Is anyone using a Mustang II weld in crossmember and also using a Cleveland engine? Were there any fitment problems at the crossmember or rack? Yesterday I emailed an Ebay vendor about ordering a set of their Mustang II coil springs with the 425 pound rating and I was told that their tech department says that the Cleveland absolutly will not fit using the Mustang II suspension. Something about being too long or having to sit too far forward or back or high in the frame (they weren't sure which one it was). I tried to tell this rep that I already had the Cleveland mounted in this Maverick when it had stock suspension. It mounts in the same exact place a Windsor mounts. Even the transmission mount lines right up on the trans crossmember. I do know, that with the Mustang II crossmember and rack installed, I have to go with the rear sump Canton pan and pickup that is used when installing a Cleveland in a Fox body Mustang. It has the large notch built into the pan to clear a crossmember and rack. The vendor is going to have their "tech" man call me with his thoughts on this. I just dont see where there is any problems with this swap.
The vendor just called me back and she spoke to their "tech man" in California who says that the Cleveland engine will not work with a Mustang II crossmenber bacause the "block is to deep" and you would have to raise the engine up to high so it doesn't hit the crossmember. Ever hear of a "block being too deep"? This Cleveland is going in my Maverick using a Mustang II crossmember whether a tech man in CA says so or not.
It's an Ebay vendor called "gonefishing69". http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Hot-Rods-Street-Rod-Parts-and-Acc__W0QQ_armrsZ1 Looks like they sell a ton of street rod parts but have not done business with them in the past. I also haven't talked to Heidt's or R & C about it yet either. This is the first time I have heard of any claimed problems.
Did they give you the name and address of their CRACK DEALER while they were at it???? If it'll work with a Windsor, a Cleavland should fit with the Canton rear sump oil pan. It just sounds like the "Tech Man" doesn't want to do his homework. -Scott H.
After talking to some people, that have already completed swaps such as this, I have come to the conclusion that their "tech" man is defininetly on something. It also appears that these guys are only an Ebay business. Nothing at all like Heidts, Chassis Engineering or Rod & Custom.
You are going to have to make motor mounts anyway...so who cares if the engine sits a little higher than stock? You will just need to measure the driveline angle and add a wedge shim to the rear axel perch if the engine goes more than about an inch higher than stock to keep the driveshaft angle in line.....assuming the stock trans member is used. When I set up my 460 I used a FOX swap oil pan and set the whole thing down on the MII crossmember with about 2.5" wood block between the pan and the crossmember. Make a mount to go between chassis and block....be done with it. Cleaver
I've seen clevelands in Mavericks with headers and bone stock front end so I cant imagine why it wouldn't fit.
My Cleveland fit tight with Tubular Automotive headers and the stock suspension but it did fit. This so called "tech" was saying that, with the Mustang II cross member now in place, you can't get the engine back down low like it was with the stock stuff without hitting the pan. The Canton rear sump pan is built to clear such a cross member so I call on it.
