Hello, I've been playing around with the idea of putting a modified Mustang II suspension on 27 Ford rails. This started when I was browsing through an old Speedway catalog, and saw that they don't offer a crossmember for a 27 Ford. I assumed this was only because it tracked too wide for that kind of car. At first I was thinking I could just mock up a narrowed crossmember in Inventor(cad program), and then look around for a smaller or modified steering rack for this application. That got me to thinking that It might be a better solution to make the car with the Speedway kit and just put some big fat tires in back to get it looking right. I'm just wondering if anyone knows where I might find the dimensions of all mounting points and shock tower dimensions for the Mustang II suspension. Obviously Speedway doesn't market their kit this way since they make and sell their own crossmembers. I just want to see something in computer space before I decide to build it. If anyone is aware of a schematic of some sort I would certainly appreciate if you could point it out to me. Thank you.
IFS isn't very popular here. You will spend a whole lot less with a straight axle and a Model A frame for your '27. Additionally, there is a whole bunch more help with regards to experience setting that up as well.
First of all model T frames rearely get updated. Most rodders build new frames ( except for the hardcore tradationalists ) I had a model T ( 27 pick up ) with a mustang II fornt end they arn't to wide imo. They are ugly. Tublar arem help but still out of place. You can get a universal crosmember- My frame was 28" wide fit a stock mustand II crossmember perfect - It was not expensive but I used all junkyard parts - and rebuilt it - all in all less than $600.00 IT WAS VERY UGLY - but worked very well
That's a really interesting setup, I've never seen someone with fabricated swing axles. Ralph Nader wouldn't approve but I guess it could be "period" correct, then again I don't think there are too many notable examples of that. I was reading this old British sportscar magazine and I recall an Alfa 308 and some kind of Auto Union car that had suspension shrouds. I was thinking that something similar to that would make for a unique "Track T". My idea for hiding the ugly shock towers, was chrome A-arms and a red Curtis nosed front, maybe with those kind of shrouds. I'll forget the Mustang II for now, I can certainly mock up my own swing axle front end. It would certainly be unique, I think it would be a great start. Thank you for the pics......... and Nader is a dork IMO. I like the T fleet-master.
See if you can dig up some information on Allard. They used a split beam axle on their sports cars during the '50s
Not the best solution, as many here have advised. I'd consider torsion bars or dual 1/4 eliptical (Flemke?) to replace the buggy spring instead to try for a little more compliant ride. If not, just go full IFS and put on some flame proof skivvies. Gary
Haven't found any pics with the suspension exposed, but enough european coachbuilders made swing axle cars. I have a rough idea what they probably looked like, this setup actually seemed to have been what led to the demise of Allard among other things. Kind of Ironic that I'd want to do it. Torsion beam sounds like a good idea, maybe fiberglass rods or tubing might work. I'll come up with some geometry and maybe post some pencil sketches when I'm done with them. I was thinking if I really wanted a lightweight front end I could do a torsion beam with friction shocks. I want something durable though so I'll have to source some kind of strut from a catalogue, and then research whether or not and what kind of fiberglass rods I could use. Oh, In case anyone thought i was building on factory rails, I'm not. I was gonna build my own frame with my own prints and I want to have something that either is unique or handles exceptionally well. Hopefully both.
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