back 9" rearends are the preferred swap into these cars.

    If your original front engine crossmember is solid, you'll want to save it, as they were known to rust out and there is a pretty good market for solid originals. Should be able to recoup some of your investment that way.
     
  8. choptvan
    Joined: Mar 19, 2010
    Posts: 2,161

    choptvan
    Member

    What is wrong with the front susoension? I used the stock one on mine. No issues. Steele rubber products offers all of the bushings and stuff to rebuild the front end as well. Good price to. Why do you want to change it?
     
  9. Ole don
    Joined: Dec 16, 2005
    Posts: 2,915

    Ole don
    Member

    A 53 Ford needs a better suspension. A 54 on up does not. Rebuilt to stock with a heavy duty sway bar they will out handle while outriding any aftermarket suspension. They are easy to rebuild, and not all that expensive to buy parts for.
     
  10. choptvan
    Joined: Mar 19, 2010
    Posts: 2,161

    choptvan
    Member

    Exactly what I meant.
     
  11. Kiwi 4d
    Joined: Sep 16, 2006
    Posts: 3,564

    Kiwi 4d
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Our 54 victoria drives great on fully rebushed and rebuilt original front end. Did fit wilwood 4 pot calipers on 85 ford type rear rotors adapted to the 54 front stubs. Probably a little more work but Granada type stub conversion was not an option as we had horrible bump steer. Did convert to power steer as well. 54 front end design is much better than the early upright style.
     
  12. DirtyEd
    Joined: May 16, 2009
    Posts: 362

    DirtyEd
    Member
    from Dallas Ga.

    I did not change the front of my 53,however I did put a maverick 8" rear in it.It bolted right up with no problem.I had a new drive shaft made to go to the 302/C4 and was non the road.
     
  13. Stock '54-'56 Ford front suspension handles well, steers easily even without power steering, and has good ride quality. The only real weakness in these front ends is the crossmember that the front legs of the lower A-arm attach to is prone to rusting out to the point that the bolts holding the A-arm are able to pull through. New repro crossmembers are available, and changing out the crossmember is not terribly difficult if you have the front sheetmetal off. I replaced the one on Ozelle the '55 Ford about a year ago.
     
  14. skoh73
    Joined: Apr 17, 2008
    Posts: 1,553

    skoh73
    Member

    Join the '52-'56 Ford Owner's Social Group and ask away- lotsa great folks, and always willing to share info.
     
  15. 49Chevysled
    Joined: Apr 29, 2010
    Posts: 66

    49Chevysled
    Member

    Wel then it might jus be a Victoria my badd. but thanx for the info about how much u think that crossmember goes for?
     
  16. 49Chevysled
    Joined: Apr 29, 2010
    Posts: 66

    49Chevysled
    Member

    Well im building it for my girl friend and she needs sumthing with powersteering and realiable plus im pretty sure the gear box is craped out. does any one need the original crossmember
     
  17. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    If it has the plastic top, it's a "Skyliner". (many folks confused them with Crown Vics because of the tops)
     
  18. Atwater Mike
    Joined: May 31, 2002
    Posts: 11,625

    Atwater Mike
    Member

    Ole don, choptvan, Kiwi4d, 38fordpickup:
    Thanks for chiming in, guys. I'd like every owner of a '54-'65 Ford to know something about the suspension under their cars. The geometry is among the best Ford ever designed, and the pieces are all serviceable, as reinforced by you fellows.
    I found these cars to handle outstandingly well with simple adjustments to caster, mainly...(but I've replaced/ repaired/ boxed some rusty front crossmembers first)


    The previous ones, however, (the '49-'53 King Pin & trunnion design) could use an 'update'.
     
  19. choptvan
    Joined: Mar 19, 2010
    Posts: 2,161

    choptvan
    Member


    Power steering can be added, disc brake conversion etc. What I am sayin is, you would really be wasting your time getting rid of that suspension. Seriously. Your call, your car, just why go through the extra work?
     
  20. gtotransam
    Joined: Jan 29, 2011
    Posts: 3

    gtotransam
    Member
    from CDA

    i used a 67 cougar 8" rear in my 54, the spring perches and width were almost exact same size as the stock rear, i also have seen as a budget front end is an amc pacer clip, they have 5 on 4.5 pattern, and the rotors and calipers look the same as ford midsize, plus rack pinion steering, but i would prefere the mustang2 in an aftermarket kit over all!
     
  21. 49Chevysled
    Joined: Apr 29, 2010
    Posts: 66

    49Chevysled
    Member

    thanx Wayne the pics wer extremely helpful exactly wat i was looking for i think will go wit the fatman susp.
     
  22. aintbad
    Joined: Mar 26, 2011
    Posts: 1

    aintbad
    Member
    from phoenix

    Ive got a 54 Customline 2dr post that has a 351 w motor and a AOD the front end I clipped with a 1990 Dodge Dakota and it was the best thing I ever did.The car handels and drives like a dream with no issues at all. This swap gets rid of the old steering box (I used a junk yard 1978 Bronco tilt colum)and also gives you Disc Brakes at the same time.My ford will drive with the best of them and the clip at the junk yard was 400.00! Of course I rebuilt it all for about 400.00 including a Rebuilt Rack. 90mph and 1 finger on the much smaller steering wheel.
     
  23. Crown'd
    Joined: Jan 19, 2014
    Posts: 120

    Crown'd
    Member
    from Utah

    I'll try resurrecting this thread before starting a new one...

    For the many here suggesting a Fatman front clip do you know if the final result allows for headers on an FE in a '55? I really want to put a Tunnel Port in this car, and the only alternative is to make a gasser of it...which isn't my first choice. Pancake manifolds are my only option with stock suspension.
     

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