Fatman Fabrications decision (kill the Fox?)

[joncash]

Okay, I'll keep this short because I tend to scare people off with my novel-length posts.

See the two cars in my sig? The Fox is up for sale and I'm not having a lot of luck. Plan B is to utilize the Fox as a donor car to finish off the '68. The body will go to a good home and I can recoup some of my investment in the 5.0 engine, suspension, and brake system that I've got a lot of green tied up in.

Here's where I need you guys: Has anyone heard anything about the Fatman Fabrications frontend setup, good or bad? Do they at least have decent quality control? I really like the latemodel style sealed bearing spindles, my adjustable KYB struts, and the very streetable but incredibly powerful Cobra brake system. I've done all the research to make it work, but I don't know enough about Fatman Fabrications to finalize the decision. Help me out here guys!

 

[1320stang]

Well, I thought I heard that someone is making a K-member for early 'stangs. I think someone saw it at Bowling Green at the NMRA Finals. I've wanted to do one for a few years, lots of guys say that the strut front suspension isn't any good. I wouldn't use the Fatman kit if you gave it to me and all the other parts you need new for free, but thats just my opinion.

From another site:

One of the best looking setups I've seen was from AJE. Anthony Jones Engineering is well known among the late model Mustang racing crowd. They mainly make tubular bolt-in K members for Fox body and later Mustangs.

At the NMRA Finals in Bowling Green KY a few weeks ago they had a new one on display for early model Mustangs. So new, that it's not on their website yet. It was a bolt in tubular K member that uses Fox body Mustang, struts, rack and pinion, etc. The shock towers get cut away and a patch panel goes in to make the inner fender straight all the way down each side.

It was a really nice setup and everything was bolt in except for the patch panels used to replace the shock towers.

http://www.ajeracing.com/

 

[joncash]

Double post, woops.

 

[joncash]

Not sure if I want to cut out my shock towers, that's just so...permanent. Although it does sound kind of cool. What's so crappy about the Fatman?

 

[1320stang]

Actually, I don't think you have to cut out the towers, most people just do it to gain clearance.

I don't like the Fatman kit because:

A) It looks pretty flimsy. (Did you see those lower control arms? What are they, 1x1 square tube?)

B) It's $1900 and you have to supply your own rack, spindles, hubs, struts, brakes, etc. (Granted, you already have all this.)

C) It's $1900 and you have to supply your own......... (oh, wait....)

I like the RRS strut better, but it's a bit pricey, but it's all new, bolts in and comes with the brakes.

 

[PJx5x]

Wow that would be awesome if there was a bolt in tubular K member for a classic... considering the amount of aftermarket already out there for the fox. disc brakes... steering... suspension... mmmmm

 

[BB1966]

First I NEVER seen a K member style set up for an early Stang. The Fatman kit can be had complete with everything (brakes,rack,filler panels ect.) for about $1700 if you look around. I have not got mine yet but it is what will go in my 69.

 

[entdoc]

I have it on my 67 and it works very well

 

[chiefer]

I have pics of the AJE setup looks nice. It is not required to remove the shock towers but you can if you would like. Costs: from what I was quoted by them....K-member:$429 A-arms...$299 struts with optional sn-95 spindles $1199(special design according to them,not just oem) Add a rack their price $550 manual $750 power. If anyone would care to I will email the pics for them to post, Big files and not computer savvy enough to get them to work. Hope this helps.

 

[joncash]

The RRS is really nice but add up buying a tilt wheel, 13" brakes, coilovers, and rack and pinion would get into the $6000 range. I want to get this car together before I get too many more gray hairs.

BB1966, where did you see the kit that cheap?

entdoc, you liked it? Can you give me any details about the parts that come in the kit? Is the Escort rack that it specs to use available in power? If it is, I wonder if my stock 5.0 pump will work.

chiefer, I'll take you up on those pics if you don't mind.
[email protected]

--thanks for the feedback everyone
Mike

 

[1320stang]

BB1966, I'm going off of Fatmans ad. Look at the pic and the list of what it comes with to the right, then look at the far right of the list of things you have to supply.

http://www.fatmanfab.com/07page19.htm

Yeah, the RRS struts are $3000, and the manual rack is $1850, but they're all new parts. I bet if you got new struts, spindles, brakes & R&P and not reman stuff, it'd be pretty comparable.

The Fatman rack mount looks like sheetmetal?!? And why put a GM steering column in my car? I'd bet you'll have to convert the wiring. Maybe okay for some of you guys, not for me, especially at the price.

Chiefer, go to Supermotors.org (or is it .net?) and sign up for a free account, it's easy and virtually unlimited hosting. I'd like to see pics of it, or you can email them to me, I have cable modem and I'll post them. JonCash already has most of that stuff, sounds like the K-member and the rack are all he needs, under a grand....

http://www.rrs-online.com/usaprice.php

 

[joncash]

Looks like it says right there in the ad that 1320 put up that it's available power, guess I should read more closely . Still not sure about the pump, though.

 

[1320stang]

Yeah, but the AJE K-member and rack are under a grand, and the Fatman kit is at least $1700. I'd contact AJE.

http://www.ajeracing.com/

 

[entdoc]

you have most everything else you need in the fox body. Mine has the power rack and uses the pump on my stock 94 efi 5.0,works great. The rack mount is actually very solid as are the lower control arms. I would think in your case this would be the least expensive trick way to go to modern susp and rack and pinion steering. The brakes will be steller also. I am considering the Fat Man rear set up also.

 

[joncash]

1320, Okay okay, UNCLE! I'll call them before work tomorrow. Maybe I'll learn something.

entdoc, thanks for the info. One last thing, is the column a refurbished GM column or are they using an aftermarket unit? Was there any wiring?

 

[entdoc]

it is a stainless flaming river unit with tilt column,wiring in place. I would probably opt for a painted unit if I did it again.

 

[joncash]

Very cool. I was wanting one of those anyway.

 

[chiefer]

Mr. Cash has the pics. when he posts them I too am interested in everyones thoughts....The AJE setup is my plan.

 

[lauras70mach1]

If you go with the Fatman kit let me know - I have an NOS Escort rack I'll let you have cheap.

 

[joncash]

Let's see if this works
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