Help me plan my build!!!!

I for one am using an 8.8" rear from an 84 lincoln w/ rear discs....a suggestion, probably a fairly cheap way to go...as or the front brakes....I actually have all my factory front disc setup(spindles, calipers, etc.) for sale soon since I am swapping to a mustang II front end...it will probably need going through...new pads,cleaning, etc etc, but its all there and of course is a direct bolt on...as for new springs...why do you need them to be new? unless there is something wrong with your stock springs, you could just cut them(though that would make the ride somewhat firmer) cant give you any advice on the bullitt wheels though

the stock lincoln gear ratio is something like 2.75ish or so....but its an 8.8 so any gear ratio you want is available...not sure if its a locker honestly(havent gotten to the point I need to change it yet) but there is of course both posiloc lsd and full detroit locker units available for the 8.8, as well as units such as the air locker(goes from an open diff to a full locker with the flip of a switch)
as far as the mustang II swap...I dont suggest it for a performance suspension....I got it for 2 reasons myself....I am using a 4.6L DOHC engine....the only way to fit the engine in the bay is to cut out the shock towers.....or notch them with a RRS front suspension...and since the RRS suspension costs $2500+ I decided no....reason number two for me was it provided a big brake kit, rack and pinion swap and a coilover type suspension, as well as tubular upper and lower control arms all for under $2k...and while it may handle better than a stock 66 suspension, there is most certainly better handling stuff out there based off the stock design(such as the open tracker stuff) far and away the only real reason to get a mustang II setup is simply for more room in the engine bay for some physically massive engine(big block, modular engine, or even a triton v10 if you felt like it) as for good links on the subject...I would do a mustang II search an read up on it...I think you will find its more of a headache than you want to deal with....I also think it would be out of your budget before long, even with the base kit, you're looking at $1800, while it packs a lot of stuff in there for the price, after you ad in a used 8.8" rear...some 17" wheels and mustang II accesories like sway bar, new inner fender panels, new brake lines all around, welding stock spring perches to the 8.8, getting the correct u-joint, tires for bullit wheels, spacers to use them(or torque thrust wheels which look the same, but cost more but not require spacers) and new drop leaf springs for the back, it will use up just about every penny of that budget

you cant use the t-bird t5...since its a 4 cylinder version the input shaft is too short from what I remember...maybe if you use t4 bellhousing and redrill the bolt pattern to fit the t5, you need a v8 t5...$700 is about average for most aftermarket front disc kits....try the granada swap, or get a used stock setup and clean it up, both would be cheaper....unless you just want massive brakes...also, mustangsteve.com has some kits on his site using the late model cobra brakes

the t-bird tranny is a WC t5, the power handling isnt a problem, but I seem to remember all the 4 cylinder input shafts being too short(evidently they used shallower bellhousings on the 4 cylinders..similar to a toploader, I cant verify this...however, you can measure the input shaft length and then we will know for sure(or measure the bellhousing depth alternatively)

i bought an 8.8 w\ 3.55 gears out of a 98 explorer at a salvage yard w\disk brakes. repositioning spring perches and shockmounts is about all you have to do. my front spindles, also from salvage yard were from granada and very cheap. you just have to change the outer tie rod for a granada cause the mustang tie rod wont fit the granada spindle.

good luck with your project

mdriggers9662 said:

i bought an 8.8 w\ 3.55 gears out of a 98 explorer at a salvage yard w\disk brakes. repositioning spring perches and shockmounts is about all you have to do. my front spindles, also from salvage yard were from granada and very cheap. you just have to change the outer tie rod for a granada cause the mustang tie rod wont fit the granada spindle.

good luck with your project

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Well, if you don't mind having the rear tire stick out 2-3/8" on one side, or having the driveshaft at an angle within the tunnel if you center the wheels, then I guess you don't have to do anything . . . but if you want the rear axle housing to sit centered and have the same amount of clearance between the fenderwell and the tire, then you will have to shorten the right side axle tube, because it's offset to the left by about that much.