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Dear Welder Series…
Hi Paul, Greg here in Halifax. I’m sorry to bother you but I think I need your expert advice. I have this 34 Plymouth here that a friend of mine bought, I told him to stay away but he didn’t. I have the car here and today took it apart. Everything is a mess, I knew there was a mustang front on it cut off a junkyard pinto or mustang, and that the crossmember had been widened. My plan or at least I hoped to cut it all off and re-use the frame rails to install everything new. My question I guess is, after getting this apart today, how in the world would a fella ever know if re-using the frame rails is smart or not? I have no idea of where anything should measure or what it should measure cause I didn’t do it the first time. The wheelbase is about 113 1/4″ on one side and 113 1/2″ on the other, supposed to be 114″. I don’t know if this is smart or just cut it all off and make a new stub to attach the new crossmember to?? I put a square this morning on the front wheels, the pass side tire is all worn cupped, the square would touch the bottom of the tire but not the top, the dr side, the square would touch the top of the tire but not the bottom. When you stand in front of the frame and look at the rotors, the pass side is facing forward, the dr side is toed out, what a friggin mess. I don’t know know what to do but I have a mess on my hands. If you had any insight or advice, I’d sure appreciate it.
thanks
Dear Greg…
Hey there, Greg. You sure know how to have fun! I’d try to use the rails that are there. See if you can establish a frame center-line running from the rear through the center of the x-member to the front. See if the rails are the same distance from the c/l on both sides. If yes, good. If no, you can try to get them in line (best idea) or work around it by installing the MII based on frame c/l.
We did not work to stock wheelbase dimension when building a whole car. We mocked up the body, fenders, running boards, hood, etc., and positioned the tires where they looked best in the fender opening. This way the car looks right, even if the dimensions are wrong. (People look at the car, but seldom measure the car’s wheelbase.)
While everything is mocked up, you can establish the stance and get some dimensions for installing the MII.
I hope this helps. Keep asking questions, if you feel you want another set of eyes.
Paul
Dear Welder Series…
I have already stripped my truck down to the bare chassis and am looking to purchase an IFS for the front end. With the suspension now out of the chassis and gone to the scrap yard (wasn’t thinking there) can I center the new suspension by measuring from the front spring mounting holes to the rear spring brackets or should I re-position the cab and fenders on the chassis to center the wheels? The chassis goes to the sandblaster on Thursday and then I’m boxing it and getting it ready for your parts to go on. Thanks in advance for your help with this… you are going to make a few dollars off of this build for sure.
Dear Writer…
I always like to mock things up so I know that the look is what I want. It does take longer, but gives better odds that things don’t have to be undone and redone.
Thanks for asking.
Dear Welder Series…
I recently came across your MII installation instructions, and I am really impressed. A great tool for a builder!
I have few questions; (The more I study it the more I have questions!)
1. Am I correct in saying that your instructions will only establish the desired ride height, if on assembly, the lower control arm is positioned as you assumed it would be when you wrote the instructions? What position does the lower control arm need to be in? (The old method of placing a straight edge under the cross member and the control arm resting on it?)
2. I see on your web site you answer questions about maximum outside frame width to avoid frame notching to clear coil springs. You point out that the maximum varies depending on ride height… understood.
I am looking at installation of an MII in a 1934 Chrysler which will need the frame narrowed considerably because it “flares” out to 36 inches- outside width (the existing frame runs to the outside of the existing coils spring.) I am looking at narrowing the “flare” to 29-1/2” (outside) to match the existing frame dimension on the firewall side of the “flare”. I would like to narrow the frame sufficiently to avoid any frame notching for spring clearance. I am not building the car to be super low… a car that will allow me to roll a floor jack under the cross member.
Will 29-1/2” be a fairly safe number to avoid frame notching for MII coil springs on a 56”or 58” system?
3. If the frame dimensions and the cross member dimensions are such that the cross member gets welded to the underside of the frame and the OUTSIDE of the frame, doesn’t the section of the cross member outside the frame interfere with the springs?
4. I see you recommend longer tie rod ends for the 58” system. Does this not create bump steer because it changes the relationship of the hinge points of the control arms relative to the tie rod hinge point?
5. The Internet tells me that the tubular lower A arms are failing where they extend to the rear of the cross member. Do you have experience with this issue?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Keith
Dear Keith…
Keith, what a great list of questions.
