[5.0Falcon]

So Thanksgiving break is next week and I'll be heading home for thanksgiving for some work on the car that I've been looking forward to, but I need advice on what to do.

For any one not familiar with my project I am currently fitting a Shortened Mustang 8.8 with stock 4-bar and coilover setup Into my '61 Falcon Wagon, my current problem is in the upper arms, they dont fit.

The easiest solution to fix the problem is to shorten them about 1.5 to 2 inches so that i can build the brackets from the crossmember and not cut into the floor, But how does that affect geometry of the suspension?

Also the means by which i intend to do this is to cut the stock mustang arms down and re-weld another piece on there that is 2 inches shorter eye to eye. The cut would be about midway in the upper link and then i would weld in another cutup arm from a jeep (to utilize the stronger arm and bushing)

but if properly welded is their enough strenght there to support the car and its V-8 power?

Your advice is greatly appreciated trust me ive been dwelling on this awhile and i just dont know what works... maybe it'd be better to create a whole new piece.

[Deuce]

I would just put the rear end on the stock springs...and forget about the 4 bar......The Falcon is a sub-frame vehicle and does not have much to weld to....without a lot of fabricating.


By the way........a stock 9 inch 57 Ford rear fits......without all that modifying.......and is stronger...than the 8.8

I just put a 4 bar under my new 32 Ford 3W coupe chassis..

The longer the bars.....the better the ride and the less effect the rear end up/down movement affects the pinion angle.

[5.0Falcon]

Well I already have the equipment to do this swap, the axle, and springs. The reason for the four bar is for traction control and allowing wider tires to fit under the car as the stock springs were to close to the outside of the axle.

The axle already has the mounts on it and it would be the same amount of work to build mounts for the bars than to move the springs in and build track bars.

Thats true about the pinion angle and ride quality Ill consider that

Thanks,

[Deuce]

I looked into moving the spring inward.......when i had my 60 Falcon.
But it seems that the wheel-well opening was so small.......it was not worth the effort.

I had mine many years ago ago ( before you were born...) Maybe before you Dad was born...( I had mine in 1965 ) Mine was a straight axle front, 9 inch Ford in the rear with a big FE series engine up front ..427 with a 428 crank....

It's a wonder I did not get killed in it.....

.

[5.0Falcon]

Wow, that is an amazing car i would like to hear more about it, you wouldn't by any chance have any old pictures of it would you,
....a 427 though thats amazing I'm just trying to squeese a 5.0 in there, you are my hero....haha

[Deuce]

With the straight axle front end.......I removed the spring towers......

Lots of room to put just about anything in the Falcon.....
It was not a good car......no real frame, too high......and a lot of home made ( maybe not so good ) engineering. I was PROUD of it then.......and it would most likely scare me to death to look at it now.

Not all old days were good days...

[5.0Falcon]

So how do you feel about welding those two arms together will it be strong enough?

[Deuce]

Some people are good enough welders to do it....I suppose

I am NOT one of those..
I would make up a new bar........with threaded ends ( 1 end Left and 1 end right hand threaded ) and joints . That way ....no welding and they would be adjustable.

[5.0Falcon]

I like the idea of the treaded ends, i could fix my pinion angle and all that with those.

See I am fortunate enough that my grandfather (who gave me this car) is a welder, and its been nice to know those critical welds will hold.