Thunderbird IFS?
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 50
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From: South St. Paul, MN
Thunderbird IFS?
Has anyone attempted to put an 89-97 Ford thunderbird IFS under an f100. I have seen the thread on using the t-bird IRS. I like this option for the rear suspension. In looking at the t-bird it looks like the IFS could be made to work well on the f100. New shock mounts would need to fabbed but otherwise it looks like an iteresting option. Rack and pinion steering, large disc brakes, looks to come off the car in a complete unit similar to the volare.
Anyways, before I go out and buy one of these cars I just thought I'd check to see if anyone has attempted it.
I think I could use the IFS, IRS, AOD tranny 89-93 and the EFI 5.0
What are your thoughts?
Anyways, before I go out and buy one of these cars I just thought I'd check to see if anyone has attempted it.
I think I could use the IFS, IRS, AOD tranny 89-93 and the EFI 5.0
What are your thoughts?
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,172
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From: Oakdale,Ca.
I think it'd be a simple fit, I have a IFS from a '93 Cougar (should be the same).
How wide is the outside to ouside of the frame rails on an F100? An F1 needs just a little bracketry to make things right, and like you mentioned, upper shock mounts need to be made, as well as upper control arm mounts..so when you get on, you'll want to cut out the towers to get the right hieght and antidive to fashion the upper mounts and such..
If I recall, the IFS outside to outside measures 34-3/4 inch, could double check for you if you need it.
How wide is the outside to ouside of the frame rails on an F100? An F1 needs just a little bracketry to make things right, and like you mentioned, upper shock mounts need to be made, as well as upper control arm mounts..so when you get on, you'll want to cut out the towers to get the right hieght and antidive to fashion the upper mounts and such..
If I recall, the IFS outside to outside measures 34-3/4 inch, could double check for you if you need it.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,172
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From: Oakdale,Ca.
Well, couldn't find any saved pics, I think I moved them to my backup drive...I need to find the power cord for it, in order to access the data. I did send a few pics of the IFS to a few folks on the "alternative IRS" post, maybe they'll post something up.
However, I did pull the F-1 frame, IFS and IRS up in front of the shop today to see about mounting things up. I have some ideas running through the grey matter that I may proceed with...thinking of making a new cage for the IRS as well as a bolt in support for the IFS, utilizing the existing spring hanger rivet holes...if I get ambitous tomorrow, I'll start in and grab a digi cam for pics on progress.
However, I did pull the F-1 frame, IFS and IRS up in front of the shop today to see about mounting things up. I have some ideas running through the grey matter that I may proceed with...thinking of making a new cage for the IRS as well as a bolt in support for the IFS, utilizing the existing spring hanger rivet holes...if I get ambitous tomorrow, I'll start in and grab a digi cam for pics on progress.
I'll have the Roast Duck
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Northshore, MN
in looking at this picture, I see a potential problem with the IFS. I could be wrong though, as I'm trying to figure a way around the strut issue in my '87 tbird and hope there's a way.
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,172
Likes: 1
From: Oakdale,Ca.
The only reason you want to keep the strut/control arm mount, is to get the correct hiegth and anti dive angle, based on the top of the frame rail...no reason to use the original (plus it's ugly), just use it as a pattern for mockup for the hiegth and Upper arm holes.
I'm thinking the inner fender panels mightneed just a scooch of massaging to clear the strut/CA mounts, but it shouldn't be much.
I'm thinking the inner fender panels mightneed just a scooch of massaging to clear the strut/CA mounts, but it shouldn't be much.
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I'll have the Roast Duck
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Northshore, MN
Considering a coil spring 4x4 has a coil bucket, and a strut has a 3 bolt mount on top, I wonder if one could make a long coil bucket for the strut, so to speak.
truxx, I suppose you could. it'd be a bit of cutting though.
One problem on the Fox-tbirds is the strut gets in the way of using lowering springs with performance brakes and wheels. Using drop spindles works, but eliminating the strut tower completely, is what I'm after....kinda like a modified Mustang II set-up.
truxx, I suppose you could. it'd be a bit of cutting though.
One problem on the Fox-tbirds is the strut gets in the way of using lowering springs with performance brakes and wheels. Using drop spindles works, but eliminating the strut tower completely, is what I'm after....kinda like a modified Mustang II set-up.
Last edited by havi; Oct 3, 2007 at 09:31 PM.
I'll have the Roast Duck
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Northshore, MN
top of the strut is what sets your caster/camber.
see how the strut tower surrounds the strut (pass.side)...well the 70's and 80's 4x4 trucks have that too, except theirs is bolted to the side of the frame. Now if you could have something like the strut tower bolt to the frame, you could then set your tbird ifs underneath, and the inner fenders would be independent of the towers. Maybe I'm off base, though.
see how the strut tower surrounds the strut (pass.side)...well the 70's and 80's 4x4 trucks have that too, except theirs is bolted to the side of the frame. Now if you could have something like the strut tower bolt to the frame, you could then set your tbird ifs underneath, and the inner fenders would be independent of the towers. Maybe I'm off base, though.
Last edited by havi; Oct 3, 2007 at 09:49 PM.
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Joined: Jul 2007
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From: I live in Leitchfield, KY
Yeah, I know that, but I have cut the whole front end from a Cougar. I was just goin to slide a couple of 2x4 rect steel into the unibody frame rails, and make a ladder type frame. Using all the angels and everything from the Cougar? What do ya think?I still have the strut towers in place, I was just goin to make a couple of braces goin from the frame rails to the strut towers? I havent done anything yet, but I have been pondering the whole thing. I have the front and rear from this car.
I'll have the Roast Duck
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Northshore, MN
Ok, now I reread all the posts, I see you were talking about using the whole section. This could work as long as the angle of it all equals what the car has, otherwise caster camber numbers will need to be fidgited. But what I was originally trying to say was, you can make a seperate strut tower in reply to post #8.
(strut length is another thought I have....do they make shorter ones? I'm trying to lower my tbird 5-6" and it's a lot harder than I thought....short of making a frame and converting to MII, ok I'm thinking out loud again, lol)
(strut length is another thought I have....do they make shorter ones? I'm trying to lower my tbird 5-6" and it's a lot harder than I thought....short of making a frame and converting to MII, ok I'm thinking out loud again, lol)