So my project is a 48 Ford Coupe, and I have no idea which direction to go. I have a few options and I am throwing this on here to get some opinions and insight from the wealth of knowledge on this board. One thing I know for sure is I'm broke and cannot afford a high dollar resto-mod project so it'll be low-buck, but here is what I have in my possesion to work with so far. 1. 48 is pretty complete, good frame, not all hacked up. I want to update the front and rear suspension, SBF powered. 2. Mustang II front clip complete, only problem is small brakes/4 lug. 3. Ford Explorer rear end, year unknown, electronic locker, drum brakes. 4. Complete donor car, 79 Mustang w/ good running factory 302/C4. 5. Complete donor car, 94 Mustang GT w/ 302 H.O. injected/five speed. My original idea was the mustang II front with exloder rear, 302/C4, but the thought of using all of the 94 GT and basically transplanting everything to the coupe would be cool. Any info on using the 94 k-member and rear 4 link in a hot rod out there anywhere, or is it just to complicated to try? BTW, my total investment so far is around $500. The coupe and the GT cost me a little wrenching, the front clip and rear end cost me $200 and the 79 was $300. I am itching to get something going but I cannot make up my mind, so help me out guys. Any pros, cons, whys, "your and idiot" comments welcome. Thanks D.
You need to decide whether you want the ride of IFS or straight axle first before cutting into anything. IFS is smooth, but the 302 has a front pan dip so watch clearance with the MII crossmember as front rack set ups eliminate hitting the oil pan. Check ECI web page, Granada rotors are 5 lug and work with the MII spindles and gives you a bigger caliper as well. The rear leaf spring set up works good and makes a nice smooth ride as well. Check the axle width on the explorer rear, I know there is a difference in width between 4x2 and 4x4, just like Chevy. Carburated is cool, but EFI gets you better mileage and times if thats what your looking for. Street & Performance has a real easy and affordable EFI harness that will save you headaches and hair.
I plan on an IFS setup, just can't decide between the MII or the SN95 front. The rear out of the 94 is the one I will use for sure as it will give me disks in the rear, just haven't decided whether to use the stock four link mustang setup or use a parallel leaf. Pans are also no concern as I have a pan for each front setup. Chris55 - this build will be all Ford, so none of this S-10 frame talk This is also the reason I do not want to use the Granada rotors on the MII as I hear I have to use a GM caliper.
Mustang II front clip complete, only problem is small brakes/4 lug. Speedway has new rotors (not redrilled} that are 5 lug. available with 5 on 4 3/4 or 5 on 4 1/2 bolt pattern. reasonably priced. I ran a set on my c-cab for many years without any problems
here is my build thread http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=421572 it may give you some ideas on the 302 swap. I have a 5.0 efi in my '28, look at www.fordfuelinjection.com for more info than you need on 5.0 efi's I used a chassis engineering crossmember (may be out of your budget) and stock Mustang II suspension. A post war ford is 2" wider than older models, and the Mustang II, so a different offset wheel, or a widened crossmember and steering rack will be needed. I also used a chassis engineering kit for the parallel rear springs. Nice stuff. The car is a dream to drive. enjoy your ride!
Not sure what a SN95 front is but the tried and true solution would be the MII cross-member. You can buy them in all price ranges and parts are readily available. As for the rear, unless you are building a race car you do not need disc brakes so the next thing to concern yourself with would be the width and how you are going to mount it. Leaf spring kits are easy, 4 link gives you added adjustment. Another question would be, are you a welder or a wrencher?
Mechanic/Fabricator is my day job so doing it is not the problem, making up my mind is the problem. Just want opinions so I can be informed. The MII is tried and true, that is why I have one, was just wondering about the fox/sn95 k-member, if anyone has dared to try it, 'cause I'm kinda leaning that way. Fabrication is cheap, parts are not.
Here's how I would tell you to decide if you were asking MY advice - Walk in to any "Rod Repair Shop area" at any Street Rod or Custom show at 1PM on a sunday and say "I need a wheel bearing for a fox/sn95 front end". Then ask the same question and say MII and see how many people can help you with parts to get you home. I think you'll have your answer which way to go. I have bought plenty through Chassis Engineering because they are builders like us and they just seem to understand, "gearhead" language. Dual parallel leaf is easy to install, maintain and it's always a smooth ride ! MII with dual parallel leaf and it's like driving a couch down the road. Street and performance for the EFI harness, speedway motors for the 5 lug rotors. Follow the advice from those who only mean to guide you as it can save you much hassle when you need to get home from ANY show, not only say at 10PM coming back from York, PA street rod nationals back in 1995. Tried and true won World War II !
I have a 46 coupe I am building as a driver, it is going on a modified chevelle chassis mostly because I have the chassis and its free but also the availability for any chassis parts. If you really want to do it low buck then why not keep the original chassis? there are tons of members on here that run the original suspension and it would save a ton of cash to just rebuild the front end and use the fox body rear axle.
Because I already have all the parts I need, just can't make up my mind yet. Every piece has it's pros and cons. Good point, but most towns having a rod show will have a O'Reily's or Auto Zone that will have the SN95/Fox parts. So far I think it will be parallel leaf rear with the 94 rear end (cause it has discs and the right ratio I want.) I think it is a limited slip as well. Length is no issue. The explorer rear is a little too narrow for my liking. The 94 injected 302/T-5. I hear the 79 302 was kinda gutless, as well as no money for performance parts. Both are low mile runners. I want to use the MII, but I don't like the limitations on brakes. the SN95 can be upgraded to 13 inch Cobra brakes later with no mods. Plus the k-member is already set up for the motor, cause it's sitting in it already in the 94.
As far as parts go I always carry extra with me, at least the hard to find stuff. On bearings, I carry enough for one wheel. I even carry extra brake parts. That way if something happens late, I'm good to go. Yes i know its a drag to carry all those parts around, but better safe than sorry.
SN95 front suspension is going to cost a fortune to make work, as there is no easy way to attach the front struts to the chassis. There is a kit that does away with the struts by adding upper control arms, but it costs a fortune. It's just not practical. I know someone who tried it, and I ended up getting all of his hacked up Mustang parts once he figured out that it wouldn't work.
This is also the reason I do not want to use the Granada rotors on the MII as I hear I have to use a GM caliper. Early in the M11 installations, there was a bracket/spacer that bolted to spindle that allowed the use of the Granada caliper over the Granada rotor, on the M11 spindle. It replaced the original caliper cradle.
Well I think I've decided to go with the MII front end with aftermarket tubular upper and lower contol arms so I can delete the lower strut rod, And order me a set of 5 bolt rotors from Speedway. As far as the steering racks go, which years were better than others? I have the 3 one is a year 1976, one is a 79, and one is a 94. I guess setting all 3 side by side and measuring to see what fits what is really the only way to tell.
The Jalopy Journal
