fatman fab. vs. rod factory for my 54

I'm almost ready to buy my mustang II with airbags for my 54 chevy. hopefully 2 weeks to a month away. I am pretty set on using the fatman stage IV, but have recently heard of rod factory in AZ.
I know there are tons of other companies that make m II's, but I'm trying to avoid having to Z the frame so fatman has the "ultra low" crossmember, and rod factory has the "slam" crossmember. I know Alex reccomends fatman and I totally trust him. But just for ****s, has anyone used a rod factory MII with a "slam" crossmember on a 54? Thanks

 

I think I would go with the FATMAN but that is because he is originally from were I am located. And he has been doing it for ever

 

I hear ya.

 

I'm very interested in this too, 'specially since I really am not crazy about Fatman kits, but none of the other makes get the car as low as it ought to be.

Fatman's stuff is serviceable, but I consider it a last resort for when nobody makes the stuff for your particular car.

 

being in phoenix az and having installed both rod factory and fatman stuff i definetly would use rod factory, his c/m will get the car low without dropped spindles the whole idea behind a slam c/m. on my own stuff i use a stock must 11 and notch it deep. this gets the car low. you will need to c/notch the frame rails for rack clearance and maybe add some angle brkts to roll the rack back for better steering shaft line up. i think fatman is a better salesman than a engineer.

 

I have a bias - I am the Fat Man ad guy.

They have been doing this for 25 years. The founder is a mechanical engineer. They have over 35 thousand suspension kits in service. And, they are a HAMB Alliance Member. Just 'cause they keep the prices low doesn't mean their stuff is not top quality.

Talk to both and make your own choice.

 

Check out No Limit Engineering....just installled they're Ultra low air glide set up...just another option...very happy with it.....good luck....heres the link.. they are located in San Bernardino...great service, very helpful..
http://www.nolimit.net/prodinfo.asp?number=AG%2DMNL

 

I have had nothing but problems with Fat Man....I ordered narrowed control arms...disc brake kit...dropped spindles....and dropped springs for a Nova front end....this was supposed to lower it a total of 3".....well the whole front end dropped to the ground so the wheels wouldn't even turn....the upper control arms were different lengths....nothing about the whole kit worked except the brakes....the guys at fatman were real nice to deal with, but couldn't solve anything....they said to send the stuff back, and that it happens a lot....it was a huge h***le and still ongoing....I have used TCI before and got a complete Mustang 2 set-up from them....the quality was waaay better and the stuff installed like ****er....absolutely better quality, fit, and finish.....

 

outlaw, how much have you drove your car since you've had the set-up. looks killer.

 

Man Paucho that ****s. Hope it works out.

 

So your saying the rod factory stuff is engineered better in your eyes? Have you had problems with fatman or do you just prefer rod factory?

 

paucho,s post is the same deal i had, dont work send it back and sooner or later you get tired of sending stuff back and move on. check out the post "more drop on my 49 chevy" and see what i mean by useing a slam c/m to get the car low. this car has just the oposite of a slam c/m. one of the reason i use the rod factory stuff is i can walk in the door and get service instead of dealing over the phone and 5 day ups, and yes the stuff works.

 

I will most definately, just tryin to get some pros/cons. Thanks for the info.

 

Well...when I said just installed..I meant just installed!..will be drivable in about a week or two...heres another pic of it....took about an hour to install..super easy......

 

I second the vote on TCI. I have installed a few of their kits and never an issue. I have never tried a FatMan, so nothing to say either way. As for The Rod Factory, I used to use them and don't think they ever did anything right (at least for my personal experience). Case in point. I had a 66 mustang steering box with the 1" pitman arm. I went down and told them what I had and no issues, he sells me a pitman arm. I get it home, too big. So, I take the old arm and the new one to him. Karl himself says "no problem, we can take your old arm and make you a new one." 2 months later and the arm is done (yea 2 months). I pick it up, and what they had done was cut out about a 1/4" around my splines and welded them into a blank they cut. I get it home, and when you bolted the arm up it sat too close to the frame especially since they made it so the tie rod would be between the frame and the arm. If the taper would have gone the other way, no issues. So, 2 months and $100 later, I get to make my own arm anyway.

 

out law 52. in looking at your post i dont get how this is ultra low. the rack is below the rails and the upper arm mtg plate seem short. does the rack hang below the c/m. and what does the ride height look like when the a arms are leveled up. are you useing dropped spindles to get it low.

 

I ordered a fatman kit for my 48 chevy a few years ago.. When air ride was a new thing.. It installed easy enough.. However.. I set the alignment at ride hight.. A month later I was at the alingment shop again.. I was told by the guys at Fatman that it was normal with air ride.. ********!!.... I got ahold of Howard Kaye at Chubby Ch***is.. In about a day he had the problem solved.. Had to do with the upper control arm mounts.. Since then I have used 5 of the Chubby Ch***is front ends and I won't use any other.. He just sent me a crossmember for my 59 dodge town wagon.. It's a coil over.. not air.. Looks sweet....... Opinions are like ***holes.. Everybody has one... This is just mine.. Good luck..

 

Do you have a link to chubby Ch***is?

 

Hey thanks for the pics, those help. Is this the first no limit one you have installed, or do you know others who have? I also thought you would have had to notch for the rack. Does it hang below the crossmember? Good job on the install, it looks good.
The kit wasn't a bad price, I just looked at it.

 

I'm not sure if he still has a web site.. I do have his cell number.. he just relocated tothe kingman az. area.. you can reach howard at (928) 303-9651

 

Ok, maybe I used the term "ultra low" wrong....The rack does not hang below the c/m..but another thing to note is I have not installed the notches that come with the kit for the rack to sit inside the frame a bit..for now Im using the stock trans c/m modified a bit, so aired out it hits the trans c/m and the frame is about an inch or two off the ground....With it hitting the trans c/m first, theres no need to notch the front frame...planning on putting a bump stop to prevent it hitting anything in case a bag fails...before I installed the trans c/m it would lay the frame out on the ground and actually lay the front c/m on the ground...this way I would have to notch for the rack...no drop spindles either...it has about seven inches of travel...the angled bag mounts allow full stroke....dont have a pic of it at ride height yet..but will soon...

 

I have been running a fatman frontend kit on my truck for ten years. I have never had one minute of trouble out of that install. I rides great, runs straight and is solid. The instructions are easy and it aligns great. My money on the Fatman!

 

I don't doubt tci's quality at all, the only thing is they don't have an "ultra low" crossmember or whatever you want to call it, and I will end up having to z the frame to get it where I want it.

 

Anyone ever tried the speedway kit? http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/208...ol-Arm-Independent-Front-Suspension-Kits.html
http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/7981,359_1949-1954-Chevy-Car-Heidts-Mustang-II-Crossmembers.html

 

It comes with the notches for the rack..and does not hang below the c/m..but with me running the stock trans c/m, it hits that before the front c/m hits...when I decide to change out the trans c/m, I will have to notch the frame for the rack...but its pretty damn low the way it is now! First one I installed, actually a friend of mine turned me on to No Limit because he was unhappy with the M II he purchased. They had those kits on sale a few weeks ago for $1399! Stop by the shop, you can see some of the cars they are building using this kit...

 

If you install a Waltons Fabrication trans crossmember( $189) and install the no limit kit, you should be on the ground! This pick is of the frame laying on the trans c/m...swap that c/m out and its on the ground!

 

Who makes the trans C/M that is even with the frame so when you air it out... the frame lays flat? Or is it easier just to make your own?

 

I guess it wouldn't hurt to drive by the shop, it's only like 15 min from me.