just bought a mint 89 crown vic for the engine and transmission but going through older threads i see that there has been a few of these front ends grafed onto a 55 frame, any suggestions on this swap would be apreciated! thinking of narowing the front cross member so i can tuck the wheels under the fenders as i will probably be installing air ride, as for the rear end has anywone used the `vics rear end?, thinking of widening the rear fenders anyway and i`ll have this rear end lying around anyway

 

Bump to the top.

 

I used the front frame clip from a 87 Town Car basically the same frame. My truck drives and rides well. A frame graft is not for the faint of heart and if the PO hadn't already butchered my frame with a botched Volare IFS, I wouldn't have attempted it.
The rear-end is also useable, I mounted the rear-end on 88 Ford Ranger springs. I am running 275/60R-15s on the rear and they fit under the fender nicely.
One thing I do like about using all components from one donor, you end up with a balanced brake system.

 

How the heck do you botch a Volare? That's got to be the easiest IFS to install there is...much easier than what you replaced it with! Leave it to the POs to find a way...

I agree with you about the balanced brake system. I used a Chrysler T-bar front, Chrysler rear, and the entire Chrysler brake system from the same donor. I have great brakes.

 

thanks for the reply mechmagcn, i`ve looked at the pictures you have in your album, your truck looks awesome! just stripped down the crown vic this weekend and started to strip down the truck, gonna do the clip swap in a few weeks, always a bit sceptical when cutting off a frame, done few frameshortening and stretching on big trucks so it should not be a big deal.

 

Just remember to check the angle of the front clip before you cut it off of the car so that you can duplicate it when you weld it to the truck frame. I neglected to do this and then had to find one at a used car lot and talk the salesman into letting me take a few measurements

 

The PO had cut the upper frame rail on the RH side to clear the oil filter and had just popped holes in the lower frame rails to drop bolts through to mount the IFS under the frame. There had been significant welding and cutting done to the frame, and I wasn't confident that it was up to being used as a daily driver.

 

i don`t have both frames at the same location to compare but just trying to figure out what you mean by front clip angle?

 

i think i now what your talking about now, the top arm and frame are in an angle on the vic and have to be in this angle when welded to the 55?? thanks for all the input!!

 

Guess he didn't have the video lol!