How about some '97 Thunderbird suspension under a '68 coupe?

[Volvo Heretic]

I've been reading a few threads about MII front suspensions under old Mustangs, and while wandering around the junk yards looking for spindles and rear axles for my Volvo and the Granada 5 lug suspension for the wife’s ’68 6 cylinder coupe, I couldn’t help but notice that the ’97 Thunderbirds front and rear clips and suspension attachment points looked awfully similar to the ‘68’s.

Anybody ever consider slapping on the front and rear suspensions from the Thunderbird? I was even thinking of the entire floor pan since our ’68 needs an entirely new one. They seemed to be about the same width, just hack off 5” wherever it seems right.

If the old Mustang’s hub to hub width is 56.5” and the Thunderbird’s is, I think, 60.5”, I wonder if the only issue would be using the high offset wheels of the Thunderbird.

I've haven't done any real measuring, but just a thought.

 

[shoguun]

i think tbird lug patterns are 5X4.25 normal mustang is 5x4.5

 

[wicked93gs]

lug pattern isnt a big issue though...easy enough to re-drill the stud hole to the correct pattern...similar to what jaguar IRS guys do...I have to ask though if you are sure about the T-bird rear suspension since its an IRS with its own cage(I have been playing with the idea of adapting that IRS myself)

 

[2+2GT]

I had a Thunderbird SC, and while it was a great handling car for it's size, Ford was never able to eliminate the wheel hop problems. Most of it was actually deflection of the differential, mostly curable with urethane bushings, but the hopping of the right wheel under hard forward torque was really front to rear, not up and down, is a design flaw.

 

[Volvo Heretic]

How about the front suspension?

 

[rpk]

been there,still there. About 14 months now. You need lots of fabbing skills,or lots of money for someone else's skills. The floor pan will still need modifications. All grill area on mustang needs modificating. Custom fender aprons need to be made up. If you want an IRS use a 2001 and up Cobra, narrower and lots of parts. Front,you can go with fatman fabricating for a strut,and SN95 brake and rack and pinion steering. I can't post too many pictures here,you can look in garages section for my 67 mustang(black,white hood) or I can email you some,and you can make up your mind.