[tucker916]

At the risk of boring people to death with yet another MII question I'm asking anyway. I have a '52 Chevy truck and I'd like to put a MII front under it. Ideally I would just go buy a kit from an aftermarket supplier, but the cost is sort of prohibitive. Any sugestions on doing this cheaply/ safely? I'm not worried about how 'trick' it looks, in fact the more stock looking the better. Is it generally cheaper to just buy the crossmember then piece the rest from the salvage yard? Do rebuild parts run the cost up to compare with the hub to hub kits? I hate to sound cheap, I just don't want to spend 4 times what I paid for the truck just for the front suspension-I still need a motor.

[bailey40ford]

I understand your dilema and have read many posts on this board, all with a similar view, buy a crossmember from acredited supplier, they fit, are the correct width and have the correct castor and camber angles set in to the design to allow proper vehicle alignment.
buy if you can run to it a standard MII aftermarket set up, pressed steel arms etc, this is generally by far the best option as you will need to recon all the parts you fit unless you are sure they are 100%. This is steering and brakes where talking about and need to be right / safe.
All the advise I have ever seen on this subject suggests the same, I have however a footnote, I run a 40 ford coupe, I had a mustang 2 in good order (suspension wise), cut off the front frame, fitted the crossmember and all the parts etc, then ended up replacing all - and I mean all, the arms, joints, rack and even rotors to get it right (mustang 2's are also 4 stud with 9inch small discs). I basically waisted more time than i saved never mind the money. (never again ist false economy)
For my pick up I went straight to TCI in CA. never regreted it but had to wait a while to get the funds, better to wait than have the truck off the road or on the road unsafe.

[farna]

If price is more a concern than anything else consider alternatives to the MII -- Chrysler torsion bar clip (84 or later big cars) for example. You can usually find a low mileage wrecked New Yorker easy enough. More work on the frame, but if you do your own welding/cutting you won't have to much trouble or expense. I like the Chrysler clip -- self contained and much stronger (though heavier) than an MII. MII is better for light vehicles. You want the clip that has torsion bars running across the crossmember, not the ones that run parallel to the frome (for easier installation). Torsion bars ride smoother than coil springs too.

[bailey40ford]

I agree with Farna, I never considered the other options in answering your thread, and have done some other stuff but a while ago, considerations for a good front end may be the Volarie, I don,t know about availability of these but do know that torsion bar front clips where more popular than the IFS some years ago as where camaro clips and I had a 55 olds with a camaro front clip and this was spot on, brakes, steering etc - it drove a treat, and actually stopped.
there are loads of options and it may be just the abundance of companies selling mustang II stuf that keep them coming out on top but in honesty the olds with the camaro clip was the best ride and improvement I ever made. the mustang II is just more available aftermarket wise and well proven with plently od upgrade options, air, tube arms, stainless etc.

[willys36@aol.com]

Do a search on this board. This topic has bee beat to death MANY times.

I would consider using nothing but a stock MII X-member. I have done several and it is fairly easy to do, safer, cheaper ( I have been able to part out MIIs and get all of mine done for free!!) and I get the satisfaction of doing it myself. I can send you a couple of tech articles on doing the job yourself if you send me your e-mail address. Go see the closeup in my photo album of the one I did on a '42 Willys pick up.

[tucker916]

I decided to go with the original MII suspension and crossmember, so I called ALL the salvage yards in my area and all said the same thing- all out the circletrack guys got them all. I'm going to call around St. Louis next, hopefully I'll have better luck. Willys36, my email address is tucker916@mchsi.com. Those tech articles would be great if you get a chance.

[adtkart]

Willy can show you how to do it with the OEM stuff and still look good. Just don't tell him that I agreed with him. He'll get the wrong idea, and a big head to boot.

[willys36@aol.com]

Originally posted by adtkart
Willy can show you how to do it with the OEM stuff and still look good. Just don't tell him that I agreed with him. He'll get the wrong idea, and a big head to boot.

That's reason enough to go to Tibet and become a monk!

[EBlack36]

tucker916, the swap meet at the Woodlands in KCK is coming up in August you might want to make the trip it is normally a good event (although the one in april is better). Besides the mustang II try the pinto, bocat. They made tons of these cars so I would think you will be able to find one someplace.

[tucker916]

I found a set here in Columbia, but they want $250 for the controll arms and spindles. That seems high to me. Can anyone give me an idea of what they paid? Eblack- I plan on going to the swap meet in Sedalia and the one in Springfield if I don't find any by then.

[tucker916]

I emailed ibuildem, who owns a rod shop in Washington and he quoted me a really good price on a hub to hub air ride set up from TCI. After I do a bit more penny scraping I might go that route. I wish we had a shop that would work with you in the Columbia- St. Louis area. Thanks Tim.

[JoeBaronie]

Willy36 could you please e-mail me your tech articles on doing the stock MII suspension yourself or point me in the direction where i can find it. jonce@mindspring.com
Thank you
Joe

[willys36@aol.com]

Done.