1. At ride height, the Mustang II suspension is designed to have the stock spindle 3-1/2″ higher than the lower arm pivot bolt center. This is the dimension used in our crossmember and tower design. Dropped spindles would be 5-1/2″ higher than the pivot bolt center and this is referenced in the instructions.
2. 29-1/2″ will be fine for either the 56″ or 58″ kits.
3. The 56″ crossmember is 30″ outside the “wings”. The spring almost always clears the crossmember wings, even when they are on the outside of the frame. We used to taper the outer edge of the wings up and in towards the frame more for cosmetics than clearance. Although the 58″ crossmember is wider than the 56″ (32″ vs 30″), the upper towers mount 2″ farther apart when the 58″ crossmember is used so the clearance stays the same.
4. The geometry does change, but in the “real world” the bump steer if not noticeable. I try very hard to steer clear of discussions about this because the difference MIGHT be noticed by Tony Stewart, but not by me. Rack extensions are the correct way to go.
5. I have read about this on the internet but have no personal or business experience with this issue. I do believe the people who say they had a problem, did have the problem. I have tubular lowers on our ’40 Ford with about 50,000 miles on them over all types of roads.
Thanks very much for your questions. I hope we can help with your project.
Paul Horton
Dear Welder Series…
Hi I bought a tube front axle for my model a street rod and it has welded on hair pin brackets but nothing to mount a shock. Do you sell a lower bracket that welds to or bolts to axle or hair pin mounts for shocks? thank you
Dear Leonard…
There are a couple of ways you could mount shocks to the tube axle…
Go to our web site, http://www.welderseries.com/blog/, and type “threaded tube” in the search box on the right side of the page. This will bring up a lot of threaded tubes and some parts that are related to them. A threaded tube, with the appropriate thread size, could be welded to your axle as the lower shock mount.
Another way would be to use the sway bar mount, http://www.welderseries.com/blog/online-store/sway-bar-mount/ , welded to the axle. (It doesn’t know it’s a sway bar mount and will be quite happy known as a shock mount on your rod.)
There are several other brackets in our store that could also be “shock mounts”, with some imagineering.
If you would rather mount the shock to the hairpin, please reply with the diameter of the lower shock eye and the bushing hole size. I’ll think about brackets that would work with that.
Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts.
Paul Horton
Dear Welder Series…
Hi there. Just now found you guys on the web. I am garage building a 52 Chevy pickup. I’m interested in picking up your IFS set up and a good 4 link for the rear. I have the body of mine stripped off the chassis and am getting ready to send it to be blasted and have the chassis boxed. Can your IFS be bolted or welded in with the frame boxed or should I have your parts put in and then box it? Does your IFS kit come with the motor mounts as well or are they separate? I could also use a trans crossmember as well. I’m going with a 454cid and a 700R4.
Dear Zane…
Our Mustang II kit welds into a boxed frame, so you can go ahead with that. If you followed the instructions online, be aware that it will almost certainly be necessary to trim the top of the frame rail for upper arm cross shaft clearance. This can be done after boxing.
Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts.
Paul Horton
Dear Welder Series…
We are building a 1937 Studebaker 2dr president coupe. I’m helping my dad build and am talking him into the mustang front suspension. I talked to a friend of mine at air ride tech and he pointed me in your direction. We are dropping an lt1 and auto in it. Going for an comfy driver with a nice stance. Please let me know if any if your front suspension will work. I’m gonna get some frame dimensions measured up and I will look more into your site.
Dear Jason…
Jason, our kit is easy to fit to lots of frames. Decide what track width you want to use and if you want to use stock-style springs and shocks of coil-overs with an eye mount top and bottom. If you are looking at conventional air springs, use the kit for stock springs. If you want ShockWaves, use our coil-over kit.
We also have mounts for LS series engines and they are easy to adapt to most frames.
Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts. Please get in touch again if you have other questions.
Dear Welder Series…
We are building a 1937 Studebaker 2dr president coupe. I’m helping my dad build and am talking him into the mustang front suspension. I talked to a friend of mine at air ride tech and he pointed me in your direction. We are dropping an LT1 and auto in it. Going for a comfy driver with a nice stance.
Please let me know if any of your front suspensions will work. I’m gonna get some frame dimensions measured up and I will look more into your site.
Dear Jason…
Jason, our kit is easy to fit to lots of frames. Decide what track width you want to use and if you want to use stock-style springs and shocks of coil-overs with an eye mount top and bottom. If you are looking at conventional air springs, use the kit for stock springs. If you want ShockWaves, use our coil-over kit.
