New mag should have Mustang II tech

So now that you guys have made some merger of the mustangs new and old I was thinking you guys should do tech articles on the lowly Mustang II. Yes I'm suggesting this because I own one, I'm also suggesting it so you can show people that the Mustang II can also be modified too.
Good examples would be showing how to move the battery to the trunk and explaining that those cars were too nose heavy and moving the battery to the back would be a good start. that and maybe something on removing the inner fenders and putting in custom aluminum panels. look nicer and make it easier to work on. and do some suspension builds and the like. you get the picture. don't neglect the "bastard child" of the ford family. without the IIs the mustang wouldn't have survived through the 70s.
PS-feel free to email me if you want photos of what i've done with mine so far. its not redneck racing like most of the ones I've seen. still not done yet but it's getting there.  

First off, the Mustang II gets a lot of bad rap.  It came at a bad time for the Mustang and automotive performance world in general.  It was a car of the times and kept the Mustang Marquee in public view.  It was one of the best selling Mustangs of all times, especially when you compare it to the Camaro, Firebird, and Mopar offerings from 1974 to 1978 time frame.  While there were small numbers of Z/28’s and Trans Am’s in those years that had more performance (and not that much), their numbers sold paled in comparison to the Mustang II’s sales in that era.

I did kind of like the initial styling of the Mustang II in a sense that it did sort of look like a Mustang shrunk down and with the three-paneled taillights.  The performance was really down with the initial 4-cyliner and V-6’s but the economy was up, which was the general idea then.   Even when “we” demanded we get a V-8 back in “our” Mustang, the old 302 only put out about  140 new “net hp”.   It was choked down with a leaned out 2-barrell, exhausting those waste gases through a very restrictive catalytic convertor, and single exhaust system.   The Mach 1, Cobra, and King Cobra packages were all show and no go but that was the era we were in.

I’m a dues paying MCA guy and like all Mustangs in general.  I’m a member of three different local Mustang clubs, and attend many shows locally and within the South East region when I can.  I see very few 74-78 Mustangs period.  I know Ford built well over a million Mustang II's during that 5 year period but you see very few on the road or at shows.    I would love to see more Mustang II’s included.  However, you guys that have them need to bring them out from under the car covers or back of the barns or wherever  they’re hidden so we can see them and pay’em the respect they deserve.    
Bill Hamilton

My 1970 Mach
1970 Mach 1
2003 Mach 1

I personally like the little cars.  We have owned two, one with the wheezy V8.  Wished I had one now.  They were well built cars with state-of-the-art anemic power plants.  
1967 Falcon 4 door 351C-4V
1970 Mustang 351C-2V
http://raceabilene.com/kelly/hotrod
Owner built, owner abused.

Well Bill as soon as I can get mine in a condition that my wife deems show worthy I'll gladly bring it out of the garage. It will definitely be something worth showing. Still working on the interior and body work at the moment though. Give you an idea of what I'm doing with mine do a  google search on the mustang GT-R. It's roughly what I'm doing but a little more practical for the street. Some of the work done to it can be seen at www.drsmash.com he's been doing the fabrication work on it.  

I totally agree that there should be more stuff on Mustang IIs. After all, this is a Ford magazine. These cars are unfairly maligned, as is a lot of mid-1970s stuff, but they do have a lot going for them and a lot of potential. The way I see it, with these cars, Ford gave us a machine that was a starter kit. Yes the engines were anemic, but in the case of the V-8 powered examples, the same fundamentals were in place, hidden behind early emissions controls. The front suspension design in these cars was excellent - one of the best Ford has ever done, and workmanship is far better than previous Mustangs - ever seen the panel gaps on an original, unrestored 1964 1/2-73 car?  I think part of the reason why you don't see a lot of Mustang IIs today is because a lot of them were discarded once they became third or fourth owner used cars and many more were sacrificed for their front suspensions, which were and still are prized among street rodders. Still, I believe there's enough Mustang IIs still out there to warrant a decent turn out at a show  and I will say this - Mustang II owners, you owe it to yourself to have a big turn out for the 45th Anniversary of the Mustang next year - and just ignore the naysayers. The same people who criticize and lambast your cars are probably among the same ones who've had nothing good to say about this magazine since the merger and dare I add the same people that wore  three piece  leisure suites and star spangled bell bottom back when the Cobra II was new.  

I fell in love with the II in August of 73 when I worked at a Ford Dealership. Someone ordered a red fastback with a standard tranny, posi rear, v6 with the Rallye Package.I owned a 65 fastback with a hopped up 289, 4 speed,at the same time.That little II would outcorner my 65 like no ones business!! I wanted one so bad for years, and in 1980 I finally got a 75 Mach I. Still have it. All the BS over the years about being underpowered was just that, BS!!! The same hot cam that fit in my 65 289 worked in it. Same for all the other "hot parts" that was sold for the 289, and 302!!!So that excuse not to have one was just that, a silly +++ excuse!! For those who don't like the car, fine; I wouldn't have a camaro,BUT!!I CAN look at one at a cruise in, and APPRECIATE all of the hard work, money, and time that was spent on it, and not insult the person as I saw lots of Mustang owners do the the II owners, at a Mustang Show, by Club Members that was putting on the show!! We weren't welcome, PERIOD!!!! Thankfully, over the years, most of those jerks have went on to something else, [probably now own Chevys!!] And to be fair, the magazine people have done some articles on them, and finally have something good to say about them, and about time, cause there ain't many left! So to the faithful few, please fix up your II, take it to a cruise-in, and show your faith in the BLUE OVAL.  

Could'nt agree more with all the Above comments! I can appreiciate ALL Mustangs (ALL cars actually!) So to say a II is anything less than a Mustang is a stupid comment! Lets see some II tech in the new mag!
(p.s. Yes I DO own a II!)  

Never intended on saying the car was anything less of a Mustang, just that it seems to never get enough coverage for performance. They have some serious potential considering they came equipped with a V-8 and they are rather light weight. I think curb weight on those things is about 3500lbs tops.