Parts For a Heidts Crossmember - Educate Me?

[jrdamien]

So I've got a lead on an incomplete Heidts crossmember. The guy gas everything but spindles and calipers for 11" rotors. Can I use any GM metric parts for this?

[ghettoluxury]

Is it a Mustang II kit or GM metric? If it is GM then yes any set of metric spindles and calipers can be used.

[Kabwe]

What year truck is it for?

If for a 55-59 get a t-bird rack, gm rotors and calipers, you can find spindles for a mustang 2 suspension all day but I like the heidts ones. Upper and lower arms came are plentiful.

I also pieced mine together.

[jrdamien]

Originally Posted by ghettoluxury

Is it a Mustang II kit or GM metric? If it is GM then yes any set of metric spindles and calipers can be used.

It's for a Heidts Crossmember, per the title of the post, and aren't all Heidts crossmembers for a 49-54 truck Mustang II crossmembers made by Heidts?

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by jrdamien

It's for a Heidts Crossmember, per the title of the post, and aren't all Heidts crossmembers for a 49-54 truck Mustang II crossmembers made by Heidts?

Nope heidts make them for both series. Its still cool you can still use what I said. Just use the 1979-1993 Mustang rack. If you go power rack the later ones are less sensitive.

[jrdamien]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Nope heidts make them for both series. Its still cool you can still use what I said. Just use the 1979-1993 Mustang rack. If you go power rack the later ones are less sensitive.

But it's for a 49-54...

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by jrdamien

It's for a Heidts Crossmember, per the title of the post, and aren't all Heidts crossmembers for a 49-54 truck Mustang II crossmembers made by Heidts?

Nope heidts make them for both series. Its still cool you can still use what I said. Just use the 1979-1993 Mustang rack. If you go power rack the later ones are less sensitive.

[jrdamien]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Nope heidts make them for both series. Its still cool you can still use what I said. Just use the 1979-1993 Mustang rack. If you go power rack the later ones are less sensitive.

So I can just use parts from Napa?

[Kabwe]

Yeah but I believe you may have cheaper options out there from other vendors.

[jrdamien]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Yeah but I believe you may have cheaper options out there from other vendors.

Any suggestions? Do you know how to go about setting up power steering with the Heidts?

[Kabwe]

Yeah I do. If you are going to use a Chevy power steering pump and mate it to a Ford rack the problem you will have is that the pressure is higher than need which will cause the steering to be very sensitive and twitchy. To resolve the issue Borgeson GM P/S Pump Pressure Valve Shim Kit.

Don't worry about all this stuff now buy the components you want to use and than ask question as the issue come up or you will be over whelmed. If you want to run power rack do it.

I think I have some rotors with a chevy bolt pattern (I bought drilled and slotted rotors) that you can use they are yours for free you just have to pay for the shipping. They have surface rust but they have never been used. So that is one thing you don't have to worry about. They are just setting in my backyard wasting away.

Here is the list I kept from when I pieced mine together

Ebay Big Brake Kit Chevy Pattern 257.00 (comes with rotors if you go this route
Ebay Heidts 2" Drop Spindles $92.19
Speedway Motors Coil Springs $90.00
Speedway Motors Mustang II Spindle Nut and Washer kit $5.95
Speedway Motors Coil Springs Cushion $18.95
Speedway Motors Tbird Power Rack & Pinion $174.00
Ebay Shocks $49.70

[jrdamien]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Yeah I do. If you are going to use a Chevy power steering pump and mate it to a Ford rack the problem you will have is that the pressure is higher than need which will cause the steering to be very sensitive and twitchy. To resolve the issue Borgeson GM P/S Pump Pressure Valve Shim Kit.

Don't worry about all this stuff now buy the components you want to use and than ask question as the issue come up or you will be over whelmed. If you want to run power rack do it.

I think I have some rotors with a chevy bolt pattern (I bought drilled and slotted rotors) that you can use they are yours for free you just have to pay for the shipping. They have surface rust but they have never been used. So that is one thing you don't have to worry about. They are just setting in my backyard wasting away.

