Actually its only load bearing because the spring is exerting pressure on the top of the tower. The MMII puts all the pressure on the frame rails. The aprons supply the needed bracing for that. It really boils down to the final cost. I'm just skeptical that it will come in under $3000. Plus unless your running a small block, the MMII would be the better choice. We shall see.
I'm curious, what headers do you need for the big block in a MII front end? And what motor do you plan to run/or are running in your Mav? The more options the Maverick have, the better for all of us. AJE has a great reputation for making quality parts, at great prices. This isn't some fly by night company. They want to make us Maverick people a great product, but it won't be perfect. Nothing is. But this gives us a great option.
I'll probably have it ready to come to Round-up 2008 so everyone can critique it there. They'll have it most of the winter so I won't have pictures until early spring. I am excited about trying it.
The stock suspension has a better/smaller turning radius than the MII. Makes tight parking lots even more fun, etc. I will keep my mind open to all the alternatives and just understand that every front suspension incorporates a number of trade offs. What is best for one will not meet the requirements for another. We all have our preconceived notions of what is good/bad and what will/won't work. Pricing is very important to most of us who drive, build, collect or race Mavericks. If money were no object, we would probably all have very expensive, incredibly fast collector cars from our youths. (I know that this could included cars from over 50 years. ) Just have fun with what you each deside to do.
I went to AJE site, nothing on the Mustang kit (I have a 69 with a 460) . I've been measuring Crown Vics (aluminum k-members) and Mustang stuff all week, just need to measure some 05 Stangs now. I want to do something like this, but not spend as much as it would take to do a front half on the cars. If I could spend $400.00 for a crossmember, and use stock stuff (I work for a Ford dealership) that sounds pretty good to me!
Struts seem all the rage. I like Fatmans Mustang kit if it would work on the mav because it uses mostly over the counter parts. The photos of the AJE looks pretty good, but I have never seen a kit like that have good street long term reliability like OEM parts do. I would love to cut corners like a new style car can, but tub a-arms and bushings are not street friendly. They work great on a track car, but potholes, curbs and normal street stuff cut their life fast. However, I think I would go for a set of Global west A-arms and coil overs first. No cutting and a true bolt on.
Obviously, if you want 50k mile reliability, this ain't for you. Heck, rebuild the stock front w/ some poly, good shocks/springs, and drive it off into the sunset. This front end allows larger motor, less weight on the front end, coil over adjustablilty, for a decent price. But this, as with many of the Fox K member kits, can be used on the street. This will be a good option for those who want to build a street/strip or strip screamer, but want to keep the stock style front suspension per class rules or preference.
Okay, so it is delivered. We dropped it off yesterday to AJE. It will be the 64-70 Mustang type that was pictured earlier. It is a pinto rack and pinion kit with a K-member with engine mounts, strut assemblies, and disc brakes. The top of the shock towers will still be there for the strut to attach to but the shock tower will be removed from the top of it down to the inner fender. They have been great to work with and are excited to come away with a kit from this project. This car is my 69.5, we just had it soda blasted and primered. It will be the metallic blue that is on the new GT40s. It will have a 393C and a glide.
It has only been 6 days. And I thought I was anxious. No word yet, can't wait to have it back so we can decide what to do with the 351W car front end, we may just go MII on that one just for comparison.
