Has anyone here ever used one of the Mustang II crossmembers that Speedway sells? They are at least $100 cheaper than the Fatman ones, just wondering if they worked as good? I need one for a 49 Chevy coupe.
I talk to ElPolacko here on the HAMB... He's the man at Industrial Ch***is and they have a much higher quality product... i.e. the geometry is correct...
My Dad is an original old school rodder, and he is telling me forget the SB Chevy 350/350 trans and Mustang II front end and Ford 9" rear and leave the original front suspension in it and run a hopped up inline 6 with an automatic trans, that way he says I can skip all the conversions?? Don't most people switch these over to a V8 and update all the suspension stuff? I want to be able to drive the car at highway speeds.
The crossmember your talking about used to be made by lakeshore or lakeside fabrication of columbia mo. They make those and just about every other M- II piece available for speedway and other manufacturers. The owners the Whitesides used to be heavily involved with Indy car suspension if that says anything. I'm not sure what your putting it on but Trailer-ed has had them specially built might pm him. Pool
IF your suspension is in good condition (low miles, nothing bent, etc.) and IF you can find a 6 that will fit right in without modifying the firewall, then yes, you can drive the car on the highway. I've had a '54 Pontiac with all original suspension and brakes, and now have a '53 Chevy with Mustang II and a V-8, and I'll tell you right now the suspension and motor updates make the cars handle, stop, and go better (although the ride is just as good or better with original suspension). It is a LOT of work to do it, though, and plenty of people like the original stuff just fine. The only way to really know what you want would be to drive a car that's been done each way. There's no "right" way; it's all a matter of taste and preference. Personally, I don't care for sixes, but others love'em. You can personal message me if you want details about doing the full conversion, but there are plenty of other HAMBers who have experience with it, too.
If everything is in good shape, why wouldnt you be able to cruise freeway speeds? Id say leave the stock front end, but make sure its good, maybe swap in a later 6/auto combo (it will fit).. course at that point you will need to change your rear end... Not that much work, but a lot less that all that other ****, and you will have a car you can take anywhere.. BTW, I drove my 54 with all the original stuff on the free way everyday, and took sevral roadtrips in it.... It did fine, as long as you werent in too much of a hurry...
Kevin and the boys at Lakeshore Fab in Columbia do a great job- and that ******** about -"price is what you get"- DOES NOT APPLY here. Their products are second to none! they manufacture a complete line of suspension and custom hinges etc and actually make the crossmembers that many other hotrod retailers sell as "theirs".
I agree....Many good intentions have turned bad 'cuz projects were started that were beyond the skills of the builder or the tools/$$$ available for the job. Those 50's Chevys are nice cars AS IS...you just have to get into a 50's frame of mind....it ain't no Ferrari...I drove my brother's '52 a lot at highway sppeds (60 NOT 80!) without any problems..
Go to ANY traditional hot rod show and tell all those "Stovebolt" six guys that they can't drive their cars...be ready for a fight!
a buddy just got done installing one in his f1.....said it fit nice ...and went in nice.....he did end up splurging.....and did buy a pair of new lower control arms.....ha brandon
just a quick comment about the Lakeshore MII crossmember- I bought a Southern Rods complete front last year, for a '56 F100. It had a Lakeshore crossmember kit. VERY NICE!!!!!! the fit and finish were excellent. No boxing plates with it (though this would not apply to your Chev) and only 2" extended instead of 4" (also not applicable to yours) The rest of the components from Southern Rods were pretty much COMPLETE JUNK, but the crossmember was nice.
Ive got two of the crossmembers from lakeshore and there both are nice quality, ones for a 40 ford pickup and the other is for a 34 chevy.
you all are retards if you think those are good designs.....they only weld to the bottom of you rails.... go buy a heidts... my god it doesn't matter how "nice quality" a peice is if you knock it off going down the road..
The Jalopy Journal
