Clipping a 49 Chevy sedan

Im in the middle replacing all the front end parts on my fleetline. At some point in its life someone cut the **** out of the cross member and shock towers. One of my friends said maybe I sould think about clipping it cause I need to replace the whole front end. Have any of you out there done this on a 49-53 chevy? If so info on what you used would be great. I really dont want to put a mustang II front on.

 

My buddy and I put a mid 80's S-10 clip on our 51 fleetline. If we had it to do over, we probably would have done one of the bolt in Mustang II. As you can see, it is a boat load of work and you don't even get rack and pinion with the old S-10

 

I'm using a jag xj6, I could've made bracket for the front and been done, but I had an idea and...

so far it has cost me $0 and my time.

 

68-74 Nova clips with drum brakes work great.

 

I really dont want to put a mustang II front on.

any particular reason why you do not want to use the best front suspension for your car?

 

they should drop the mustang II name and all the baggage that it carries.

 

I agree -- all kinds of applications, no harder to install than any other clip, and the sky's the limit on upgrade possibilities.

 

Well I dont have a extra 1800 to spend on the frontend. Like a dumb *** I only left a 1000 to redo the frontend.....

 

Why not look for a Camaro / Firebird clip? They can be pretty plentiful and not too expensive. I found mine on Craigslist for 150 bones....and it's a WS6 one, too...

 

Thats kinda what I was thinking but I just wanted to see what other people have done. I was on another site and I was slammed and bashed for wanting to change the frontend different from stock.

 

If I was to spend the extra money and go with a mustang II frontend is there a bolt in one or are the all just weld ons?

 

The Camaro/Firebird clip has too wide of a track. You will have to replace the a-arms with narrowed ones. The '78 and up Monte Carlo/Cutl***/Malibu and S-10 clips will be the right track/width for the tires to fit under the fenders. I'm planning on using a S-10 clip on my '50 Fleetline this spring. alex

 

Ch***is engineering for a bolt in.
Jaguar for a "bolt in" if you are cheap like me. I sold the rear to a t-bucket guy and s****ped the rest. made $150 over what I paid for the 83 jag.
That is enough to get new brake lines, bearings and shocks. The jag has better brakes than a mII, camaro or corvair. Dual piston caliper, same lug spacing and my 14" wheels clear.

This hobby doesn't have to be about big money if you are willing to work.
Working smart is the key. Clips are alot of work.

 

What you spend on a $150 frt clip can escalate when you have to start rebuilding it. remember those clips have been used and maybe abused. I have a Nova sub in my cpe with narrowed a-arms but that was done back in 92. If I were to do it today I'd probably go with one of the aftermarket front ends

 

the front suspension unbolts and drops off. they are for sale on the HAMB quite often.... when people install MII clips.

 

Thanks for the input and not flaming...

 

Just put a G body clip on my 49' 2 weeks ago. I'd do it again in a heart beat. I'm not slaming Pinto er I mean Mustang ll front ends at all. It simple economics. I will be driving my car for a total investment of what it would cost to buy a Mustang ll unit.

 

We have a 72 Nova in our 50. Yes, they are plenty wide, but not causing impossible problems. I have plans of playing with tire/wheel combination, I know there is some improvment to be had there. Currently running 205x15 and wheels have half inch less back spacing than stock 50. Gave 100 bucks for complete clip at local boneyard and spent around 350 rebuilding myself. Everything new but springs. Went in easy , ride highth to my liking, and drives great. Biggest deal was building radaitor support and inner fenders. If I would of had bigger budget, would of liked to go Ch***is Engineering bolt on.

 

Jag XJS in my 52, bought the entire jag for one third of what a M2 kit would cost and much better stuff too...

 

Fatman or heidts mustangll is the only way to go by the time you get done welding and grafting a subframe replacing all bushings cleaning the grease and all the **** off you can spend 1000 bones and have one that will fit right in place with little if any mods!! PLUS ITS NEW NOT IN THE STONE AGE!!!

 

I like the extra thought put into this kit, have yet to hear performance results, but it looks good on paper.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6005497

 

I don't have any info either way. it seems that everytime one of these posts come up (almost weekly) there are two sides that line up. I call them Hot Rodders and check book builders. The CBB'S always vote for Mll and Chevy Crate motors. not that anythings wrong with that!

But I have to laugh when some say that 100 bucks worth of metal and brackets are worth 2 grand uninstalled. and at the same time mention the factory engineers design performance suspensions and have a few million on the road. that are complete from hub to hub are a lessor option than copies of of one of fords least popular mustangs ever built (many don't have a clue what a Mustang ll looks like) and the raves go on.

I've only driven a few cars with M ll suspension and they did ride fine but didn't have good road feel and the steering was twitchy and fast.

I think when someone has an idea how they want to build something, and you have expierence to help. chime in. if your expierence is signing checks (not that anythings wrong with that either) and your builder has a preference. start a new post with how good it works.

hey I'm all ready sorry for this post! lol!

 

nomame most of the time when someone uses a mustang ii they use a rack that is to quick.You should use a rack tha is 3 turns lock to lock,napa #22-201f,reduce the pump pressure with a shim kit.AA you can make your own crossmember by using the drawing that ELPOLOKA has posted before.Jimmie King

 

...problem with the 78-up clips is you can't use the orig. radiator, won't fit between the frt. frame horns, nor will the core support...ok if you wanna use a crossflow and redo your core which ties everything together.
...I still recommend the 68-74 Novas w/drum brakes, I've done dozens of em.

 

Well Im just gonna pop for a mustang II style set up. I know its cookie cutter but for the money and the long run thats my best bet....

 

S-10 is your best bet. I saw a 49 with a nova clip and it was to wide.

 

i just put a MII on my 50'.. ch***isengineering bolt on, piece of cake to install. also used their rear spring installation kit too (bolt on)

 

Kustombuilder mentioned the rad/core support and track width issues with s-10 subs, on another post. Learned from mistake, used a Dodge Dakota clip. Said the track width was just right, and no mods to the stock support. It was on an AD pick-up, not a sedan thou. Food for thought.

 

Did a CE MII on a '51, but since CE uses Heidts A-arms, I'm thinking why not just use Heidts?

For the budget-minded, you might check out priasethelowered's new thread:

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=546306

He fabricated his own MII for a '35 Olds, pretty cool.

 

...Mustang II fronts are a great way to go, Ch***is Eng.'s bolt-on would be my choice, but...

...here's a 49 Chev with a 70 Nova front clip with drum brakes, no problems at all, sits, rides, handles great, core support sits rite between front frame horns, used stock radiator. This car has thousands of trouble-free miles on it. I built it and a few other 49-52's with the same set-up, so I know it does work well.

....a lot of guys try to use clips with disc brakes which are wider or the next generation Nova clips which ARE too wide.