What is the history of the Mustang II?
#1023939
07/01/11 01:23 PM
07/01/11 01:23 PM
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PocketThunder
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What is the history in the making of the Mustang II front end? Is this the same front end that is on Mustangs build in the 70's? How did the Mustang II become to be in the street rod world? Can i find a Mustang and take the front end of it and put it on my street rod?
Paul
69 Charger R/T. California car, 99 99 Special Order paint car, Omaha Orange. Original Paint, Interior, drivetrain, etc..
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Re: What is the history of the Mustang II?
[Re: PocketThunder]
#1023941
07/01/11 05:02 PM
07/01/11 05:02 PM
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Posts: 7,992 Escondido, CA. Ron Podsiadly,...
Mopar Ron
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the"mustang II" frontend first came out on the 71-73 pinto but it is slightly smaller, the race cars guys like some of these parts. then in 74 the front end parts were a little bigger and as street rodders were looking to get an independent front end other than a corvair or jag the pinto/mustang frontends started showing up under rods. they were a very good riding and handling addition to a more modern rod of the day with disk brakes and rack and pinion steering, and as the aftermarket parts started showing up they became the front end of choice, many company's stated making cross members for the more popular rods out there and then tube "A" arms and bigger brake kits became available and that style front end is now the pattern that most after market kits base off of. the mustang II frontend is much better than the front ends used in the 65-72 mustang (they even make kits to change them to the mustang II front end) and yes you can cut one out of mustang II and fit it to a rod, I have done that plenty of times "BUT" it is a little more time consuming (cutting it out,trimming it down and fitting it to the chassis) it is cheaper than just getting a cross member from some place like fatman but the fatman cross member fits great and saves time and looks more professional .... hope that helps Ron....
Last edited by Mopar Ron; 07/01/11 05:06 PM.
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Re: What is the history of the Mustang II?
[Re: Mopar Ron]
#1023942
07/01/11 06:02 PM
07/01/11 06:02 PM
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Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 18,575 Dreaming of the 808
AZ_A12_BEE
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Ron, what more modern rides would do the job that the Mustang II would do?
69.5 A12 Bee, first purchased in 1976, car 169 on registry
69 Coronet R/T 440/4 spd
69 Coronet 500 Conv H code 383 4bbl/auto
37 Plymouth PU
Find your spot on earth and ride it.
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Re: What is the history of the Mustang II?
[Re: AZ_A12_BEE]
#1023943
07/01/11 06:11 PM
07/01/11 06:11 PM
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Posts: 7,992 Escondido, CA. Ron Podsiadly,...
Mopar Ron
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Quote:
Ron, what more modern rides would do the job that the Mustang II would do?
I am doing 2 on dakota chassis but the dakota has a wider track than a mustang II. I did use a volare' front end under my 36 humpback panel truck.
I have 3-4 cars going together with mustang II front ends, 1-2 with dropped axles(maybe) and 3 on the dakota frames
can you say "TO MANY PROJECTS"
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Re: What is the history of the Mustang II?
[Re: Mopar Ron]
#1023944
07/01/11 10:34 PM
07/01/11 10:34 PM
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GO_Fish
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With how common the swap was and how old the Mustang II's are, I might suppose the supply of them is about dry, and not as good as the aftermarket available now anyway? If you have access to one, go for it.
Scott B.
"I'm a self-made man... I started with nothing, and I still have most of it!"
68 360 rusty B'cuda 'vert (GO Fish)13.59@ 98.72 mph
69 340 GTS stock 14.18@ 95.60 mph
01 5.9L Ram 1500 Quad Cab 4x4
01 3.5L 300M 16.23@ 86.97 mph
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Re: What is the history of the Mustang II?
[Re: GO_Fish]
#1023945
07/02/11 04:15 PM
07/02/11 04:15 PM
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Supercuda
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As long as you understand that the MII front suspension was a "good handler" only compared to the original stuff they replaced.
Brakes were undersized for most of the fat fendered stuff. Handling needed improvement, looks were blah, which is why all the after market stuff was developed, kinda like the SBC.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.
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Re: What is the history of the Mustang II?
[Re: Supercuda]
#1023947
07/02/11 09:21 PM
07/02/11 09:21 PM
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Posts: 7,992 Escondido, CA. Ron Podsiadly,...
Mopar Ron
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Quote:
As long as you understand that the MII front suspension was a "good handler" only compared to the original stuff they replaced.
Brakes were undersized for most of the fat fendered stuff. Handling needed improvement, looks were blah, which is why all the after market stuff was developed, kinda like the SBC.
while I'll agree that putting the 11" brakes on instead of the 9 1/2" ones is a good improvement I had 3 different rods with the stock A arms and 9 1/2" brakes and all of them handled and stopped just fine, we put over 120K mi on my wifes 34 plymouth sedan with all stock stuff the tube A arms do look better than the stock ones, but on most cars you can't even see them, they are almost cheaper than stock ones now. I go with tube "A" arms and 11" brakes on the cars I do now.
and as far as handling, most all of the AC cobra kit cars have the mustang II style stuff under them as well.
would I put one under a 4,000 lbs car, probably not but I sure would use one on just about any 30s or 40s rod under 3,600 lbs a sway bar is a good idea as well but all my past cars did not have one and they were very reliable and fun cars to drive
Ron...
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Re: What is the history of the Mustang II?
[Re: dogdays]
#1023949
07/06/11 10:47 PM
07/06/11 10:47 PM
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Supercuda
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The Granada used a suspension similar to the Fox Mustang, not the Mustang II. Like I said, the MII is better than a 20's or 30's suspension or brakes, but I wouldn't call it the best choice by a long shot.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.
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Re: What is the history of the Mustang II?
[Re: Supercuda]
#1023950
07/06/11 10:59 PM
07/06/11 10:59 PM
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Mopar Ron
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Quote:
The Granada used a suspension similar to the Fox Mustang, not the Mustang II. Like I said, the MII is better than a 20's or 30's suspension or brakes, but I wouldn't call it the best choice by a long shot.
Just curious Steve, what front end do you feel IS the best choice for a 30's rod? I am always open to good ideas Ron...
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Re: What is the history of the Mustang II?
[Re: Mopar Ron]
#1023951
07/07/11 10:31 PM
07/07/11 10:31 PM
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Supercuda
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Best? I dunno, I stuffed a 79 Newport front suspension under my 38, had to section the K member and centerlink to do it. Also setup the rear T bar mount up to accept A body length Tbars to widen, and cheapen, my Tbar selection. I know that someone made a kit to put a longitudinal Tbar suspension under early rods, forget who though. Only looks "good" under a fendered rod though.
An aftermarket suspension based, loosely, on the MII has most of the kinks worked out, can be made to look great on a fenderless rod and has tons of options, but using a stock MII as the basis of the swap will probably end up costing you more to replicate the aftermarket kits than it would to just buy the kit to begin with. That's probably what I'd do today, unless you want to put a last generation Panther (Ford full sized) suspension under it.
They say there are no such thing as a stupid question. They say there is always the exception that proves the rule. Don't be the exception.
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Re: What is the history of the Mustang II?
[Re: Supercuda]
#1023952
08/26/11 09:17 AM
08/26/11 09:17 AM
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446acuda
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Quote:
The Granada used a suspension similar to the Fox Mustang, not the Mustang II. Like I said, the MII is better than a 20's or 30's suspension or brakes, but I wouldn't call it the best choice by a long shot.
Actually a '75-'80 Granada suspension is just like a Maverick/Falcon/64.5-up mustang. The '81-2 Granadas are fox body based.
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