If we had a dollar for every Mustang II frontend that has been put under a street rod, we'd be very happy rodders. So why are we showing another one? Every now and then, old ideas get a fresh look, and the Welder Series product line is definitely fresh. Hot rod chassis building went from adapting parts from Detroit's offerings to ready-to-install kits that pretty much dropped in place. Many builders still like to do their own welding, and Welder Series is right there to help them have fun and save money.
The Welder Series Mustang II crossmember kit is unique; the main crossmember consists of two CAD-designed plates that have precision-cut slits, allowing each plate to be bent easily by hand. Even the rack mounts are part of the top plate and bend easily to form the correctly angled mount. Upper towers are supplied bent and notched to accept the top tower plate and formed cone. Assembly of your first crossmember kit may take an hour.
Kits come in three track widths--56 inches (stock, for most applications), 58 inches (for '48-52 Ford pickups and other slightly wider vehicles), and 60 inches (for '53-56 Ford F-100 and '55-59 Chevy pickups, and other really wide applications). These kits are custom-fit, meaning you notch the crossmember and the towers to fit your frame and the ride height you want. The whole process should be a snap for someone with some fabricating skills. If you have these skills or are building something for which another kit might not be available, you can save a couple hundred bucks going this route. If you're a little unsure and a crossmember is available for your project from one of the companies you'll find here in the magazine, the extra $200-$300 might be well worth it.
