Best mustang ii suspension for less than 2000

[Wbrown]

Question is just as title says, I've googled it and read lots of reviews but I want the advice of guys that actually installed some of them not a paid review. I've heard bad things about TCI ( total cost involved ) also Hoffman groups helix brand. What do yall recommend I really just don't want to order a complete kit then order replacement parts just to use it. Any help is appreciated.

[_Ogre]

avoid helix just for service; there is none
my 58 has a fatman

[DransportGarage]

My '55 has a Fat Man...

[MBrown]

Are you happy with this IFS since you installed? any drawbacks?
Thanks



[

QUOTE=_Ogre;7593855]avoid helix just for service; there is none


my 58 has a fatman



[/QUOTE]

[tmoble]

what he said about Helix. All they do is shovel the cheap china junk out of containers into UPS trucks. I doubt there's anybody there that even knows how to change a flat tire.

[Wbrown]

Yeah that's kinda what I read guys even said they were missing pieces to their kits and got no help. Are yall happy with the fat man or would you change anything, and what did it run shipping and all.

[XYZsniper]

I just bought the speedway kit with tubular control arms and I couldn't be happier. Well under your budget too. If you wanted pricier you could go Heidts

[Wbrown]

Did you get the cross member with it from speedway or was that ordered separate

[_Ogre]

happy with my fatman, i bought the hub to hub w/ss tubular a arms for $1800 8 yrs ago
had to replace the rubber bushings and shocks last spring after 25,000 miles
michigan roads: need i say anything else?

[J48chevy]

Try Southern Rods. I bought mine from them. Great quality and price.

http://www.southernrods.com/chassis-...kup-truck.html

[am0254338]

If your looking for a good price and great service I think speedway is the way to go. I've ordered several things through them including a mustang ii kit, and I've been really happy with everything.

[Fiftee3]

Your choice may also be based on what engine you are using or installing. All the ones mentioned and installed by the owners here should be fine if using a small block v8. I wanted to retain my 235 and read that some will not work because of oil pan issues. For that reason I went with JW Rod Garage. Only had to call a couple of times with questions, but every call, Eric always answered phone and was very easy to work with. Was also helpful before I even made my purchase.
Overall there are many options and sometimes, for me anyway, the web has sooo much available info that pulling the trigger is difficult because I can never decide! Good luck, let us know what you end up with...

[DransportGarage]

I'm happy with my Fatman. I had a sweetheart deal because a buddy of mine is one of their dealers, so the price would not apply to you . If I had it to do again I would have gotten the QA-1 coil overs. With standard shocks I'm going to have to be careful cutting the springs to get the proper ride height.

[_Ogre]

i see you cheated and didn't put the springs in, obviously i did and the front end stayed that way thru 95% of my build
see our pics above

i called fatman to ask if i should cut a loop out, he said ''patience grasshopper''

[mr48chev]

I saw this in a Jegs add on FB today but think it might be a "universal" cut to fit crossmember. http://www.jegs.com/i/Heidts/164/KX-...06180001684838

[67GMCkid]

A few more things to watch are some are different track widths.

I have seen 54", 57" & 60" advertised as fitting AD series trucks...Also some of the older manufacturers used an aftermarket only R&P and if you end up with one of them you will need to special order the rack from them or locate an offset bushing and bolt kit in order to use an oem R&P

[Pzary3233]

If I may throw another suggestion into the mix... Have you thought about C4 Vette IFS? Flat Out Enigneering makes a great little set up. For less then 1k you get the crossmember and the tech support to make it happen. Then search around and you can find some great deals on the c4 front suspension. Earlier years will allow 15" wheels while the later year cars will make you bump up to 16" wheels. Great brakes out of the gate, aluminum control arms make for a nice touch as well. No need for a custom rack the frame rails on the trucks and the c4 are the same 34" wide. They design their kit to have the spindle 2.5" above the bottom of the frame rail. That's a pretty good drop but does NOT make it in drivable. Needless to say they are about to get my money!

[_Ogre]

quite happy
30000 miles so far happy

[55cruiser]

Hello Ogre: I have a 55 with a fat man also, that I bought not finished. It has a manual rack in it and is a bear to steer, wondering about up grading to power steering. What rack is in yours, late model mustang ? The manual rack on mine has 3 mounting holes, only 2 are used though, any thoughts would be appreciated. THANKS

[FAKKY]

Haven't installed yet ...... but I went with Industrial Chassis Dakota IFS kit.
Sitting on my bench.

Looks stout.

[solidaxel]

Originally Posted by FAKKY

Haven't installed yet ...... but I went with Industrial Chassis Dakota IFS kit.
Sitting on my bench.

Looks stout.

Did you get the Dodge or Mll IFS from Steve
I have the Dodge and I like it better than the Mll on my other truck

[FAKKY]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

Did you get the Dodge or Mll IFS from Steve
I have the Dodge and I like it better than the Mll on my other truck

Went with the Dodge Dakota.
Just got back from the pullpart yard .......$172 for upper/lower CA /spindle/calipers each side.

No rack an pinion - not sure if I should buy a new one - probably ........ make sure its clean and good ..... and power steering.

[_Ogre]

i believe the power rack is napa part # 22-248 1979-1993 thunderbird power rack
(from when i had to replace mine from a ps pump failure)
it should be a direct bolt in replacement for the manual rack

i use a gm ps pump, if i had to do it over i would use the 79-93 ford thunderbird pump
this would eliminate any mismatch of pressure and flow from the gm pump

[solidaxel]

Yes you will need a new one which will be a rebuild, but you should have picked up the one from the J yard as you will need a core for the new one!
See if you can get the front sway bar from the Dodge Dakota at the same yard.
Did you get the calipers and rotors also? Here again you will need cores for some of the other parts.

I think I found the whole front suspension from a 89 Dakota for fifty bux, then replaced EVERYTHING and ended up going to different (2") front spindles to lower it a bit.
I did use Bilstine shocks and i like the ride better than the Mll I have on my 55 GMC
Keep us posted on your progress (Pics)

Did Steve say he was back in production with his Dodge suspension for the AD trucks?

[55cruiser]

THANKS Ogre I will check with NAPA next week, and start to locate some parts for a winter project and change over to power steering.