Mustang II front end conversion?

richabilly · Post by **richabilly** » December 14, 2009, 7:03 pm

I have a 61 f100 -- i was looking to make some upgrades -- disc brakes and power steering being high on the list. While searching for a disc brake kit, i thought about the Mustang II front end. Found some on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TCI-MUST ... ccessories

i can afford the swap -- just didnt know if anyone else has done it and if it is the better way to go (since i can get power steering, disc brakes, R&P, tilt steering, better handling all in one shot).

semotrucker · Post by **semotrucker** » December 14, 2009, 7:09 pm

Think most ppl here will tell you Mustang II isnt heavy/sturdy enough for our trucks...lots of ppl like the dakota front swap and others are doing the crown vic...they will let you know.

Cam

Fanatic · Post by **Fanatic** » December 14, 2009, 8:10 pm

If you are using the shown front end... I say Go for it!
Maybe and thats just maybe, a stock Mustang front end might be alittle on the light side-and I doubt that-but those aftermarket suspensions are Mustang Style. Not Mustang parts.

Tim

Power by Ford · Post by **Power by Ford** » December 14, 2009, 8:24 pm

You may want to check into the No Limit Wide Ride it is a nice kit and easy to install with basic fab skills.

OGNC · Post by **OGNC** » December 14, 2009, 10:35 pm

Power by Ford wrote:You may want to check into the No Limit Wide Ride it is a nice kit and easy to install with basic fab skills.

X2 on the No Limit Wide Ride...

richabilly · Post by **richabilly** » December 14, 2009, 10:54 pm

yeah i was going to buy a kit like the one shown -- i am not interested in trying to find everything salvage.

Thanks for the tip -- the No Limit seems a tad more spendy than the MII type, but easy of install is a big plus -- plus if you guys recommend them, then i will look into it. I would love to do the conversion myself but i may have the money to get it done professionally (my slick is my daily driver).

richabilly · Post by **richabilly** » December 14, 2009, 10:58 pm

WOW -- what a great looking kit:

http://nolimit.net/prodinfo.asp?number=WRIFS-C

anyone else with experience with the no limit kit? Something i could install myself -- (novice wrench) ?

36truck · Post by **36truck** » December 14, 2009, 11:00 pm

Installing a front suspension HAS to be right. If not truck won't go down the road right.

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » December 14, 2009, 11:08 pm

After I saw the damage on my buddy's '31 rod when his Heidts mustang 2 let go, I am definitely in the "These are too light for our trucks" category. It was too light for a '31 rod.

WAAAAAAAAAAYY too light for a 4500 lb truck.

richabilly · Post by **richabilly** » December 14, 2009, 11:14 pm

cool -- so it sounds like the No Limit kit with my pro mechanic is the way to go. He'll like that.

dotcentral · Post by **dotcentral** » December 15, 2009, 1:19 pm

Johnny Canuck wrote:After I saw the damage on my buddy's '31 rod when his Heidts mustang 2 let go, I am definitely in the "These are too light for our trucks" category. It was too light for a '31 rod.

WAAAAAAAAAAYY too light for a 4500 lb truck.

I have heard and read a lot of bad things about the Heidt's kit.

If it was me, I'd look at the Crown Vic swap. Wish I knew about it before my disk swap and new steering linkage. By the time I got rotors, pads, MC, tierods, etc, all new parts (USA or Canada manf.) I had a small fortune paid out.

OGNC · Post by **OGNC** » December 15, 2009, 3:40 pm

If my truck didn't already have the dropped beams when I got it, I would have swapped out to the No Limit wide ride IFS already. I have had a couple of No Limit gas tanks and one of their forward tilt hood kits on a few of my different project trucks and I would not hesitate to use any of their products again.

They include all of the hardware and if you have any questions and call, they are willing to put you on with Rob, the owner of the company, to walk you through it. It's hard to find customer service like that anymore.

64low-n-slow · Post by **64low-n-slow** » December 15, 2009, 4:34 pm

That is the exact kit I put in my '64. The install was pretty basic, measure, measure, measure, tack weld, measure, measure, measure, etc. Have not driven on the street yet to say if it's going to be strong enough.
That said, by the time you upgrade the TCI kit you will be close to the cost of No Limit. Spend the extra bucks on the No Limit. You'll be much happier.

Good luck

JFCDeuce · Post by **JFCDeuce** » December 15, 2009, 9:12 pm

Rich, good to see you on here, you'll ovbiously find a wealth of info. Sorry i didn't get back to you yesterday... I've been busy.

