IRS with straight axle?
Thread Starter
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,172
Likes: 1
From: Oakdale,Ca.
IRS with straight axle?
I know there's some good suspension guys on here, so thought I'd ask...this is for my '36 though with a traverse leaf..
I picked up a Cougar for the engine and tranny, and noticed the rear is an IRS..I don't want to do an IFS on it, sinc I have a 4inch chromed drop axle I'm real proud of
I'm looking for opinions if the IRS/straight front axle ride is asking for trouble, or would it be an improvement over the rear leaf setup?
Truck will not be used for drag racing, or high spees runs...
max I'll do is 65.
I'd box the frame, and will most likely chage to more conventional cross members instead of the big X.
I used to reall T-buckets with drpped axles and Jag rears back in the day, but never rode in one, not sure if it'd be a like-kind comparison anyways.
Just looking for a nice suspension if it'll work out okay.
I picked up a Cougar for the engine and tranny, and noticed the rear is an IRS..I don't want to do an IFS on it, sinc I have a 4inch chromed drop axle I'm real proud of
I'm looking for opinions if the IRS/straight front axle ride is asking for trouble, or would it be an improvement over the rear leaf setup?
Truck will not be used for drag racing, or high spees runs...
max I'll do is 65.
I'd box the frame, and will most likely chage to more conventional cross members instead of the big X.
I used to reall T-buckets with drpped axles and Jag rears back in the day, but never rode in one, not sure if it'd be a like-kind comparison anyways.
Just looking for a nice suspension if it'll work out okay.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 890
Likes: 0
From: New York
I think it should show an improvement in ride quality ... though it may be kind of hard to detect. My impression is that it wouldn't be trouble so much as it would just ride kind of strangely. But of course, I defer to the experts that know more about this than I do, and I'm sure they'll be along shortly.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 27,294
Likes: 1,055
From: NM
I assume you are talking about the '90-'96 style Cougar/TBird? That's come up before, and has generally been dismissed as overly heavy, difficult to adapt, and requiring some signifcant frame mods ( since it uses struts at the rear). I think someone on here has done it, tho. The other thing is that the stock front end requires a flexible frame, while the TBird IRS requires a structurally stiff frame. You might try a search on "TBird IRS".
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
I have never ridden in or known anyone who has combined a buggy sprung FS with an IRS. I too remember seeing a number of rods with that type setup in the mags back in the day, but IMHO it was done more to impress the show judges that for ride/handling quality.
Thread Starter
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,172
Likes: 1
From: Oakdale,Ca.
This is where our projects begin to cost more than planned I/e I may have to now clip the front to keep up with the rear.
Yes, it's a '93 Cougar, haven't looked real hard at it, only noticed it was IRS when I was measuring the width. Might be a difficult task.
First things first though, have to get the engine and tranny out and set them up.
Thanks.
I/e I may have to now clip the front to keep up with the rear.Yes, it's a '93 Cougar, haven't looked real hard at it, only noticed it was IRS when I was measuring the width. Might be a difficult task.
First things first though, have to get the engine and tranny out and set them up.
Thanks.