Here is the list I kept from when I pieced mine together

Ebay Big Brake Kit Chevy Pattern 257.00 (comes with rotors if you go this route
Ebay Heidts 2" Drop Spindles $92.19
Speedway Motors Coil Springs $90.00
Speedway Motors Mustang II Spindle Nut and Washer kit $5.95
Speedway Motors Coil Springs Cushion $18.95
Speedway Motors Tbird Power Rack & Pinion $174.00
Ebay Shocks $49.70

Hey awesome list. I have the rotors, 5 lug, which is fine because the rear wil be 5 lug (if I can find it).

Now my big concern is that the Heidts will ride TOO low. I don't want it too low.

[Kabwe]

Don't use drop spindles.

[jrdamien]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

Don't use drop spindles.

You mean don't use drop spindles and it won't be too low?

[Kabwe]

Originally Posted by jrdamien

You mean don't use drop spindles and it won't be too low?

You will not be as low, but you will be lower than stock that is a givin.

[jrdamien]

Originally Posted by Kabwe

You will not be as low, but you will be lower than stock that is a givin.

Any remedy to this? Taller springs?

[Root2812]

I just ordered my Fatman IFS today, not heidts but similar, and the sales man said that with the stock spindles there is a 2-4 inch drop built into the kit. Now depending on your tire choice you shouldn't have any problem being that low. I opted for the stock spindle at 2-4 inches drop instead of the drop spindle at 4-6 inches drop because I plan to run a smaller wheel (15inch). If I were to run a taller set up like 20's or something I may want to go 2 inches lower.

[jrdamien]

Originally Posted by Root2812

I just ordered my Fatman IFS today, not heidts but similar, and the sales man said that with the stock spindles there is a 2-4 inch drop built into the kit. Now depending on your tire choice you shouldn't have any problem being that low. I opted for the stock spindle at 2-4 inches drop instead of the drop spindle at 4-6 inches drop because I plan to run a smaller wheel (15inch). If I were to run a taller set up like 20's or something I may want to go 2 inches lower.

I won't be using drops regardless. But I am curious if any combo of tires or springs can compensate for the 2" drop built into the crossmember.

[1 bootlegger]

Root2812, I have a FM MII on my truck sounds like the same kit. It is the lower and narrower kit, the rack is a stock width rack no tie rod extensions needed. Truck in primer stock spindles ,truck in paint 2" dropped

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by jrdamien

You mean don't use drop spindles and it won't be too low?

It's what one's idea of too low is. I like mine right at the scrub line but some guys like them lower and chance it and now it seems that some guys want the independent front end but want stock AD truck ride height.

The spindles you use be they MII style or G body GM style will depend on the ball joints in the control arms you get.

As for going with the Mustang II spindle stock Ford or aftermarket Kabwe pretty well outlined what you need to do. Where you source the parts is up to you. There is also a lot of info on the net on setting up the spindles and brakes on one of these front ends.

[Root2812]

Originally Posted by 1 bootlegger

Root2812, I have a FM MII on my truck sounds like the same kit. It is the lower and narrower kit, the rack is a stock width rack no tie rod extensions needed. Truck in primer stock spindles ,truck in paint 2" dropped

Those trucks look good. What size wheel and tire combo is on the truck in primer?

I didn't know they offered a "lower and narrower"kit. I just asked for the stage 2 IFS kit. I just looked and you must have this..
http://www.fatmanfabrications.co/pro...sion-ifs-kits/

I got this
http://www.fatmanfabrications.co/pro...b-kits-stages/

[1 bootlegger]

Root2812 , Both Trucks are the same one just before and after paint. Changed to 2" dropped spindles before painting. Front whls are 15x6 -3 1/2 bs, 195/65 R15. Rear whls 17x8 -3 3/4 bs, 235/65 r17 tires . 9" narrowed ford ,59"ms/ms, 2" tubs, has air ride.

[jrdamien]

Originally Posted by 1 bootlegger

Root2812 , Both Trucks are the same one just before and after paint. Changed to 2" dropped spindles before painting. Front whls are 15x6 -3 1/2 bs, 195/65 R15. Rear whls 17x8 -3 3/4 bs, 235/65 r17 tires . 9" narrowed ford ,59"ms/ms, 2" tubs, has air ride.

Both trucks look amazing and I do like the lower stance, but it'd be tough to drive either when there's snow on the ground and I'd be weary of using either with a load or on dirt roads.

Obviously that's not what yours are for (well maybe not obviously), but mine is going to be used as a truck. In which case an mii may not be a good idea.