Well, now that im almost finished with my project ive been kicking around the idea of a mustang II front end. What are the pros and cons? I presently have a solid axle up front. its a 49 f-1. any advice greatly appreciated.

thanks
fish

 

I have a drop solid axle which I like; IFSs provides a lot better ride. Other than the $$$, yourself or someone welding it in I haven't heard any cons on the MS II. I was going to go with the volare however, I like doing all my own work so I stuck with the straight axle. There is also a thread listing the different IFS and some information on them it may be of some help to you.

 

If you have a 9" rear and maybe some others than the bolt pattern may present a problem. The 57 ( I think ) to 72 rear I know had a 5 x 5 1/2 bolt pattern where the MII has 5 x 4 1/2 and 4 x 4 3/4.

 

As you know I am a fan of the xj6 IFS particularly in 48-52's. I took a look at your gallery for pics of the drivers side/steering box location since the Jag setup can be tight for exhaust clearance in that area. The available pix are not enough for me to be sure but it looks like your 460 with headers takes up all of the space for the jag pinion/steering shafting. Others have done big block with the MII setups, so that must be doable. I suspect that the MII crossmember sold to work with a big block in our trucks is also dropped down from the logical engine mount points to clear the oil pan. There is lots of room in our engine bays but routing the steering shafting/exhaust can be a problem, withess Julie's outside the rail headers for the 390.
All that said I am definately an IFS fan to upgrade the handling (I drove Willard a number of years with the solid axle).

 

Yeeeeeep! With that 390 and the stock steering box/pitman arm, there was about a 4x5" box between them and the motor mount to run exhaust. The previous owner installed a right side exhaust manifold and pointed the opening forward, then looped an exhaust pipe around the oil filter down, out and back. What a mess. I actually had a set of STOCK CAST FE headers that I sold because they wouldn't fit.







After I had these headers made I went out all happy and bought a MII IFS with a TCI cross member. Well, first, the oil pan on my new engine was going to have to be removed and a rear sump pan and oil pick-up installed. Then, the motor mount arrangement I have - which is a pipe type that runs under the engine and is bolted to boxed frame was in the way of where the IFS crossmember had to be welded, and lastly, the headers going over the frame sit in the same place that the front shock/spring towers have to be welded on (it doesn't look like it in the pics, but trust me). I sold the IFS. Now I'm in the process (talking a lot about it anyway) of rebuilding my stock front end and springs.



I have pictures of all the measurements for the FE with motor mounts and steering boxm the header building process and the final motor mount arrangement (I snapped the POs mounts).



Notice how close that mount is to the thin stock axel. It actually sits between the axel and the tie rod.

So, I offer this as a lesson learned and food for thought in your planning. I know someone out there has had to have been successful at installing all these desirable systems, together in a Bonus Built. But I'm also going to be equally candid when I tell you there are VERY VERY few recipies that are going to work together in this case - possibly only one. We all just need to find the person who has it, and pick his brain.

I would say that this lesson cost me close to $600 on the loss I sold the IFS and the Cast Headers for. So, make sure your plan is solid before you do ANYTHING....... Motor mounts in conjunction with IFS cross member is your long pole. Then exhaust Vs IFS weldment on top of the frame is next.

Anything I can add just ask.

Good luck,
Julie!

 

Thanks for the info. I presently have a drop axle in the front. I did use a rear sump oil pan and its all tight. I have approx. 1/2" between my header and my steering box. On the other side the header flange is so close to my body mount i can hardly see daylight. Starting to believe that rearanging of the body mount will be the easier fix.

 

how or where did you get your drop axle? I have a 62 that I would like to drop.

 

For a drop axle I would recommend roadsters.com $375 he uses the original axle. I had one of the CNC tub axles and had nothing but trouble...

 

Jaye I have a Mor-Drop which sits it right but I have terrible bump steer. Above 40-45 mph it is a bear to drive. Highway driving is a problem. What have you set toe and caster at?

Thanks for the help.

Bill

 

I have the stock setup with a toyota power box and am very happy with the ride and handeling.It has a 351 and c6 with stock headders.How much better is the ifs set up?

 

Personally I'd stick with the reliable old straight axle, that's what I've got under both of my 52 F-1's and haven't had a lick of problem with them. I don't care for the MII under these type trucks due to the weight factor and how puny the MII stuff really is in relationship to the stock axle. Although I haven't heard of any problems with them I just prefer the stock over anything else that really wasn't designed to deal with the weight and overall characteristics ie handling, size of these type of trucks. Hey Julie why do you consider the stock axle to be as you put it "thin"? A lot of engineering went into the development of that axle for these trucks and they have withstood more than their share of punishment and have held up pretty well.