IRS Swap

[Dan]

Has anyone thought about installing in Independant Rear Suspention set up in our cars?

If so, what donor vehicle(s) would you use?

I don't know if an IRS conversion would be a bolt in or not but the idea of doing it intrigues me. I like a car that handles the road well...extremely well.

Dan

[Krytin]

I think the old T-Bird IRS uses the 8.8" center section. Will have to make new axle shafts & design control arms/linkage as well as bearing carier - but sounds interesting!
It's just a matter of how much money you want to spend!

[DEFYANT]

Does the Lincoln run

[Dan]

Does the Lincoln run

I am sorry but I don't understand the question. Who said anything about the Lincoln?

Krytin,

As I thought about this today I realized that we are talking about making all of the connection points work.

I was thinking about it in terms of what freedoms or restrictions are placed on the idea by virtue of the fact that Ford tries to reuse parts in as many places is it can and as often as it can.

Do any Panther platform cars come with an IRS? If not, what is the next closest thing? Are we talking about new bracketing and all is there a mounting unit that attaches to the car and then the suspension. See where I am going here?

Dan

[DEFYANT]

I am sorry but I don't understand the question. Who said anything about the Lincoln?

Krytin,

As I thought about this today I realized that we are talking about making all of the connection points work.

I was thinking about it in terms of what freedoms or restrictions are placed on the idea by virtue of the fact that Ford tries to reuse parts in as many places is it can and as often as it can.

Do any Panther platform cars come with an IRS? If not, what is the next closest thing? Are we talking about new bracketing and all is there a mounting unit that attaches to the car and then the suspension. See where I am going here?

Dan
Whoops! I ment to say, "Does the Lincoln run an IRS"

[jgc61sr2002]

I believe all panther platform including Lincoln have a solid rear axel housing.
IMO if it is possible the cost out ways the`gain.

[purelux]

It all depends on what you want from the car if it does what you want and you've spent within what you wanted then it was worth it. Latest linoln to run irs was the mark 8 and lincoln LS and the aviator suv.

[Dan]

Ahhh, the Lincoln Mark 8. I wasn't sure if it had an IRS or not but I guess it does.

I wonder how hard it would be to do a swap using a Mark 8 as a donor vehicle. It seems to be that it should almost be a bolt in, right? I guess the question of whether or not it also had an air bag suspension is a big one. Does anyone know?

Dan

[Krytin]

Ahhh, the Lincoln Mark 8. I wasn't sure if it had an IRS or not but I guess it does.

I wonder how hard it would be to do a swap using a Mark 8 as a donor vehicle. It seems to be that it should almost be a bolt in, right? I guess the question of whether or not it also had an air bag suspension is a big one. Does anyone know?

Dan
The Mark VIII is the same platform as the old T-Bird - a few inches longer. No chance of finding a direct bolt in for the Panther platform. The center section needs a cross member/suitable fixted mounting point that does not presently exist. Add that to the difference in width and you wind up with a lot of re-design & fabrication. I like the idea - but it's gonna cost $$$$!

[FordNut]

As many IRS center sections as I see laying around the Ford place, I wouldn't do it.

[BillyGman]

If you ever do get serious about off-the-line acceleration or you like to do some hairy burnouts, then you won't want half-shafts (ie. IRS). Because IRS more readily causes wheel hop, and is also more prone to breakage. Particularly of the side yokes which are usually the weak link in those set-ups. I had a car with IRS, and yes, I broke the side yokes. My vette got real bad wheel hop when I spun the tires which was remedied by keeping the four wheel alignment correct. However, I don't know if all IRS set-ups enable you to align the back wheels.


If you go on some of the Mustang boards, you'll find that the Cobra owners who get serious about HP, end up changing out their factory stock IRS units for conventional axles like our cars have since they offer more durability in high HP applications. My point is, that you cannot have it all. And to switch to an IRS, you'll be sacrificing durability, for better handling. If that's what your choice is, then ofcourse it is yours to make. I just want to make sure that you're aware of the trade-off.

[MikesMerc]

LOL...yeah you should see all the IRS set ups Lidio has laying around his place. The Cobra guys cannot seem to yank em out fast enough.

For the non drag racer the thought is interesting though.

[BillyGman]

LOL...yeah you should see all the IRS set ups Lidio has laying around his place. The Cobra guys cannot seem to yank em out fast enough.

For the non drag racer the thought is interesting though.
Point well taken Mike. It really depends on what it is that each individual wants to do with their car in the future. If for instance there's a roots supercharger for the future plans of the car in question, or nitrous oxide injection, (or any other means of a a big gain in low-end, and midrange torque) then I wouldn't suggest the IRS at all.

[Dan]

Thanks, all, for the input.

Dan

[looking97233]

A few years ago at a rod & custom show, one of the vendors had a IRS set-up on display. It was made from a from a Ford 9" with the axle tubes cut off. It also had inboard disc brakes on it, cutting unsprung weight. I don't know who or where or how to find it, but it is out there somewhere.

The Cobra IRS is off the shelf from the T-Bird/Mark8. IMO I do not think it would be strong enough for our heavier cars. Also it would require you to design and build a sub-frame that would attach to the MM's mounting points and also to the IRS unit. Expensive.

[fast Ed]

The Cobra IRS is off the shelf from the T-Bird/Mark8. Not quite ... the Cobra and the Bird share the same style diff. pumpkin and mounting, plus the outer wheel bearings are the same. Other than that, the Cobra parts are unique to that installation. Control arms, knuckles, axles, brakes, etc. are all different. Ford had to package an IRS to mount to a subframe, that would fit where a live axle was supposed to be mounted. On the 89 - 97 Birds / Cougars & 93 - 98 Marks, they only came with IRS, do the rear portion of the chassis is designed to accommodate that.

The Bird IRS would probably be strong enough, my 95 SC weighs 3875 lb. without me in it. And it had 330 lbs./ft. of torque at 2500 rpm from the factory, and has withstood many 3000 rpm drapstrip launches on M/T E-T Street tires. Width would be close to the MM too, the MN-12 Birds are long, wide cars. But as already mentioned, a lot of custom fabbing would be the order of the day, to get any IRS under the Marauder.

cheers,
Ed N.

[Krytin]

A few years ago at a rod & custom show, one of the vendors had a IRS set-up on display. It was made from a from a Ford 9" with the axle tubes cut off. It also had inboard disc brakes on it, cutting unsprung weight. I don't know who or where or how to find it, but it is out there somewhere.

I remember those - a hot street rod set up to replace those hard to find Jag IRS rears that were popular in T-Buckets & the like! I'll have to look in the garage for some old Street Rodder magazines.