Thread: cost of Mustang II suspension

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Hello everyone,
I just bought a 51 Ford sedan, and the guy I bought it from (pro hotrod builder), told me he would install a 74? Mustang II front suspension on the 51 Ford for me if I wanted. This is not the full frame up to the firewall, but the crossmember piece that has the suspension, brakes, and power steering rack. He is charging $650 for the clip, and $600 labor to install. Is this a fair price? I really don't have any idea on this kind of stuff.

thanks
Joe

All ford pintos and mustang II's are the same, you can usually pick one up out of a wrecking yard for a couple hundred. It is a bit of a chore to put in but $600 maybe a little high. It took me about 3 days to install mine, of course that includes sandblasting all the parts, primering and painting them all before assembly. Plus I am not the fastest welder in the world either.

Seems like a fair price to me!

Originally posted by rocknrod
Seems like a fair price to me!

Also since your other thread shows a modified frame set-up. I'd be carefull that everything works together with the body etc.
All this modification and have you had the body on the frame yourself yet ?

Shoe box Fords with stock frames are not good candidates for Mustang II suspensions. That is why the major manufacturers do not offer crossmember kits. Fatman Fabrications offers a "clip" with a crossmember for your application. http://www.fatmanfab.com/06page6.htm

Junk yard crossmembers and components should be approached with care. $200 or $600, it makes no difference. You will need to rebuild or replace all of the components that wear to include the rack. Ford stopped selling replacement crossmembers because they had reservations about there use when cut away from the unit body.

Your stock front suspension is not that bad. There are companies that can supply you with dropped spindles and disc brake conversions. Look into rebuilding and upgrading what you have.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I'm going to start another thread about 51 ford front suspension to see what everyone's opinion is about the way to go.

Thanks again.

Joe

Shoe box Fords with stock frames are not good candidates for Mustang II suspensions.""

Why is that Bib??

Mustang II suspension conversions need frame rails that are relatively straight (at the mounting point), the right distance apart and and at the right height. Shoe box Fords kick up and out. The only craftsman like solution is a stub frame.

My friend Roger Cope s building a 46 Olds for a customer. The frame simply will not accomodate a Mustang II suspension. So he is having the stock lever arm shocks rebuilt (the are also the top "A" arm) and the spindles modified for disc brakes.