Retrofit Tacoma Struts in a Stang

MightyMouse · Sep 5, 2008

Not a racer

This is my daily driver and I want to make it so it is easy to work on. I personally like th strut cars better. Each to his own I guess. Everything I have worked on has the struts and I personally like the ride better. Sure, if I was going to race or use it as a dragster I would stick with the dual arms.

I am slowly working on the system right now, and I will post pics as I can. We just had twins so our plate is full right now.

MightyMouse · Sep 25, 2008

Struts up front

It has taken me over a month to get to this point now. Having 4month twins, a two year old, a four year old, married, workig full time and working on my masters degree has slowed my progress down.

Anyway, here are some pics of what it looks like. I am using my Torque Thrust 15" wheels, just added longer wheel studs and put in a 1/2" wheel spacer. More pictures will be coming as I get more work done.

View attachment 302132

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TheShagg · Sep 26, 2008

MightyMouse said:
This is my daily driver and I want to make it so it is easy to work on. I personally like th strut cars better. Each to his own I guess. Everything I have worked on has the struts and I personally like the ride better. Sure, if I was going to race or use it as a dragster I would stick with the dual arms.

I am slowly working on the system right now, and I will post pics as I can. We just had twins so our plate is full right now.

I find it funny that you are doing all of this work..... to save you work.

I like to see people getting creative though

MightyMouse · Sep 26, 2008

I think it is easier to work on strut suspensions, it is my daily driver, I want a nice ride. I think strut suspensions give the best ride out there. In the future, when it is all done, it will be super easy to work on, if I ever need to. Sure I am putting a lot of work in it right now, but the total cost I have into the whole system is a whopping $0. I still have parts to sell and if everything goes right, I will have actually made money off of this. Find it unbelievable? Maybe, but I am selling parts off of the car like the front brakes, Tacoma struts, etc. And I am sourcing the other parts from salvage yards and other places and rebuilding them myself. I already had the Taurus R&P and now that I have this setup I get my turn radius back. By fabricating everything myself I only spent $11 on all the steel. It is good to have some connections.

MightyMouse · Nov 22, 2008

I will be making a new post about what I have done to the car since this no longer really covers it. I have added caster/camber plates and plan on working on custom lower control arms this summer. More to come later........

rickcdewitt · Nov 23, 2008

TheShagg said:
Why would you ever want to get rid of the upper control arm? Without it, you won't have any camber gain.

whats the importance of the camber gain? i thought lowering the upper arm reduced the positive camber gain?

please help a newb

i'm waiting on the r&p swap writeup and the cheap stut conversion info mighty mouse! any links to where you got the ideas would be appreciated.

you lost turning radius from the taurus R&P? or just the strut has more room for the splindle to move?

R.O.B. · Nov 25, 2008

rickcdewitt said:
whats the importance of the camber gain? i thought lowering the upper arm reduced the positive camber gain

Correct, you want to loose the positive, and gain negative camber. This will keep the top of the tire leaning inwards during a turn, and therefore, with bodyroll, keep your tire planted flat to the ground.

MightyMouse · Nov 26, 2008

I have been terribly busy lately. I will try to get the thread up and running by Saturday or Sunday.

stonecoldtx · Nov 29, 2008

MightyMouse said:
I have been terribly busy lately. I will try to get the thread up and running by Saturday or Sunday.

So, you've stated that you could use Bilstein struts with coilovers, but for what application? What vehicle were the struts made for originally?

latamud · Nov 30, 2008

stonecoldtx said:
So, you've stated that you could use Bilstein struts with coilovers, but for what application? What vehicle were the struts made for originally?

Looks like he used items for a 96 Mustang according to his write up and pics.

stonecoldtx · Nov 30, 2008

latamud said:
Looks like he used items for a 96 Mustang according to his write up and pics.

You know, I don't see anywhere in here where it states anything about using '96 Mustang Struts. I see '96 Mustang GT BRAKES, but nothing about what struts are being used other than "Bilstein":

MightyMouse said:
I am going away from the Tacoma Strut Conversion and focusing on a strut conversion like that of RRS. I have the parts coming to my house and the best thing is that I am under $450 for a complete front end strut system. After I am done I will have:

Billstein Struts

Coilover Springs

Adjustable Strut Rods

96 Mustang GT Brakes

Rack and Pinion Steering

NO UPPER CONTROL ARM

I will be posting pics of this conversion as I go. I am basing mine off of the FatMan Fab design, but without the cost involved. Stay tuned as I am slowly working on this.

The following website has some great information on the Fatman Fab installation:

FatMan Fab Strut install in Fast Forward Fastback

I also don't see any mention of what application the struts are from in the post with the pictures.

