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M-II front suspension

  • Thread starter Thread starter sin-city-customs
  • Start date Start date Oct 14, 2004
S

sin-city-customs

New Member
Jun 29, 2004
42
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0
Oct 14, 2004
#1
  • Oct 14, 2004
  • #1
Does anyone have a M-II front suspension with a rack and is it worth it? Overall ride and handling?

Dave
 

1970 slantroof

Founding Member
May 14, 2001
189
0
0
Far S.E. Arizona
Oct 14, 2004
#2
  • Oct 14, 2004
  • #2
It all depends on what you want. I personally think they make the car more pleasant to drive. Better steering response and it appears a better feeling front end in general. Some say they don't handle as well as the original suspension but at sane levels of speed they are fine. I contain my racing to the track so they work for me. It is a lot of work and it is possible but very difficult to return to the original suspension if you change your mind. I also like all the extra room in the engine compartment.
To each his own. If you plan to run the car in open track, someone else will have to chime in because I know nothing about how they work in that application.
Howard
 
W

wildstang

Founding Member
Apr 8, 1999
217
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Orange, Vermont
Oct 15, 2004
#3
  • Oct 15, 2004
  • #3
Hey 1970 slantroof, how is the suspension install going? I ordered a cross member from full tilt street rods about 1 1/2 to 2 months ago and he called the other night and said it was ready to ship. He redisigned it some from his original package so that is why there was the delay but I haven't had time to work on the car anyways. Clay, the owner, is a good guy to work with.

There was a 66 mustang, black with gold stripes, featured in some magazines a couple months back that had a mustang II front suspension and a 2003 (I think) independent rear end and supercharged 4.6 from the 2003 cobra. It is owned by a young girl and it appears that she does road race it some.

There is also the year one 66 fast back that has a Jerri Matz mustang II style front suspension. Jerri Matz has worked and redisigned the original mustange II so it is a performance suspension. He sells it as a whole front clip so you need to cut everything from the firewall forward and weld in the new clip. I think the cost for this is in the $3000 to $4000 range but probably the quickest and least headache way to go.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help.
 

mdjay

Premium Sponsor
Dec 9, 2003
896
0
16
Las Vegas, NV
Oct 15, 2004
#4
  • Oct 15, 2004
  • #4
Just a note! You can make the MII suspension very competitive if you know what you're doing. Make sure to get the tubular arms!
 

Hack

15 Year Member
Mar 23, 2004
1,945
13
69
Minneapolis
Oct 15, 2004
#5
  • Oct 15, 2004
  • #5
http://corner-carvers.com/wiki/index.php?Vintage Mustang Tech

There's a link to the corner-carvers wiki site - vintage mustang tech. These are guys that live and breathe road racing. They say to stay away from the MII for road racing. Just the size of the spindle, etc. aren't big enough.

But hey, it's your car. If you get serious about road racing, you'll expect that something will break eventually. I'd encourage you to invest in the best safety equipment you can buy.

Good luck.
 

BBRacer

Founding Member
Nov 8, 2001
99
3
8
Calgary
Oct 15, 2004
#6
  • Oct 15, 2004
  • #6
How about vintage class racing?

I am looking for the track car next and want to complete in the vintage class at the local track. Rules are not too strict but I doubt the MII qualifies. What would you track guys suggest - there are so many kits out there that I am confused.

Note car will be track driven only, '65--66 so I can use all my spares I have replaced on my street car, manual steering is fine (except maybe a flaming river 16:1 box), and will run either the I6 or a V-8.

Any suggestions on front end components?? Stock-style but new.
 

DukeGnarley

Member
Apr 2, 2003
597
2
19
Auburn/Ellensburg, Wa
Oct 15, 2004
#7
  • Oct 15, 2004
  • #7
i would check maier racing or cobra automotive. they have modified stock control arms which are stronger and better for lowering.
 

reenmachine

20+ Year Stangneter
Jun 27, 2004
1,258
2
38
Montrose, CA
Oct 15, 2004
#8
  • Oct 15, 2004
  • #8
The Mustang II-type front end (with full lower A-arms, not the strut rod type) makes a big difference in ride & handling, especially when coupled with rack & pinion steering. I have not tracked this setup yet, but as far as street use it's a fantastic upgrade in my opinion.

I'm sure it's far too radical an upgrade to be legal for SCCA or vintage racing, but for an open track car, I'd wager that the dual A-arms, anti-dive geometry, and coil-overs far outperform the original crappo bump-steer setup.
 

Rent-A-Racer

New Member
Jan 5, 2004
187
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0
Oct 16, 2004
#9
  • Oct 16, 2004
  • #9
Does anyone have a link to the "Jerri Matz" set-up???
 

1970 slantroof

Founding Member
May 14, 2001
189
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0
Far S.E. Arizona
Oct 16, 2004
#10
  • Oct 16, 2004
  • #10
Wildstang. Still not on the road. Have the exhaust system on it, rebuilt the heat and A/C unit, some wiring done, brake lines, etc. Have to pull the engine next and weld up a few spare holes in the firewall so I can put the insulation in and put the heat & A/C box back. Too many other things to do but making progress.
Howard
 

Hack

15 Year Member
Mar 23, 2004
1,945
13
69
Minneapolis
Oct 17, 2004
#11
  • Oct 17, 2004
  • #11
reenmachine said:
The Mustang II-type front end (with full lower A-arms, not the strut rod type) makes a big difference in ride & handling, especially when coupled with rack & pinion steering. I have not tracked this setup yet, but as far as street use it's a fantastic upgrade in my opinion.

I'm sure it's far too radical an upgrade to be legal for SCCA or vintage racing, but for an open track car, I'd wager that the dual A-arms, anti-dive geometry, and coil-overs far outperform the original crappo bump-steer setup.
Click to expand...
I'd take that bet.

edit: I should say that the spindle on the early cars is a little small, but upgrading to the larger spindle is an easy and inexpensive improvement.

Also, your car has bump steer? My car doesn't have the problem. Could be you have some damaged or worn front suspension parts. That seems most likely to me. Or you've installed an aftermarket rack & pinion. Designing out bump steer isn't rocket science - but it would be a serious safety issue on a production car. For Ford to design and build a car with bump steer doesn't make sense to me.

I know that many people think you should just throw technology at a car to "fix" it. Technology will help a lot (brakes come to mind ), but the original suspension design isn't nearly as bad as people make it out to be.
 
G

GaPonyFarm

New Member
Jan 2, 2004
663
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0
Columbus, GA
Oct 17, 2004
#12
  • Oct 17, 2004
  • #12
Take a look at he new Flaming River stuff. They make it much easier to install thse days and they make top quality components.

Going to the coilover suspension with rack & pinion with make it a new car and you can ditch the shock towers to clean up the engine bay, to boot. Its sweet!~
 
W

wildstang

Founding Member
Apr 8, 1999
217
0
0
Orange, Vermont
Oct 18, 2004
#13
  • Oct 18, 2004
  • #13
Rent-a-Racer the web sit to Jeri Martz is http://www.martzchassis.net/ . I spelled his last name wrong in my previous post. I have some pictures he sent me, if you are interested I could email them to you.

I personally like the idea of eliminating the shock towers. It lets you clean up the engine bay and get rid of the export brace and monte carlo bar. A properly designed mustang II style suspension, like the martz one, should out perform a modified stock front suspension.

70 slantroof, I know all to well how you feel. This winter I will make some progress with it.
 
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