Mustang II front end in a 61 Falcon

Hi I'm new to this forum and I have just purchased a 61 Falcon with a 289 and C4. Some one has already installed disk brakes but may have left the 6 cylinder steering component on. When I am driving the car it wonders all over the road. The steering feels tight but when I jack up the car the tie rod is at a steep angle which is probably causing bump steer. Is there a good after market front end I can buy for the 61? Or is there a popular modifications I can do to get this car to handle better?

Thanks, Doug

I'm not sure....

Somebody will eventually chime in though

I had similar problem back when.

But leave the steering column in. Replace the bottom arm with that from a early Mustang. This will lower the position of the links under the oil pan some. Then replace the center section and ends of the tie rod with that from an early Mustang also. Think I had to use the Falcon ends, and remove and re-bush to fit the Mustang centers.

Main thing is to make the tie rod going under oil pan as horizontal as possible. Best to make within 1/8 inch of horizontal. Then take to wheel aliner biz and have them set the Toe-in.

Wm.

Sorry, I don't know much about the stock front ends, but that even at best they are not all that great.

I do have a Rod & Custom Motorsports Mustang II IFS in my '61 Falcon and it's great. I also went to a Flaming River steering column, but that was years after I installed the front end, and was not necessary to run the kit.

I would say, however, that you're better off doing a full-blown Shelby-fied front end. It will handle better than mine. I don't know what it entails, but does mean replacing most every single component you have with a Mustang type parts.

All this to say: don't put any money and work into your existing front end. Whatever you do, completely replace it.

Thanks for the replies. I would really like to use an after market setup and I would like to learn more about a Shelby-fied front end and what is involved.

The speed shop I deal with mentioned a McIvor cross member (I can't find any reference of it on the web) and using rack & pinion, control arms, drop spindles and brakes from TCI

I had a look at the Rod & Custom Motorsports setup and that is basically what I was looking for. I was wondering if there was any other similar after market suspension available?

I like the setup from Heidts but it is only for the 63-65 Falcon

Thanks Doug

The reason Heidts say 63-65 is because it's 5 lug and not 4. I used 6 cyl suspension for 25 years with a V8 with no problem. I do like the feel of the 63 V8 suspension I have now. Are you sure your idler arm is in good condition? All Mustang parts will swap except the centerlink...It's too wide. Don't be thinking you can cut a section out and weld it back up. The centerlink is heat treated and if you weld it the heat will make the part weak and brittle. It's true a professional welder be able to do this but getting centerlink from a 65 Falcon will be cheaper in the long run.

I too have the Rod & Custom Motorsports front end kit. The beauty of his kit is you can get the patch panels for your shock towers, steering column knuckles, brake power booster (which is an 83 corvette) everything at one place. I bought my kit back in 2000. It was installed on a 63 falcon convt. I had the 1" lowering a-arms, but otherwise stock mustang II. I then saved money by not having to have custom headers made. I was able to use 69 mustang 351W headers on my stroker 427 w/procharger.

john

I phoned Heidts and they had me measure my frame rails and they believe the 63-65 kit will work. Anyone here using the Heidts setup?

Heidts also has an option for narrowed control arms (5/8" per side).

You sound like your sold on heidts...? You do know you have to chop up your frame rails with heidts right? Rod & Custom fits like a glove with no frame cutting. I research this swap awhile, before choosing. I'm glad I went with R&C. Here's my installation link:MII

If I was going with a MII, I too would go with the R&C. I have no experience with any of them but I have seen the Heidt's up close and wasn't very impressed. One hot rodder told me he lost his right front wheel assembly because the mounts broke. He showed me the modifications he had to make to fix it. This has been a couple of years ago so maybe it's no longer a problem.
There seems to be a lot of extra parts you have to buy with the Heidt's and the bottom line is very close for the two mentioned.
If you have the time and talent you can do it a lot cheaper by buying the R&C cross member and building it yourself.
If there is another project in my future that's what I will do.