78 Mustang II revival

[97RangerXLT]

I enjoyed this, and they dont look that bad other than the taillights.

Looks like a fun car.

@19Walt93

AJ

 

[19Walt93]

I'll watch it later, it's too long for right now.
Mustang II's outsold the 71-73 series by 5:1, had the best front suspension of any series before the 2005 "retro" model, had the first rack and pinion steering, and were the first Mustangs with a 4 speed and a tach as standard equipment. They were not light compared to cars today- or even 65-70 Mustangs. Mine weighs 3320 lbs with me in it and that's with Weld Draglite wheels, an aluminum driveshaft, a turbo coups aluminum spare wheel with a Taurus temporary tire, and all the a/c removed. There are heavy reinforcements behind the urethane bumpers and inside the doors.
The never-round "iron cross" 13 "steel wheels were junk and the 70's attempt at emissions control really hurt performance.

 

[Angie]

had the first rack and pinion steering,

actually the Mustang 2 was built off the pinto just restyled and branded. and the 1971 pinto had the rack and pinion.

 

[G8orFord]

I had a '75 Mustang II with a 2.3 as a teenager and I beat the crap out of it. It was a rebuilt insurance car and I think it had V8 front springs because it was super stiff up front. Lots of fun. I busted a piston about 1/4 the way through a 90 mile round trip once. Threw a couple quarts of oil in it at the half way point and returned home on 3 cylinders. When I tore it down there couldn't have been more than a quart of oil left in it. Rebuilt it and drove it for another year or two before my brother started using it. It was still running when parked, though it was pretty well used up. Ended up going to the crusher.

 

[19Walt93]

had the first rack and pinion steering,

actually the Mustang 2 was built off the pinto just restyled and branded. and the 1971 pinto had the rack and pinion.

Yeah, I know, many Mustang II parts have the D4FZ part number prefix, identifying the origin as 74 Pinto. The Mustang II was the first Mustang to get rack and pinion. The 65-70 Falcon based Mustangs had the lousy 51 Ford non integral power steering system or a manual recirculating ball steering box with 5-6 turns lock to lock. The bloated, Torino based 71-73 Mustangs got Saginaw integral power steering which was head and shoulders better than the antiquated non integral system. By the way Corvettes used non integral power steering through 1982 for some unknown reason.

 

[ekrampitzjr]

IIRC, for the first year of the Mustang II, which was 1974, there was no V-8 option that year, only a four and a V-6. Ford fixed that for '75.

I suspect a V-8 was planned for '74, but the fuel crunch convinced Ford to market the downsized Mustang II as an economical alternative. Also, as mentioned, the big '71–'73 Mustang didn't sell as well as had previous versions.

 

[Roert42]

I always liked the '71 through '73 mustangs.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Yeah, I know, many Mustang II parts have the D4FZ part number prefix, identifying the origin as 74 Pinto. The Mustang II was the first Mustang to get rack and pinion. The 65-70 Falcon based Mustangs had the lousy 51 Ford non integral power steering system or a manual recirculating ball steering box with 5-6 turns lock to lock. The bloated, Torino based 71-73 Mustangs got Saginaw integral power steering which was head and shoulders better than the antiquated non integral system. By the way Corvettes used non integral power steering through 1982 for some unknown reason.

65-73 are all Falcon based.

Torino was based on the Fairlane.

 

[19Walt93]

65-73 are all Falcon based.

Torino was based on the Fairlane.

Nope, kind of, the 71-73 Mustangs were on the 70 Torino chassis. Other than being stretched out, the Torino was Falcon based until it got a frame in 72.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Nope, kind of, the 71-73 Mustangs were on the 70 Torino chassis. Other than being stretched out, the Torino was Falcon based until it got a frame in 72.

They used Torino bits to get the new big blocks to fit better but the rest was refreshed first gen.

https://performance.ford.com/enthusiasts/newsroom/2021/06/71-74-mustangs-at-carlisle-2021.html

Mustang didn't get a complete refresh until '74.

 

[19Walt93]

They used Torino bits to get the new big blocks to fit better but the rest was refreshed first gen.

https://performance.ford.com/enthusiasts/newsroom/2021/06/71-74-mustangs-at-carlisle-2021.html

Mustang didn't get a complete refresh until '74.

I know, I was there.

 

[4x4prepper]

I have driven and worked on both the V-8 Monza and V-8 Mustang II, the Mustang II was way better as a car, though the Monza interior felt a lot bigger and looked nicer with the exterior (aka pace car) silver/black trim. I remember my first spark plug change doing a Monza and the recommended procedure was to put the car on a lift and lift the engine. Definitely a car you want to use the OEM AC/Delco plugs. I never beat on any of the cars, because they were customers, but, I think the Mustang II was probably faster stock with mild mods.

Never knew that about the out of round wheels.

 

[don4331]

I never noticed the out of round wheels either. My red '78 had aluminium wheels (like on the car when pulled onto trailer) but both my blue (ex-tan) and my brother's yellow one had steel rims.

Those were days when "mild hop" could be done, using factory parts.

The red one got '69 351 4v heads, cam, 4bbl dual plane intake and homemade headers (it was great to have all the cool tools either at dad's garage, or one of the neighbour's farms - mills, lathes, welders, presses, tire machines, etc).​

My little brother drove his through high school and university (Then he bought a Toyota Supra)​

The blue one was SiL's and after she parked it, it was parts car for the other 2 (and my Pinto Wagon).​

​

Our V-8 Mustang II's trashed our middle brother's V-8 Monza.

The Monza had rust issues very quickly into it's life and structure integrity when soon after the way it was beat on.​

Mustang II might not have had purist's approval, but the competition stopped making pony cars, while Ford churned out cars like hot rolls.

 

[ekrampitzjr]

The Monza was based on a modified Vega platform. Everything GM built related to those two cars rusted to oblivion quickly. Advantage: Ford Mustang II and Pinto.

The Monza was originally supposed to be the "Wankel Vega". When GM couldn't figure out that engine, the V-8 became an option for performance in its place. That's why the V-8 had to be raised to change the plugs. It was not originally intended for that car.

This put American Motors in a bind because the plan had been to use the GM Wankel in that car too. AMC ended up placing a new hood and grille on that car later to offer its 304 V-8 as an option.

 

[ekrampitzjr]

The Monza was based on a modified Vega platform. Everything GM built related to those two cars rusted to oblivion quickly. Advantage: Ford Mustang II and Pinto.

The Monza was originally supposed to be the "Wankel Vega". When GM couldn't figure out that engine, the V-8 became an option for performance in its place. That's why the V-8 had to be raised to change the plugs. It was not originally intended for that car.

This put American Motors in a bind because the plan had been to use the GM Wankel in that car too. AMC ended up placing a new hood and grille on that car later to offer its 304 V-8 as an option.

The AMC car that was supposed to get the GM Wankel was the Pacer. Forgot to mention the actual name of the car above. Brain fade...