We also have mounts for LS series engines and they are easy to adapt to most frames.
Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts. Please get in touch again if you have other questions.
Paul Horton
Dear Welder Series…
I am interested in your Mustang II cross-member. I have a 1954 Ford F100 with MII, but the frame is pretty butchered so I plan on building a new frame. My question is what is the spacing on the lower control arm holes on the three different width cross-members? Thanks in advance.
Dear Kevin…
Kevin, the lower holes on the 56″ crossmember are on 22-1/4″ centers. They are 24-1/4″ on the 58″ crossmember and 26-1/4″ on the 60″.
Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts.
Paul Horton
Dear Welder Series…
I am looking for help with my 1953 Ford build.
I have purchased a 1993 LS1 motor, a 700 trans and a 12 bolt rear end I am trying to fit in the truck. The wheels I will be running are 30″ on the outside, 10 3/4″ wide with a 6 7/8 offset from the back of the rim. My goal is to set the bumpers and running boards on the ground with a full air ride. Is there a chance you could specify what I will need to purchase from your catalog to get all my frame welding going? As it stands right know I have pulled all the suspension out of the truck and it is just sitting on the frame now. Would love to order everything for Christmas. Thank you for your time and please feel free to call with any other questions you might have.
Keith
Dear Keith…
Keith, here are some links to kits for this build:
Choose a 60″ track width kit for your F100.
If you will use conventional air springs: http://www.welderseries.com/blog/online-store/category/mustang-ii-crossmember-kits/?sort=title
If you plan to use ShockWaves: http://www.welderseries.com/blog/online-store/21906/
If you will use a power rack from a 79-92 T-Bird, order the relocation kit: http://www.welderseries.com/blog/online-store/rack-mount-spacer-kit/
There are several different LS engine mount kits. They are shown at http://www.welderseries.com/blog/online-store/ls1-motor-mounts/ .
For your 700 R4 transmission, here are 2 options:
A simple crosmember and drop-out saddle (check out the “welded” version): http://www.welderseries.com/blog/online-store/transmission-mount-kit-2115/
Or a tubular center section (with the 700R4 trans mount option): http://www.welderseries.com/blog/online-store/frame-center-section-universal/
For either of the above, use transmission mount insulator http://www.welderseries.com/blog/online-store/transmission-insulator-2268/
If you 12 bolt rear end has the ears for the triangulated GM links, you could use our rear kit at http://www.welderseries.com/blog/online-store/four-link-kit-rear-8-8-ford/ . We would add brackets if you will use conventional air springs.
http://www.welderseries.com/blog/online-store/air-spring-axle-bracket/
http://www.welderseries.com/blog/online-store/air-spring-frame-bracket-2/
http://www.welderseries.com/blog/online-store/rear-crossmember-kit/ This crossmember can be used to mount the upper end of the ShockWave (with 5/8″ hardware), or shocks with 7/16″ upper eyes.
If you plan to use a parallel rear 4-link, here are the kit pages:
http://www.welderseries.com/blog/online-store/four-link-package-parallel/
For ShockWaves,
http://www.welderseries.com/blog/online-store/rear-four-link-kit-parallel-universal/
http://www.welderseries.com/blog/online-store/panhard-kit-universal-rear/
Use the rear crossmember with 5/8″ bolts.
With shockWaves on either the triangulated or the parallel kit, use a bolt kit from http://www.welderseries.com/blog/online-store/bolt-kit-for-rear-coil-overs/
I hope this list helps. Please write or call on our toll-free line, 1-888-648-2150, if you want more details.
Dear Welder Series…
Do you have a drawing/instuctions for the installation of your Vega box bracket? Will I have to drill out all or any of the threaded tabs on my Vega box? The reason I ask is that the picture I saw in your catalog shows only bolts no nuts. Is the box bolted to the bracket or nut and bolted through the bracket?
Dear Brock…
http://www.welderseries.com/blog/online-store/steering-box-bracket-kit/
Brock, this is a link to the Vega bracket page on our site. Scroll down and click in the installation link for more details.
Yes, the “top” threaded boss on the Vega box has to be drilled out. We supply a 7/16-20 (fine thread) bolt and a boss for that hole. The lower holes in the box are threaded and we supply the bolts for them, too.
Thanks for looking at Welder Series parts.
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