Ok guy my name is Jimmy, I live in Arlington Texas, im building a 1971 Pinto Sedan, in it's day it was a race car, it had a 302 with a blower, I bought it to make a pro street car the back half is a Art Morrison ladder bar rear end, ford 9 inch rear end, fuel cell in the trunk, it has a 8 point cage that im building out to a 12 point, it is tubed out so everything behind the seat it sheet metal, really nice job was done on it! the dash and door panels are stock, I picked up a 74 351w that I will be stroking to a 408 and putting the 6-71 blower back on it, it will not be a daily driver just something to take out to the track every now and then, but mostly a street car, im only going to drive it on nice days, not, ok here is my question for all you Pinto guys! the front end is stock, other than the motor mounts that held the 302, I cant believe the guy raced it like that, the front rotors are 4 lug pinto stock! I have talked to a couple chassis builders in the area and I have discovered im in the wrong business, one guy told me $15,000.00 to $20,000.00 to build a front chassis, wow!! from what I gather from the few guys I talked to the 71 and 72 front end are the same suspension, and the 73 was deferent and the 74 up uses the front end parts that all the car builders use, I found a company that sells a front clip with coil over a tube A arms it runs about $2500.00 the same company makes a clip that when welded on will use 74 up mustang II components, but then I have to take it to a shop to be welded and aligned and all that crap! like I said im bring the roll cage out to a 12 point the make the front end more ridged and will probably use a engine plate to stiffen up everything, I need advice what should I do? the car will be making close to 600 to 700 hp and im sure the front end will be coming off the ground, im hoping lol I want it to stay together!! should I cut the old frame out and replace it with a coil over front end? or change it to a front end that will use mustang II parts this will be some $$$$$ or reinforce the stock front end, I was told that I could modify some tubular Aarms to work and change out the brakes with better ones and be done! is there a advantage of the 74 mustang front end over the 71's? what is the deference? come on guys help me out give me some direction, what do I do, and for the people who say go turbo 4 cylinder, the horse power is not my issue it's the front suspension only the suspension. need input! and if your in Texas please let me know I need all the help I can get and may have to have some of this stuff done because im no welder, just a pinto lover.
(http://gallery.pethobbyist.com/data/648pinto.jpg)
Wow, thats a project car alright. Listen your going to be spending some serious coin on that engine and making some serious HP for a small chassis. Id do it right and put a front end on it to match the back. The stock front end is ok for cruising but for racing you need to do it right. Now 20000 is ridiculous. Id shop around. Hell if you had the time, for $10000 you could buy a serious tig welder, take some welding classes, maybe a chassis design course, a front end, kit brakes, and and then still have money left over!!
The 71 -73 setup is the same (they did a switch in 73 so some 73s have the 74 and up front end). The difference is almost not noticable from one car to the other. Everything is slightly larger Not nessasarily stronger but bigger. The spindle is taller, the a-arms are wider and longer the bushings are bigger, the brake disk is bigger by 3/8" and slightly different, the brake caliper and mounting is different, the lower ball joint is not the same, and the strut rod mounting is different, The only thing that interchanges is the shock and the strut rod bushings!!. LOL big whoop!
Id at least swap out a 74 crossmember and go with a full polyurethane bushing setup and wilwood setup. Still going to cost some money anyway you look at it.
Good luck! Lets hear more when you start your project!
Having been a racer for over 40 years i can tell you that the chassis is as important as the foundation for your house. if it is not right right then nothing else matters.
The prices you quoted seem pretty high. I would continue to do more research. Once you have decided on exactly what you are doing in the front end, most likely you can find a better deal.
As for the front end, it is not as simple because you will be driving one of those "dual purpose" cars. You have to compromise as it is not soley street nor is it soley strip. My thoughts would be a MII front end with at least the 11 inch 5 lug brake conversion. That should fill the bill.
Good luck. Start a build 'Project" thread and post pictures.
peace
JIM