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Topic: coil over questions (Read 1620 times) previous topic - next topic

coil over questions

trying to figure out i have 88 tbird lx 5.0 what front shcks fit on mine foxbody mustang or the newer ones looking to buy a cheap set of coilovers for now tho get her on the road

coil over questions

Reply #1
IIRC, where the strut mounts to the spindle (those 2 large bolts behind rotor), the spindle is 1in thick on foxes. On sn95 its like 3/4in thick. So you can prob run coilovers for either one, but you pick coilovers for an sn95 youll need to get washers to make up for the difference.

-Kyle
1986 Ford Thunderchicken, 5.0 AOD w/ Shift kit,  354,XXX miles. 1-Family owned. Original engine+trans.
8.8 Disc Rear w/ 3.73 Posi. CHE Control Arms. '04 Cobra brakes all around. 2000 Cobra R wheels. Tubular front LCA's. MM Steering Shaft. Unlocked Speedo, Lowering springs, Eibach sway bars front and rear. Ram air intake.

coil over questions

Reply #2
Quote from: kylesburrell;465287
IIRC, where the strut mounts to the spindle (those 2 large bolts behind rotor), the spindle is 1in thick on foxes. On sn95 its like 3/4in thick. So you can prob run coilovers for either one, but you pick coilovers for an sn95 youll need to get washers to make up for the difference.

-Kyle


ok cool i know they make shims i wanted to go sn95 for the longer rears

coil over questions

Reply #3
For the rears you can also flip the rear shock bracket with a bit of work to give you about an inch of height
Quote from: jcassity
I honestly dont think you could exceed the cost of a new car buy installing new *stock* parts everywhere in your coug our tbird. Its just plain impossible. You could revamp the entire drivetrain/engine/suspenstion and still come out ahead.
Hooligans! 
1988 Crown Vic wagon. 120K California car. Wifes grocery getter. (junked)
1987 Ford Thunderbird LX. 5.0. s.o., sn-95 t-5 and an f-150 clutch. Driven daily and going strong.
1986 cougar.
lilsammywasapunkrocker@yahoo.com

coil over questions

Reply #4
OK, so "Foxes" is a very bad way to lump Mustangs...They weren't all the same.

On 79-93 Mustangs, those that used the 11" front brakes, used the spindles with the narrower strut mount.  This includes 87-93 5.0's and the 84-86 2.3T SVOs. HOWEVER, the SVO spindles are Lincoln spindles and require the larger ball-joint, so just avoid those. All of the others use the wider mount.

The SN-95 struts use the same narrower mounting point at the spindle as the 87-93 5.0 struts.

I don't think your 88 5.0 TBird has the 11" front discs, but rather has the 10" ones, with the wider spindle mount. Going by Mustang years, the struts that would bolt on would be 79-86 all (or 87-93 non-5.0)

For the rears, you can flip the bracket, or there is someone selling my old raised HD rear shock brackets in the For Sale section.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon

coil over questions

Reply #5
well what about for coilovers since most say they are for 79-93

coil over questions

Reply #6
Quote from: yeager561;465310
well what about for coilovers since most say they are for 79-93

Read the fine print to see what comes with the kit, or what factory components are required.

They could either say 79-93 and mean that they use the wider spindle mounts and include spacers for the late 5.0 narrow spindles, or they require the later narrow spindles to be used. *shrug* Do some investigation.
Long live the 4-eyes!  - '83 Tbird Turbo - '85 Marquis LTS - '86 LTD Wagon

 

coil over questions

Reply #7
So if the car is going to be lowered more than 1" I would suggest using the Fox struts due to the stroke on the SN95 struts being 1" longer.  This typically causes bottoming out of the SN95 strut on a car that is pretty low.  I have the Fox struts on mine with coil overs and it is in the weeds compared to stock height.

To simply things just find a set of 87-93 5.0 Mustang spindles or the 87-88 Turbo Coupe spindles (hard to find anymore) and put 11" brakes on the car as the 10" brakes suck worse than the 11".  Typically you can find some spindles on the Mustang sites for stupid cheap.

If you are going to go to 5 lug then just bite the bullet and get the SN95 setup (use the search function) and you will finally get the brakes these cars should have come with.

83 351W TKO'd T-Bird on the bottle


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp