there are several companys and most have web sites.....rod and coustoms is one (RC motorsports) streetrod enginering is another....but there are countless company's out there I forgot the name of the company but after I had mine in I actually found a company that sells one for our cars (crossmember) for $229 had I found them before hand then I would have bought one of thiers (time savings) and I could afford that....
Thanks Robert. And congratulations on the "birth of your son" As far as weight goes - I've been trying to add everything up (kind of a moving target depending on years and options) and a 385 series engine with aluminum heads, intake, and water pump doesnt appear to be much more than a 302 with iron everything and power steering. I'm kind of figuring on adding a glass hood and bumper and with the battery located in the trunk - the weight can't be too far off. I'm discounting transmisison weight as I was figuring on using a built C4. I have a 351M /C4 bellhousing out of a 78 LTD. One more follow up question - did you make your control arm eliminators or did you pick them up somewhere? Also, do you ever visit Network 54/385 engine forum? Tons and tons of 385 info there if you haven' t already heard of it. Fearmont80 - enjoyed the photos and especially the primer black. I'm kind of a softie for the alternate FOX bodies. I had an 80 Cougar for several years before I junked it. I really liked that car - but the front subframe (part the K member bolts to) rusted through among several other areas. Cleaver
Robert, I thought they were called strut rod eliminators.. you have two control arms I believe he bought them at a circle track place.
Robert, how far did you move the engine back, if at all? Just curious....I've got mine in & working on the fuel plumbing & stuff, but had to move the motor back 5" to get the center of gravity down & to let the pan clear the rack. I still had to use spacers between the rack & X-member, but it was not hard and placed the rack & tie rods in perfect alignment with the spindles, hopefully eliminating bump-steer. I did see one guy that put the rack on back, then swapped sides with the spindles. That worked too, but I didn't think of that until later after I modified the X-member. Oh my other question was this: Who makes a good adjustable (prefereably externally adjustable) front shock that bolts in place of the original on the pinto/mustang II? Until I can afford coil-overs & Aerospace brakes, I am stuck with the factory-style setup. I hope it works!
Mavman I just set the motor back as far as I could with the stock firewall....I still have full interior......as far as the shocks go I hav'nt gotten that far yet I just have stock type but I believe afco makes them.....and what are you running for front disc brakes:?: I am running m2 spindles maverick/granada rotors,bearings,and seals (bearings and seals are the same part #'s) and gm metric calipers.......and brackets I bought at the local circle track shop that bolts directly to the spindles and to the calipers.......(they fit perfect)....as far as the strut rod elimenators they were made by a guy here local.....this way I have 11" discs front and rear........and let me say that durring the break in on the cam yesterday......those headers are freeking loud I still find myself going WHAT DID YOU SAY
oh yes and sorry cleaver I do go to the 385 web site as well they are a bunch of good guy's......And Jayman I'm still trying to figure out how you crossmember saged:confused: for it to give then your frame rails would have had to of shifted as well I was serious when I asked that ????
Robert! Broke in the cam???? You makin progress boy. Glad to hear. Man, that is going to be one beastly car. Dan
My front discs are the factory 9" M2/Pinto units. I figured that since the car was actually lighter than the pintos & mustangs they came on, they'd work (at least until I get some extra $$$ for aerospace or Wilwood lightweight kit). Hope to have mine running in a week or so. I'll let ya know how those Stahl headers sound. They look good!
Thanks guys for all the info. Keep us updated. Robert - I hate to go over to FordMaverick to see photos - but I guess I'll have to if you keep posting here in stealth mode. Yea those guys at 385 forum are really some informed people. I laugh out loud when some of them post how disappointed they are because their first dyno tuning sessions only yielded 750 some odd HP and they were sure they would belt out over 900. When I think of "sick horsepower freaks" --those are the guys I have in mind. Cleaver
Does anyone have a web site for the companies that sell the M2 front end? going to need some more room in there to fit that pro charger in and the rack and pinion sounds like it would help. thanks, John
Thanks Mavaholic, any others? figure might as well do it in case the 5.0 with the pro charger isn't enough, can always go big block!
My apologies... If my tendancy to measure the difficulty of a project in beer has offended anyone, I really do apologize.
