i have a few tech Q's about my 1976 cobra II 2.8L V6 4speed.

1) is the 4 speed tranny a toploader like the 60s era cars? and will it fit a V8, specifically a 351W?

2) will fox body springs work on it? i need V8 springs for my swap and i need to know what will work. same for shocks and struts and all that mumbojumbo

3) will 5 lug conversions for a fox fit it? i NEED american Racing Sprints but they're only 5 lugs

4) will and 8.8 from a later fox or SN95 fit it? and do SN95 V6s have the 8.8 0r 7.5? actually, what does my car have, a 7.5 or an 8.8?

5) where opn earth can i find some rear window louvres for this baby?

6) does anyone make a repro hatch for it? darn you rust fairies!

thx in advance to any of you guys who can help me out this is my first car and the first time i will do anything other than an oil change or tire change. im looking forward to the experience of building up a car, and having that car be a mustang cobra II makes it soooo much better.

 

1) No, it is not like the 60's toploaders.....it may fit a V8 with the correct bellhousing(not sure of that pattern is the same or not) but I seriously doubt it would hold up to any kind of power. Don't waste time and just get a T5 or better to go behind a V8.

2) No....not at all. With that car you are not in a world were Fox mustang parts interchange so don't even consider it.

3)See my answer to #2

4)NO....you more than likely have an 8" rear end....keep in mind that the 7.5 and 8.8 came about AFTER your car was made. The 8" rear will hold up fine for a mild street combo...make any power and you have to have a 9" or you could go 8.8 but the Mustang II is narrow so you will have to buy axles and have a narrowed rear end built.

5)Start searching the web for Mustang II vendors and websites.

6) I don't believe so....again, search the web and ebay.

 

for #3 you can find some original Mustang II aluminum 4lug mag wheels on ebay that look kinda like the american racing sprints you want. my mach1 has them on it now.

 

Is the windsor Bellhousing the same as a 302 ? I dont remember?

 

thanks guys!

i thing i will stick with the 4 lugs and go with the rims on your mach if i cant find a conversion kit 78mach1. but also other than ebay, do you know anywhere else to get em? i love that style of wheels

and SVOpaul, thx for the info! if fox parts wont work, what about parts from the 1st gen stangs? will a 5lug confersion and V8 springs for those fit my car? if not, what should i do?

T5 it is then.

i did some searching and found a repro fiberglass hatch, but still no louvers.

as for the axle, since i plan on droping in a 351W, should i change it to an 8.8 or a 9 inch or something, or is the 8 inch fine?

again, thanks to everyone who helped out!

 

again on the slotted wheels, i found some 4 lugs on ebay but they were all for chevys :notnice:

does anyone know if there is any manufacturer that makes this style wheel in 4 lug?

or if there is a 5 lug conversion for IIs.

im thinking if i put a 9" out back, i could get one with 5 lugs already, and then just change the front brakes to 5 lug

or can i just find a wrecked late model and use that?

hate to be repetitive and a bother, but i really needs the help my baby wants to drive as fast as she looks.

and can you beleive that somone had the nerve to tell me that my II was a disgrace to the mustang name? this is coming from the guy who got a brand new mustang at 16, wrecked it, got a brand new 03 GT, totaled it by crashing into a DELI!!!!, and just got another jeep wrangler handed to him. also thinks a 4spd auto is faster than a 5 spd and that his stock gt can "burn" a brand new M3 thats my antidrug right there.

and i wasnt even talking to him! i was showin a pic of my new UII to my buddy who sits right there and then this donkey doughnut tells my im a disgrace. and then he tells me if im swapping the engine it would have been "waaaay better to just buy a different car, cuz mustang IIs just stink"

what an hiney. hopefully when he wrecks his jeep (which he inevitably will) something fixes his head

 

Those 4 luggers do look awesome! If you can find them Arin, go with those instead. I'm pretty sure they are cheaper, so you would save by not converting the II and by not getting AR wheels

And that guy is a moron.

 

im still unsure as to whether or not the chevy wheels will fit. i know that backspacing is how far the wheel sticks out but im wondering if all 4 lug wheels will fit all 4 lug cars (if backspacing permits)

and i thought i knew everything lol.

and i found a vendor for the 4 lugs from the mach, but there are no prices listed (its on mustangii.net)
i'll use my divine intelect and figure something out

 

I found the ones on my mach1 for $50 at the junk yard. They were optional rims for both the II and the pinto. They might have been on the maverick too, not sure. I see them on ebay every once in a while, just wait for a while and they will be on there again. There also are honeycomb King Cobra style rims on there all the time.Check the mustang II classifieds on the Mustang II network, the link is in the timeline. That site is good for finding parts vendors too. Maybe you can find a deluxe drivers seat in good shape.

 

First off, Congratulations on the new ride :w00t:
As you found out, MustangII.net will be your best source for information and parts.
Swap meets will give you the occasional find.
Don't expect to find much new. Good used can be cleaned and re-painted.

 

The Street rodder crowd uses Mustang II front suspensions in their street rods all the time(many kits out there) which is why you found chevy bolt pattern rotors. Pick up any street rod magazine and you will find a company that offers the rotors in a Ford 5 lug bolt pattern.

Stick with the 8" for now....the rear end endeavor is not going to be cheap so be prepared. But in the end if you are making power, go with the 9" rear end...much more out there for you in that aspect.

Just start searching the internet and get involved in the Mustang II sites...they will be very helpful to you.


and if anyone downs your car then remind them that if your car had not been produced there would be no current Mustang....also the Mustang II was the '74 Car of the year

 

Ebay has 2 aluminum mags on there right now, but there in bad shape and your looking for 4, so just keep searching. Try some junkyards, you might get lucky. Go to salvage yards where they don't crush much and you will find a few II's, maybe even the parts your looking for! I spent 8 years gathering all the parts to restore my mach1, visited atleast 100 junkyards!

 

i joined the Mustanf II.net forums (sorry brad )

they've been helpuf so far. Finally a place with louvers. never realized hoe much they costed. time for some junk yard ventures!

 

One of the deciding reasons we went turn-key and bought one ready to go.
Parts are a pain to find.

 

its not that bad though. i enjoy the hunt!

arins going to be organized about this one though. im making a list of everything i want to buy and i wont spend $$ on anything else, mod wise.

plans include a 351W, a blower

and a carb scoop,


new springs, brakes, wheels,

5 lug conversion, T-5 tranny, 8.8 inch, side exhaust, bigger radiator, electric fan, beefier sway bars, hurst shifter, CD player, 1 10" sub and 1 amp and maybe 4 speakers, king cobra front spoiler, replace the rusty hatch, fix turn signals (kinda important lol) and get a red/gold stripes cobra II paint job...

gasp, time to breath again