The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop Pacer vs Mustang IFS

Interested in hearing what you guys think about these two IFS...is there much difference between the two? would like to hear any and all comments.

After 2-1/3 years, four seasons, and 25000 miles on fine Chicago roads, I'm still happy with my Progressive Automotive MII IFS kit. No complaints, no problems.
http://www.homestead.com/chuckthetruck/page2.html

Dont know about the Pacer.I put the TCI M2 in my 55,and I am very happy with it.

a freind of mine used the pacer and was not happy with it at all. drove the truck for about 2 months and sold it got a different one to work on. have not talked to him lattly he moved out to ny state..mike j

i have the pacer, have had it installed for about 18ys. leaks like a cieve and i don't know what to do about it. i would stick with the mustang. easier parts find and repair. maybe a little more expensive to start with but cheaper in the long run. it has worked fine other than leaks. i have been told it is a problem with them. i put it on long before the mustang became popular, now you can find the mustang everywhere. IMHO ron

I have a stock (not aftermarket) Mercury Bobcat (Pinto/Mustang II)IFS in my '52 Burb...I had to replace the coil springs with heavier coil overs, other than that it rides and handles great.

Pacer on mine (54 PU), cheap out of a boneyard--original rack leaked, replacement has been fine for the five years it's been on there, you just have to take care of it. Steering, suspension and brake parts are cheap and readily available. Secret to good handling with the Wayne's World front end is appropriate springs. Good suppliers will sort this out for you. But everyone I've spoken to with the MII setup is happy with that too, particularly the lucky ones who can afford the setups from TCI, Progressive etc.

Also depends on whether you want to cut the frame off. MII you have to (I think--others will correct me if I'm wrong), Pacer you don't. Makes for an easier fix. Also I kind of liked keeping my frame in one original piece. And my dosh in my pocket. Most of the fancy MII setups cost blood.

Christian

what I'm hearing is that if ya got the $$$ the mustang II would be the way to go. Don't want to start cutting on the frame and I have a hard time shelling out as much as I paid for my truck originally though. I have heard from others that the Pacer steering racks leaked but seems like cheap/good replacements are out there and the price for the whole shootin match sure fits my budget...

I put a M11 under my 37 but didn't cut the frame. I paid 75 dollars for all the A-arms, rack and pinon for a core to buy a new one, used the spindles and all. My welding friend plated the side of my original frame, welded in the cross member and sping towers etc. I put in new ball joints,shocks, and bought after market rotors with chev bolt pattern to fit the stang spindle. No problems so far and the hardest part was taking the stang parts off in the junk yard with it raining!! Been running Good for 6 years.

The early Pacer racks leak but they fixed the probby with the later ones so they don't. Guy with an MII under his truck told me the Pacer setup is more robust but I've no idea if that's true. Personally that particular iteration of the Mustang gives me the creeps, it's such a hairdresser's car. I'd never insult my truck with so much as a spring washer off one of them. Or anything off any Frod, come to think of it. (Sole exception: the 9 inch rear end.) Whereas (a) the Pacer's kind of a nice joke and (b) Teague was a genius who was probably on acid. (The Mustang II was designed entirely by a committee of pinheaded bean-counters.) Not that there's any practical use to you in either of those observations. I guess if you're less prejudiced than yrs truly the MII would be the choice if you can get it all done super-cheap. If only because it's more modern and when you tell people what's under there they won't go blank like when I tell them mine's all Pacer. But to me it's still a piece of Frankenstein monster gut. Sorry to go on.