pinto front suspension and steering swap

I have found a 74 pinto and have heard that the front suspension and steering parts are the same as
mustang ll. Is this true and has anyone else done this swap with a pinto instead of mll?? What is the final cost of this swap by the time you replace most of the components? Would I be money ahead to wait and buy a kit? I have a close friend that is a good welder fabricator that is will to help. What would you do?

Go for it!
I always wondered why people pay +/-$2000. for a kit when you can pay $200. for a pinto...
Don't get me wrong, I like Pinto's and don't wish them any harm.
Please don't destroy any nice pintos in order to make another car better.
I'm just saying, try to find one that's been left for dead and has no future.
Then its like reincarnation...Your Falcon will have the soul of a Pinto!!

I am making araingments (sp?)to get the parts, not the whole car. I am going to do it. By the time I either buy the crites shock tower kit to fit in the 351W I have and then buy the disc brake conversion I will have more into it than I will with the pinto set up even replacing a few parts. Just will take more fabrication to make it all work but I think we can handle that. I will take some pictures as we do this and if it works well will try to post them so others can benefit from this too.
Will be starting it next week.

Widest wheels..."My plan for the sedan" ( 1 2 3 )

Read this. This man can set you straight.

Originally Posted by Ronbob

I have found a 74 pinto and have heard that the front suspension and steering parts are the same as
mustang ll. Is this true and has anyone else done this swap with a pinto instead of mll?? What is the final cost of this swap by the time you replace most of the components? Would I be money ahead to wait and buy a kit? I have a close friend that is a good welder fabricator that is will to help. What would you do?

You didn't say what kind of car you have. I made a nice brace for my 64 Faloc with a Saab rack & opinion & used standard outer tie rods from a Mustang (Manuel Steer). Lastly, I made a adjusting sleeve to mate the R & P rod to the tie rod. The brace allows to remove the oil pan, if ever needed. It bolts immediatly behind the lower a-arms with 3 sets of bolts made on each side. It has about 2" for pan clearance. I used heavy square tubing and angled cut them just right to fit to the frame. I used right angle steel to weld the brace to and to bolt to the frame. I used a square steel plate to weld to the brace and mount the R & P to the plate with only 2 bolts (like the M II and Pinto).
The R & P bolts horizontal to the plate, unlike the Pinto that bolts vertical to the front facing the front of the car. Also, be aware that the pinto R & P is set up to mate to spindles that are on the front side of the spindle, not the rear as in stock spindles.

I'm thinking he is wanting to put in the MII/Pinto front suspension so he can remove the shock towers.

Originally Posted by retyler

I'm thinking he is wanting to put in the MII/Pinto front suspension so he can remove the shock towers.

exactly. I have been following the widest wheels thread too.
I have a 64 falcon that is about to start on a long road back to the streets. I am still struggling with the final cost of doing this. I feel that if I leave the stock pinto Mll control arms on I am stopping half way. The least expensive tubular control arms that I can find are 699 for top and bottom. So I am still looking at at least 1200.00 to do this myself w/o a kit. I have found a kit for 1400.00 that is pretty comprehensive the only things I would need is new brake master cylinder, brake lines, proportioning block and steering shaft. Right now I dont have the funds to do this so looks like I may have to put this project on hold for a while :>(

Before you do any of this look at ALL the issues.I have talked to many owners that have done the M11 setup and they ALL say the same thing,THE CAR WON"T TURN LIKE IT USED TO!They seem to turn OK on older cars,30's to 40's,but not on Falcons and Comets.JMHO,ROY.

If all youre trying to do is put a W in there, you dont need to cut anything. All you need is the right set of headers.

Originally Posted by Roy

Before you do any of this look at ALL the issues.I have talked to many owners that have done the M11 setup and they ALL say the same thing,THE CAR WON"T TURN LIKE IT USED TO!They seem to turn OK on older cars,30's to 40's,but not on Falcons and Comets.JMHO,ROY.

I am thinking there are a few more considerations too. I know the difference in weight on front tires bothers me, for the Mustang had a few more pounds upon it. The front suspension may look the same but seldom is.

I know they sure do not STOP at the same rate.


Wm.