Thread: Front Clip

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Hey, this may be a noob question, but in order to grow and learn questions have to be asked, lol. Ok, I continually read these threads that mention people taking the "Front Clip" of a Mustang and sticking it on something else, I am wondering what exactly is the Front Clip, or Rear Clip for that matter? As well, what are peoples reasoning behind doing this? Is it just for a different look, or is it even noticable to a viewer of the car? Or does is serve some sort of mechanical or structural advantage? Sorry for such a flurry of questions, but if anybody can maybe shed understanding and examples to me, it would be great, thanks.

I think in the context your are asking people are referring to the front subframe which includes the frame rails, front suspension, steering and brakes as Streets said. The reason for doing it is to provide a more modern suspension to an older vehicle. By cutting off the older front frame section and grafting on a newer one, you may get power steering, disk brakes, rack& pinion steering and better riding or performing control arms, springs and shocks. They all are engineered to work as a unit since they were taken from a single vehicle or modelled after it. Can also provide an improved framework to mount the engine.

Hope that makes sense

Pat

ok cool I get it, So that is why people sometimes stick the front clip of the 5.0l mustang onto say an older Ford rod? sounds interesting to me, thanks for the info.

One other reason beside the ones that these guys have mentioned (Power steering/brakes/rack & pinion /etc) is the fact that the mustangII "clip" is much lighter than the front frame assembly on most older cars.

Its a easy way to shave off 100-200#'s and all the benifets that the guys have mentioned is iceing on the cake

BG

This is a Total Cost Involved MII Front suspension kit with ShockWave Air Bags I installed on my 37 Humpback.
It updates the suspension to newer better riding and stopping( 11" disks) and power rac , just all around better steering.

Makes it driver like a new car.



SprayTech,

wow thats really cool, so besides fords, can most any vehicles go through this transformation in some way? Like Chevys and anything else?

Just to clarify a bit more because of your 5.0 Mustang comment.

In addition to what the others have noted, most people think of a "clip" as the front frame section, usually cut at or near the plane of the firewall, including the suspension crossmember and it's attendant componentry. The example that is in Spray's picture is really just a front crossmember (aftermarket fabbed in his case replicating the MII geometry), that is attached to his original frame front section. Due to the design of the Mustang II, the stock crossmember could also be detached from the front unibody section because all of the suspension attachment points are mounted to that crossmember. The 5.0 Mustang chassis (for refers to it as the Fox chassis) is a different matter. It is a McPherson strut design (typical of unibody designs) rather than a coil sprung, double A arm. As such it attaches differently. Though it has a front cross member, that only supports the lower part of the suspension, along with the steering components and frequently the engine. The upper attachment is on the inner fender panels (aprons) which would typically not be easily adaptable to your normal street/hot rod conversion.

And yes, front clips, and crossmember transfers (OE or aftermarket) are done on all manner of cars. Some are done well, some are an atrocity.