'76 Pinto R&P steering on Stang?

[351pacecar]

I just got this odd Mustang resto tips & techniques book which is essetially a collection of extremely outdated articles using obsolete styles and methods from old issues of hotrod magazine.

The article that caught my eye was the one on putting a '76 Pinto front engine crossmember and rack an pinion steering unit and even front suspension parts into a '70 Stang. Its appartenly all the right size and just needs to be welded on and the mustang spindles fit on it, plus it uses upper control arms so the shock towers dissapear. Is this the same as a mustang 2 front end swap? it looks fairly straigtforward but the article is really crappy and the pictures are terrible, anyone know anything about this or have a nice link to an info source?

This is listed as a drag racing upgrade in the article, I wonder how it handles and how strong it is.

 

[3spd on floor]

same as the M2 swap. it was probably written long before the custom manufactured direct fit crossmembers were availible, and people were still hunting the scrapyards looking for M2s and pintos.

 

[351pacecar]

Thats what confuses me, this IS a direct fit, at least for the '70 they did it on. Its like it was designed to be there everything fit so well. I guess the front ends must be getting scarce if people are paying what I would assume is within walking distance of $1500 for the "custom" front ends.

 

[3spd on floor]

the custom fit crossmembers usually go for about $350. The $2000 set ups usually come with tubular control arms, nice brakes and a steering rack.

i think if i had a choice i'd buy a $350 new crossmember that has been tweaked to be a perfect fit and possibly stronger than a 30 year old piece you have to cut out of a donor car.