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Author
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Topic: Strut or MII front suspension Your opinions please
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SundanceKid
Gearhead Posts: 1260
From: UT
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 06-06-2003 05:02 AM
   
I have looked at making my own suspension pieces, I have looked a TCP's offerings, But I have finaly narrowed down what I want to do for the front suspension to either a MII crossmember kit either Heidts or Rod&Custom or Fatman Fabrications Strut style suspension. Both have their pluses and minuses. I am leaning more towards the MII kit then the struts, but the MII might have structural integrety problems? Any engineers out there have any theories on this?Thanks for any thoughts opinions or info.
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KULTULZ
Gearhead Posts: 783
From: Rockville, MD
Registered: Oct 2002
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posted 06-06-2003 10:00 AM
I would go with the later strut suspension as you will have access to bigger brakes and better steering.But you are going to lose camber on hard turns because it doesn't employ upper control arms. The MUST II conversion will not lose structural strength as it utilizes replacement panels where the spring towers are cut out, retaining the integrity of the aprons and rails.. The best approach would be to use the MN-12 front suspension off a late BIRD or COUGAR. Best of both worlds.
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SundanceKid
Gearhead Posts: 1260
From: UT
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 06-06-2003 03:49 PM
I don't realy like alot of the "engineering" ideas that Fatman designed into their kit. I would more then likely replace most of the kit if I went that route. I would probably only use the lower a-arms and the spindle adaptors the rest in my humble opinion is crap! The rack mount is hidious they should have made a crossmember to replace the existing one and I see them using the tilt columb only as a way to get more money out of the kit. Instead of the included sleaves I would buy adj coilover struts from one of the many available vendors. And the rest of the kit you have to supply anyway. So basicly for my needs give me the lower A-arms and the spindle steering adapters for 2000.00 egh dono about that! As for the MII kit I can get all of the bonuses (no shock towers, Better motor mounts, tubular A-arms, Front brakes that match my rear ones Less weight and adj. coilover shocks included.) The only negative is the stresses that "may" be caused by the weight of the car being distributed differently then stock? I sat down a drew a picture of the stock suspension the strut suspension and the MII suspension. I desided where the weight of the car was disributed and with all three designs the weight goes strait to the frame in the end, with more weight going to the fire wall if using the stock or struts. I don't see any problems because of the patch panel and the sheer strength it would add to the rest of the inner fender. Speculations?
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JCQuinn@work
Gearhead Posts: 826
From: Lakewood, CO, USA
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 06-06-2003 05:12 PM
I have seen a couple of threads on this site refering to problems with the lower control arm mounting point of the Heidts kit. I would recommend doing a search and reading them.John
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jsracingbbf
Gearhead Posts: 2751
From: Batesville,MS. , U.S.A.
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 06-06-2003 06:50 PM
I used a tubular A arm kit, but then again mine isn'ty a street car. the kit I used comes from Auto weld and they re-locate the lower control arm stabilizer bar forward instead of rearward like a MII set-up. This is the only MII kit for me, if I didn't have this I'd use strut.
http://mustangsandmore.50megs.com/jsracingbbf.html JS
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TomP
Gearhead Posts: 5761
From: Delta BC Canada
Registered: Dec 99
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posted 06-07-2003 02:57 AM
I've seen some pretty poorly engineered designs that are popular... the lower control arms that don't use a strut rod ... so much reliance on welded joints... most of those things are not going to be durable and catastrophic failure is not the sort of thing you want happening to your front suspension.The struts is a better way, simple, loads of engine bay width and much more foolproof for failures. The stock struts such as those used in Datsun Z cars incorporates a rack and the control arms on a bolt-in crossmember which could be easily adapted, needing only to hook up the steering column and mount the tops of the struts to give proper camber and caster.
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fastford34
Gearhead Posts: 836
From: penna
Registered: May 2002
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posted 06-07-2003 08:36 AM
since i have heidts mii on my 34,i`ve follwed this WEAK design problem since the beginning. what the REAL problem was/is,people not using the strut rods & POOR craftsmanship!! a lot of bullsh** came out of this because some one couldnt weld/thought since there are a few kits without strut rods,they dont need them! the 1 (and i mean 1)problem on a Heidts product has been resolved with the owner. although Gary Heidt would not say it,it was owner installation that was the root cause of the problem. all of the steet rods,custom cars,etc,running Heidts and there was 1 malfuntion (?),i`m still running on the street since 1996 with no trouble & i`ve gone over the front end myself looking for breaks,cracks,signs of stress more than i can count since these stories came out. i was doing 70 mph on the turnpike yesterday & now i`m back!!!! use the Heidts, just my .02 ------------------
34 coupe powered by 351 c 4v
keith [This message has been edited by fastford34 (edited 06-07-2003).]
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jsracingbbf
Gearhead Posts: 2751
From: Batesville,MS. , U.S.A.
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 06-08-2003 01:21 AM
Yeah what Keith said,  Look there are lots of aftermarket MII suspensions on race cars and on street rods out there. If you install the thing right AND buy one from somewhere that is reputable, you WONT have a problem. The only issue with Drag cars is that the strut front end is a little lighter, but less forgiving on some tracks. The A arm set up is a tad heavier although it handles the bigger bumps better on a drag car.
For street it's a toss up also. Many examples of both out there. I could have gone with a strut front on mine, but for what I am doing an A Arm fit the bill better.
Pinto or Mustang 2 setup, everyone makes them Alston, chassisshop, autoweld, Pulley, etc. They also make great strut kits too. We put a strut front under a friend of mine's DRAg only 69 Cougar. But he runs a small block and his car is set up different than mine.
I think if you do your homework either will be a good swap, just don't do it half way.
JS
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