This is exactly what I've been looking for for a long time....
The only thing I don't like about it, is that I can't use my factory Ford hubcaps that I love so much. Theyre for 15'' rims only...
This made my week. What amazes me, is that noone at ford thought, "Hey, we can make the crown victorias the same width as the old ford trucks, so that way people will be able to swap the front suspension into one of them"
What amazes me more, is how people find out this kind of stuff fits. Is it just like, "Hey, This looks about as wide as my trucks front framerails...... Hot damn! it will fit!!!"
Thanks for the build. I can't wait to see some after pictures.
__________________
--Nick
1971 F100 Custom, 351W + 4 on the floor. (Rat Rod in the Works.)
1984 F150 XLT 4x4 , 300 + auto (Mild Weekend Toy project.)
1985 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer, 2.5L + 5 spd, 3'' lift. (another weekend toy)
1993 F250 XLT extended cab 4x4, 7.3L + 5 spd (Tow Rig, Camper rig, Boat hauler.)
I checked the three local JY's today, and none had any 2003 and newer, vic's, mauraders, Marqiues!! Let alone any cop cars. I figure if I cant get a cop car, I could always swap out the springs.
I wouldnt hesitate buying the front end out of a regular crown vic, if you need stiffer springs you could always swap them out later on.
I know I said I was going to post some more pics for everyone but I had to go out of town on buisness and should be back early next week. I did get the engine bay and all the frame por-15'd and get the suspension fully bolted in. I have also started on the motor mounts.
I also brought the new trans home just before I went out of town. I am now ready to mock up the tranny mounts along with the engine. Wooohooo!! I think once I get the engine in and start it everything will be down hill from there. oh yeah I cant wait.
Using the stock Crown Vic rims, the track width is 63.4". Which is a little bit wide.
That is the only drawback to this system.
The '65-79 F100's had a track width of around 60.5" but they can swallow the extra width quite easily.
I'm not certain but I believe F350's had a track width of 63.5".
The stock rims also have 5.72" of back space on a 7" wide rim so it is very difficult to "narrow" the track width by using a different offset.(the stock rims have about as much offset as you can get!)
The good news on the rims is that it is the same bolt pattern/offset/back space that is used by the '05 and newer Mustangs.
So you can use take off wheels from a Crown Vic/Grand Marquis, Marauder, Mustang, or after market wheels designed for the newer Mustang.
Carcrafter, your spring rate spec's seem a little off, Can I ask where you got them? I've looked everywhere and can't find them. Thanks.
These Crown Vic's (police or otherwise)weigh in at 4100 lbs with about 2200 lbs on the front ends.
Most of our old trucks weigh in at 3500 lbs with around 1800-2000 on the front end.
They are nice solid pieces, they are not Pinto's/Mustang II's or Pacer's.
As Carcrafter mentioned they have 12" rotors with dual piston calipers.
(Have you seen how inexpensive cross drilled and slotted rotors are for these?)
Most of the aftermarket IFS kits have been "upgraded" to utilize an 11" rotor and a single piston caliper, you can also upgarde from those as well.($$$)Untill you end up with brakes as good as the ones found stock on these cars.
As far as this fitting on a 1950 ford car, the short answer is no.
Track width issues aside, I believe the car frame rails in that era were not straight. The frame rails split and curved outward to form pockets for the springs to sit in. Most aftermarket upgrades for these cars involve cutting the rails off of the car at the firewall and welding on a new front frame "stub".
no the cars prior to 03 had the frame welded into the frame. the cool part of the 03 and up suspension is that it is all mounted on an aluminum crossmember that just unbolts from the frame.
79thunder I have only found one place to give me those spring rates so that is what I went with. I have no other way to verify how accurate it is. sorry. I do think it makes sense that the police interceptor has stiffer springs than the standard ci. You can go here to view the site where I found the info. http://www.p71interceptor.com/rearsprings/ The info is towards the bottom, I have tried talking to multiple dealerships and shops but they were of no help witht the spring rates. I have decided I will drive around with what I have for a while and if I dont like it I will upgrade with aftermarket springs or air bags later.
I read it three times and still can't decide if those rates pertain to the older crown vic's or the '03 and up models. The info is a little jumpy. I've also been down the same road with the dealerships.
haha an award!! Thats funny. I am by far not the first to attempt this guys I am just one of the very very few to make a build up article for the public. Thanks for all the compliments though. I would highly recomend this project to anyone, let me restate my reasoning for this swap.
1. cost I paid $350 for the whole setup including bolts.
2. rack & pinion
3. 12" disc brakes
4. light weight heavy duty parts
5. ease of install, I only have a few hours of time in the install and now I can take the entire front suspension and crossmember out in 15 minutes. The problem was cutting the old suspension crossmember out.
6. lowers the truck about 5" ( very rough estimate)
I cant wait to post some more pics when I get back home for everyone, this things looks totally differnt now that I have everything por-15'd.
I wanted to post this for those that want the people that want the modern suspensioin and steering and brakes but cant afford the roughly $2500 or so for a mustang 2 susupension, remember I paid $350 for it all. WoW it doesnt get any cheaper than that.
oh yeah I also wanted to let everyone know I just ordered some wheels online so they should be there when I get home. I will need to go buy the rear axle but I already have the spring perches so all I will have to do is weld them on and I should have pics of the final stance of the truck. WOOO HOOOO!!!!!
I'm wondering about brakes. The brakes will work OK without the ABS stuff?
What master cylinder will you use? Stock truck master with an adjustable
valve?
Question: If you did not want to go so extreme on the lowering could a spacer be installed between the cross member and the frame to reduce the amount of drop? It looks like an easy mod to adjust height but would this mess up the steering/suspension in some way? Thanks.
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