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Topic: Starting fresh (Read 29468 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Starting fresh

Reply #60 –
Quote from: Clayton – on
On a thunderbird/ cougar yes. If you look at the lower mount the way the kmember is shaped right there there would be some major interference. I should have went with a 5/8 spacer but 1/8 isnt going to hurt anything seeing as its measured in and square within 1/16"  and the rear mounts need opened up quite a bit to fit correctly

I figured there would be interference without the spacer, looking at the picture. Just a hunk of steel was used for the spacer I assume?

A Maximum Motorsport K-member, front control arms, and coil overs are on my wish list. Cost is a bit high though, as I'd probably redo the brakes as well. It's not cheap but worth it from a handling perspective.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Re: Starting fresh

Reply #61 –
The spacers are aluminum actually. The weight savings between the two k members is crazy. And for being a pretty hefty piece anyway compared to upr and team z the complete kit control arms, k member, coil overs and all the hardware weighed 85lbs in the boxes they shipped in. The factory k member and control arms is well over 120 I never weighed this one or the last cars stock kmember but I struggled a little bit getting it from the floor to the truck and I'm not small at 6' 250lbs. Where I can curl the granatelli piece with the control arms and steering rack still attached..

And for what its worth, if you can find a deal on a granatelli kmember nab it up. It's literally the same design as the MM piece. Just coated different colors. I bought my kit back in 2011 for under 700 with coilovers and a arms.

I ordered a panhard bar the first week in July it was on back order it should be on its way this coming week that will be a big deciding factor on my exhaust cause the stinger pipes barely fit with 275/40s on the back. I am not above running dumps but I'd like to keep the tail pipes haha but after the PHB shows up and my fca's show up I should be done with the suspension build portion. Dial in the ride height do a tune up and drive this turd for a while to see how she does, get it figured out then start adding power to it this fall (as funds allow)

Re: Starting fresh

Reply #62 –
Post up pictures of the Maximum Motorsports panhard bar installation. I'd like to add one to my car but I'm worried it won't fit around the 2.5" Dynomax tail pipes. There's no way I'm running dumps to make it fit. That wouldn't fit with the character of the car at all.
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Re: Starting fresh

Reply #63 –
We'll see if I can pull that off. I'm horrible of taking in process pics. More worried about getting it done lol

Re: Starting fresh

Reply #64 –
Looking forward to any pictures of the panhard bar installed.  I don't think the Stinger tailpipe (driver side only / single) on my car will clear it but have been interested in one.

Thank you for the tip on the Granatelli stuff.  Did you use the SN95 k-member and control arms or the Fox?  Guessing the SN95 for '87-88 cars?
1988 Thunderbird TC, 5spd
Stinger 3" single exhaust, Cone Filter, Adjustable Cam Pulley, Schneider roller cam, Walbro 255 lph, AEM Wideband O2
'93 Mustang Cobra replica wheels on 235/50R17

'21 F150 Powerboost
'17 Husqvarna TX300

Re: Starting fresh

Reply #65 –
Its not the drivers side I'm worried about. The passenger side is a tight fit around the tank now with the meats on the rear. Granted they are very loose still because of antition of the PHB.

I looked up a GMS kmember that you could order right now and the newer ones look like the UPR design. So scratch that idea. If you find an older used piece you should be gold. I did order mine 8 years ago after all. And GMS was under fire for a long while over copy cat designs. Supposed buying the MM kmember sending it to India to have it duplicated ECT ECT I don't know the specifics don't care either. I just know I bought it for 1/2 the cost for LKQ

I used the fox kmember and fox length control arms with 98+ spindles.

Re: Starting fresh

Reply #66 –
Today after work I shall be unsupervised for a little amount of time. So in that time I'm going to try to swap the pedals and booster and all that related stuff up under the dash to get it out of the way.

My front a arms should be here today as well and then its pretty much all downhill from there

Re: Starting fresh

Reply #67 –
I got the pedals hung and the booster in and most of the interior put back together. Saturday I tackle the rest of the nose. I should get it all back together no problem

Re: Starting fresh

Reply #68 –
I know for a fact that the MM panhard bard will clear 2.5" factory path tailpipes (Dynomax and Flowmaster are known to work well) with 275's on a Fox Mustang.  My Coupe has MM torque arm, panhard bar, Griggs coilovers, and 275/40/17 Nitto 555R's in the rear and the Dynomax 2.5" tailpipes clear.  I saw one 3" setup but the guy custom built it with mandrel bends and tig weled everything so it was like looking at artwork.

Being this is all on a Mustang there may be some nuances with a Bird/Cat but my money is on it fitting with very little work.  My guess is that the path of the tailpipes will be identical to the Mustang.  The 3" tailpipes on my Bird are Flowmaster mandrel bent units for a Mustang LX that were lengthened only in the part that hangs down and runs to the back of the car past the fuel tank.  I believe we lengthened them around 8" or so.

Anyhow, keep up the good work and I wish my projects moved like yours.

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


93 331 Mustang Coupe - 368 rwhp

Re: Starting fresh

Reply #69 –
I'm optimistic about it. It should fit no problem and will be on the car regardless of the exhaust fitment. I'm not paying 400 for a paperweight the exhaust is not a big deal to me right now that's all subject to change anyway the suspension parts however, are not. I mean my mac lers are literally slid right over the factory split 1 into 2 pipe right now cause this winter when I swap the motor, the exhaust gets updated as well. But for now it works no farther than its went so far. The truth will come out when I have the PHB in my posession

Y'all hang tight until then. I also have to modify my shock adapter to accommodate the driver side PHB axle mount too

Re: Starting fresh

Reply #70 –
The front end is almost done aside from brake lines which I'm currently taking a break from. The rest will be done today and hopefully be bled too. Then the only thing that might need being done depending on how frisky I get is the ebrake cables.

I'm hoping to have it out of the garage tonight for a bit but we'll see

Re: Starting fresh

Reply #71 –
Brake pedal is a little squishy still but I figure I'll have to rebleed the system again soon but i was getting close calling it quits amd had a goal set to see it outside today. 10 hours of play time today gets alot done lol slightly supervised she came out to make sure I wasn't dead and helped bleed the brakes but shes on all fours now. Only thing left is to hook the ebrakes up and have it aligned

Re: Starting fresh

Reply #72 –
Got the line lock wired and tested today.  :toothless:. Brakes still have a little air in the lines. Also got my pioneer radio put in and the rest of the dash put back together also put the cover panel in over the fuel pump and put the trunk back together.

Now I'm fighting these pesky window clips so I can roll my window up. Calling the local specialty alignment shop tomorrow to get a quote on how bad theyre going to rail me to reign this faux pony in.

Re: Starting fresh

Reply #73 –
Looking good. Hopefully it doesn't cost too much to align. Any idea how far off it is?
88 Thunderbird LX: 306, Edelbrock Performer heads, Comp 266HR cam, Edelbrock Performer RPM intake, bunch of other stuff.

Re: Starting fresh

Reply #74 –
Quote from: thunderjet302 – on
Looking good. Hopefully it doesn't cost too much to align. Any idea how far off it is?

Its gonna cost about $75 as long as there are no hang ups. Not too horrible but I don't think think they fully heard me when I said a heavily modified 88 thunderbird but we shall see.

As far as how far off it it I honestly couldn't tell ya. I measured the toe and tried to get it as even as I could the rest is on them lol.