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Messages - Chuck W

7863
Lounge / Re: Food for Thought
My thoughts are if they are going to stick the Cougar nameplate on something else, it should be a bit more refined platform.

The Mustang platform is a derivative of the Jaguar/Lincoln LS that has been "made more affordable" (ie no IRS or SLA front suspension).  I think the Cougar whould eb based on this somewhat, but NOT turned into the lump that was the most recent TBird.  Give it similar powerplants to the Mustang and even share some of the interior treatments, even share some sheet-metal where possible.  They should also keep the Cobra a live axle car since people just want to drag race the ed things anyway....and stop having to deal with all the wheel-hop and axle snapping problems.
A slightly detuned Cobra motor in a new XR-7 with the independent suspension would be a nice line topper.  You could still have nicely equipped "lower" models that would have better road manners than a Mustang.  It might give up some performance in weight, and would not be the drag platform a Mustang could be, but it would be a nice car, albeit slightly more expensive than the Mustang...but even the originals were.  They would be less "boy-racer" and more of an "enthusiast's" car

However, it would then wind up a car caught between identites and loyalites again, like most Mercury stuff is.  The top Cougar "could not" be alllowed to best a Mustang, and as a 2+2, or a sedan, it might clash with the front-drive people-movers.  i still think if it was built right and marketed right it could compete with some of the sports sedans.

Which is why for now, I will build my own cars..at least that way I can get what I want.
7865
Suspension/Steering / Re: dropped spindles
Well, I would imagine folks would be running at least 17-18" wheels with that type of set-up anyway.  There is more clearance obviously.
The only other option is to raise the inner mounting points at the chassis, but that gets out of the realm of most folks abilities.

What are these spindles supposed to be spec'ed for? Road racing?  Drag racing? looking cool?  Do they upgrade the hub bearings?  The stock SN-95 bearings tend to die early deaths under hard track usage.
7867
Archive & Library (Read Only) / Re: Springs,... Who Has What with Pix
My 84 XR-7 from a few years back.

Front-

Motor sport C-kits

Rear-

Stock XR-7 or 94-98 Mustang Convertible springs with KB TracKit axle brackets.

That's how my 83 Tbird is set-up currently...but that is changing before too long.

Drop, according to my notes (yes, before and after measurements)...drop about 1 1/2".
7869
Suspension/Steering / Re: Body flex
Hey Shawn-
Yes..the Fox bodies are a rigid as wet noodles.
It's pretty easy to to SFCs and weld-in is the way to go.  If you wind up going the make you own route and are working w/ 2" wide material for main tubes, I have some preformed crossbars (for support under the seats) made up from when I was selling mine.  I can sell the crossbars (and the seat hardware) pretty cheap.  Holler at me if you go that route.

You'd also me suprised how much improvement things like a STB and a lower chassis brace make on the feel of the front of the car as well.
7870
Lounge / Re: What do you drive?
83 TC clone, 84 XR-7 , 80 XR-7

(Others are 86 XR4, 87 Ranger turbo, 88 Scorpio)