Mustang II Front End Woes...

Scudly

New Member
Dec 9, 2003
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Los Angeles, CA
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I've got my car at B&D Racing right now getting some work done. I always knew my MII front end was low, and I knew I had hit it pretty good a few times.

I haven't heard back from them with what the fix will be. More than likely I assume it will be getting rid of the drop spindles and getting coil overs or air shock/airbags.

If I could do it over I may have not done the MII front end.
 
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Looks like you DON'T have the drop spindles. that is why you had to lower it so much to get it down, and it's sagging. Put the drop spindles on, raise car back up. Who ever sold you the kit should have known that.
 
Looks like you DON'T have the drop spindles. that is why you had to lower it so much to get it down, and it's sagging. Put the drop spindles on, raise car back up. Who ever sold you the kit should have known that.

The invoice I have from when I purchased it said drop spindles...

Are you sure? I have it at a shop right now and they were telling me to buy the stock spindles. Why else could it be sagging like it is?

They also said because it's so low I took a hit to the left side and there is some frame buckling from it.... which the frame shop doesn't feel confident to repair. Apparently they've never seen a MII front end on a mustang.

Seriously if you can talk me through this now I'd appreciate it. I'm working with B&D Racing right now trying to get the car fixed.
 
Looks like you DON'T have the drop spindles. that is why you had to lower it so much to get it down, and it's sagging. Put the drop spindles on, raise car back up. Who ever sold you the kit should have known that.

Hi! I got a mustang ii front end on my 66. I agree with 10SECGAOL, I don’t think have drop spindles. I have drop spindles on mine and the lower control arms are a bit higher than ground level compared to your which are lower than ground level and the car is as low as it can be, any lower and you can’t steer.

You problem is not caused by the spindle but by your springs, they might be too weak or they have been cut and they cut too much off. You can buy a ¾ inch spacer to put between the spring and spring hat.

What is the distance of your tire to the fender lip?
 
Whether the car is too low due to drop spindles or weak/short springs isn't the issue. The crossmember will always be at the same position relative to the body. It would be better if the lower control arms were parallel to the ground. This can only be accomplished by installing new springs (either taller or stronger or both). If you then install drop spindles (assuming they are not there now) to lower the car back to where it is now the crossmember will end up right back where it started. The only way to get more ground clearance is to raise the car up or get rid of the MII suspension.
 
Hi! I got a mustang ii front end on my 66. I agree with 10SECGAOL, I don’t think have drop spindles. I have drop spindles on mine and the lower control arms are a bit higher than ground level compared to your which are lower than ground level and the car is as low as it can be, any lower and you can’t steer.

You problem is not caused by the spindle but by your springs, they might be too weak or they have been cut and they cut too much off. You can buy a ¾ inch spacer to put between the spring and spring hat.

What is the distance of your tire to the fender lip?

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I need a shop or someone in the LA Area who has dealt with the MII setup and can help me adjust mine.

I went out and mesured my spindle. drop spindle are about 4.5 inch from center of spindle shaft to the bottom where the ball joint go trough. stock spindle would be around 2.5 inch. What is the mesurement from the bottom of the frame rail to the bottom of the cross member.
 
Well I just got off the phone with the place I ordered the setup from. I sent them the photo.

They said it was the springs, possibly they had been cut or we were sent the wrong size. Just ordered replacements for $85.... hope this is indeed the fix.
 
Put in the new springs... only got 1/4 of an inch more lift. So back to the drawing board on the fix.

We originally bought the kit from here: Jim Weimer Rod Garage - Hot Rod & Street Rod Parts, Mustang II IFS, 32 Ford Rails, Hub to Hub Kits, Model A Frames

I'm starting to think it wasn't the best made kit.

Hi! If I were you I would try heidts 3/4 inch spacer. They should bring your lower control arm parallel to the ground.


Heidts Hot Rod & Muscle Car Parts - Spring Spacers
 
That's not a bad idea, I'm just not sure if that is indeed enough to bring them parallel.

Right now I'm having my mechanic try to get in contact with jwrodgarage about their MII setups and trying to troubleshot it.

Hi! this a a universal kit right, who welded the crosmember and top hat in, they may have welded the top hat to far up in relation to the cross member. can you take pics from the engine bay and wheel well showing the top hat.
 
Hi! this a a universal kit right, who welded the crosmember and top hat in, they may have welded the top hat to far up in relation to the cross member. can you take pics from the engine bay and wheel well showing the top hat.

Here are some old shots from before the engine was even dropped in. The car is still at the shop, but I may be able to go by and take those shots.

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Those are torque thrust 17x8s with Nitto P235/ 40R17RE

Hi! Your top hat location is similar to mine, but they weld then in square without anti dive angle. I don’t know how important it is but most kit call for a 3 degree anti dive angle for the top hat. I noticed that you have an AOD Trans witch is 75 pound heavier than my T5. So you have a bit more weight on your front end them mine. What is the spring rate on the new springs?
 
Hi! Your top hat location is similar to mine, but they weld then in square without anti dive angle. I don’t know how important it is but most kit call for a 3 degree anti dive angle for the top hat. I noticed that you have an AOD Trans witch is 75 pound heavier than my T5. So you have a bit more weight on your front end them mine. What is the spring rate on the new springs?

10SecGoal was awesome enough to talk to the shop that has my car at the moment. My problems may very well have to do with where the top hat or a-arm mounting position is. The are going to do measurements tomorrow.

As far as the spring rate... that's a good question. The company I purchased from only seems to have one rating and they don't say what that is. I never realized the transmission was that much heavier.
 
Well finally got the front end raised, though I didn't snap any pics while I was at the shop. Had to order a set of specialty MII springs from here: Eaton Detroit Spring Home

Went with a set of 15 1/8 inch springs with a 383 spring rate.

Now I need to get the rear end raised about 2 inches to match the front....

I currently have a set of 4.5 Mid-Eye Grab-A-Trak springs in the rear. So now I need probably a 4.5-5 Standard Eye spring, and may need to get them slightly arced to get the proper rear height. (Keep hearing the 1" longer shackles are a terrible idea)