Therefore, the reason for my post earlier requesting information about what application the Bilstein struts he's got listed are for.

rickcdewitt · Nov 30, 2008

MightyMouse said:
I retrofited some Toyota Tacoma Struts into my 67 a few years back. They came off of a 4x4 V6. Handles really well, just way to stiff. I need to find the springs for a V6 2wd or that of a 4cyl 2wd.

very first line in thread

stonecoldtx · Nov 30, 2008

rickcdewitt said:
very first line in thread

Hi, Rick--

Apparently, you haven't read through the thread. I quoted the new plans--you can see it in the posting to which you replied; it included his plans to change from the Tacoma struts to Bilstein struts, so what you quoted is long outdated.

To illustrate, I'll post it again for your benefit:

MightyMouse said:
I am going away from the Tacoma Strut Conversion and focusing on a strut conversion like that of RRS. I have the parts coming to my house and the best thing is that I am under $450 for a complete front end strut system. After I am done I will have:

Billstein Struts

Coilover Springs

Adjustable Strut Rods

96 Mustang GT Brakes

Rack and Pinion Steering

NO UPPER CONTROL ARM

I will be posting pics of this conversion as I go. I am basing mine off of the FatMan Fab design, but without the cost involved. Stay tuned as I am slowly working on this.

The following website has some great information on the Fatman Fab installation:

FatMan Fab Strut install in Fast Forward Fastback

Look--I appreciate everybody trying to help out and answer the question I posed, but only the OP can answer it, and that's to whom I addressed the question, so please, let's allow him to answer it.

Thanks!

latamud · Nov 30, 2008

stonecoldtx said:
You know, I don't see anywhere in here where it states anything about using '96 Mustang Struts. I see '96 Mustang GT BRAKES, but nothing about what struts are being used other than "Bilstein":

I also don't see any mention of what application the struts are from in the post with the pictures.

Therefore, the reason for my post earlier requesting information about what application the Bilstein struts he's got listed are for.

Sorry, I'm being mean.

stonecoldtx · Nov 30, 2008

latamud said:
Sorry your pannies are all bunched up. Look harder, I'll have a beer.

Hey, NP, man--Tell you what--if you can find anything anywhere in any of his posts that states he's using Bilstein struts made for a 96 Mustang, I'll buy YOU a beer.

latamud · Nov 30, 2008

stonecoldtx said:
Hey, NP, man--Tell you what--if you can find anything anywhere in any of his posts that states he's using Bilstein struts made for a 96 Mustang, I'll buy YOU a beer.

There's a pic of a newer Mustang type strut bolted to a newer Mustang type spindle that from the factory accept a strut. Also, the mention of 96 brakes helps. In the meantime, my original post says it "LOOKS LIKE" 96. But bunched pannies kinda make it hard to see straight. I'm leaving this thread. You're obviously watching it like a hawk. It's all yours. Good day, and drink decaf.

thekid760 · Dec 6, 2008

I would bet that those struts are still the tacoma ones but with coilover sleeves and new springs.

Tacoma 4x4's (depending on year) come stock with Bilsteins.

He never mentioned buying new struts, only springs and coilover sleeves.

Either way I'm interested.

stonecoldtx · Dec 7, 2008

thekid760 said:
I would bet that those struts are still the tacoma ones but with colover sleeves and new springs.

Tacoma 4x4's (depending on year) come stock with Bilsteins.

He never mentioned buying new struts, only springs and coilover sleeves.

Either way i'm interested.

Actually, I PM'd him and he told me the struts were from a 2003/2004 Cobra (I believe they came stock with those struts those years); of course, struts from '94-'04 all fit the same way.

I also am interested in the method he used to attach them to the shock towers, because I'm going to use a similar configuration, and need to know that part so I can complete my setup.

MightyMouse · Dec 10, 2008

Sorry I haven't updated this like I said I would. I have been extremely busy. I am a teacher, I have four kids, two of which are 6 month old twins and I am working on my masters. So you may see why I haven't had time to reply to much lately.

Now onto the swap. Everything in this setup has been heavily modified. I have done all of the work myself and it has been no easy task. Below is a list of items that have been used.

1. 67 Mustang Lower Control Arm with 96 Mustang Lower Ball Joint
2. '03 Cobra Bilstein Struts
3. Coilover Kit, 14" Spring at 175lb
4. 96 Mustang Spindle with custom arm mount for rear steer Taurus Rack
5. Longer Wheel studs to accept 1/2" Spacer to fit 15" Torque Thrust Wheels
6. Steeda Caster Camber Plate for a 79-93 Mustang (Heavily Modified)

Again all of this has been heavily modified to fit my particular application. I am trying to post the information on the Taurus Rack Install. I got most of my turning radius back, but am still not 100% satisfied. Between being busy and not having any money, it has been difficult working on this project.

Anyone interested in me making them the rear steer bracket? How about modifying the caster camber plates for them. I would of course do this for a fee, just something I thought I would throw out there to try to make some money to continue to develop this project. Thanks and talk to ya' all later.

MightyMouse · Dec 10, 2008

Taurus Rack Write Up

View attachment 285957

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