I think if money, or just plain "let's see if I can do this myself" work is not the deciding factor, I would go with something like the No Limit set up, or the Industrial Chassis Dakota kit.

The CV x-member is cheap and relatively easy and durable, but you have to be okay with the limitations... Wide track width, high offset wheels etc. they dictate a lot of other expenses, such as possibly a new rear end, or adapters etc etc etc. I like my CV because I put the work into it, in my driveway, no garage, no shop, and since it hasn't been done too much yet, there was a lot of learning and asking questions a long the way so it was a 'fun' experience.

Not sure if you did an intro anywhere, so here's the pic I have of your truck...

Truckfarmer2 · Post by **Truckfarmer2** » December 16, 2009, 11:00 am

Mustang II front ends kits get a bad rap but there are no Mustang II/Pinto parts in them, only their design. Heidts had a failure problem and has caused that company to be sold, maybe as a way out of litigation, I don't know. The Crown Vic craze here also has problems, mainly width. I personally like in order, the Jaguar, Aerostar minivan, and then the Chrysler torsion bar.

JFCDeuce · Post by **JFCDeuce** » December 16, 2009, 3:20 pm

Truckfarmer2 wrote:Mustang II front ends kits get a bad rap ...The Crown Vic craze here also has problems, mainly width. I personally like in order, the Jaguar, Aerostar minivan, and then the Chrysler torsion bar.

I couldn't agree more. It's all about your needs/wants, and what you have to spend and skills etc. The CV is not "bolt in" like so many people want to belive, although it does use bolts to hold the aluminum to the steel. The steel still needs to be stripped, cut, boxed, extended etc..
Using a Volare or Camaro clip is 2 cuts, 2 welds and some boxing. (okay you still have to figure in motor moiunts and rad. support etc, but you have to do easily that much with any fr0nt end. They all require steering fab etc.

61 Merc · Post by **61 Merc** » December 18, 2009, 1:28 pm

Having two trucks, one being built and one being driven, I would go with the dakota or the crown vic set up. I have a volare in the driver and it is crap, would not do it to another vehicle. I have a dakota kit which will be installed into the 61, but checking things out to see if I can install it in the daily driver, since they hacked up the frame putting it in. I thought of the mustang 2 kit also, but after hearing some of the stories of major failures, and knowing the size of the vehicle, I would not go with it. It was more than Heidt's that had problems with the mustang 2 kit. There are aftermarket parts on these kits, but some are still mustang parts. Play it safe and install something that will not snap when your on the road.

Dean

Johnny Canuck · Post by **Johnny Canuck** » December 18, 2009, 3:55 pm

61 Merc wrote:Having two trucks, one being built and one being driven, I would go with the dakota or the crown vic set up. I have a volare in the driver and it is crap, would not do it to another vehicle. I have a dakota kit which will be installed into the 61, but checking things out to see if I can install it in the daily driver, since they hacked up the frame putting it in. I thought of the mustang 2 kit also, but after hearing some of the stories of major failures, and knowing the size of the vehicle, I would not go with it. It was more than Heidt's that had problems with the mustang 2 kit. There are aftermarket parts on these kits, but some are still mustang parts. Play it safe and install something that will not snap when your on the road.

Dean

Having owned Jinx (with the volare) before Dean, all I can say is Amen to all he says here.

gumshoe · Post by **gumshoe** » December 18, 2009, 6:34 pm

the mustang II should work in your truck, I installed one in my 56 F-100, with a 460 in it 4 years ago, and it has worked well, you can get a kit from fatman fabractions. a kit is the only way to go and this is a common modification in an F-100. gumshoe

truckerdaddy66 · Post by **truckerdaddy66** » December 22, 2009, 10:52 am

I have a 1999 camaro cross member in my 66 swb. I now have about 10,000 miles and going on two years on it. so far so good .I do use it like a truck ,hauling fire wood, heavy cement sacks ,28 one time.I was basicly laughed at on here. you do have to go to heavier springs ,Iused 95 f150 springs on mine.Ido have a 300 six w/ three speed on the tree.you could likely shoehorn a 352 in there but would be tight.you do have to build strut towers ,motor mounts,sway bar mounts ect.ITS A TOTAL EXPERIMENT. Does drive like a camaro close ratio steering,p/s,pb,well a I guess I'm just a back woods n/r .

Truckerdaddy66