Perfect IRS for swaps?
 

Hey guys,
So I was poking around my neighborhood pic-n-pull looking for treasures. I came upon a Independent rear suspension that could be the bees knees for swaps. They seem to be in 94-96 lincoln coupes. They are contained in their own little drop out frames and have coil springs so there are landings to make an easy airbag conversion. With exception to the upper shock mount they seem to be self contained in their drop out frame. Oh yes and they use a conventional driveshaft input,Have a common 5 lug hub, And dare i say.... Sweet modern disc brakes :D

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...y/IMG_3696.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...y/IMG_3692.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...y/IMG_3689.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...y/IMG_3687.jpg

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/i...y/IMG_3688.jpg

Sorry that these are the best pics I could get the way the vehicle was positioned.

I know these are likely not nine inch strong but they are behind v-8s in big cars. So I cant imagine breaking them with the engines I use in a light weight car

Does anyone have any experience with these? Anything I need to look out for? I think its the clear winner for the rear suspension of my lakes modified project im starting to find donors for.

Thanks in advance for any input...experiences...warnings

These are a common swap or "build with" with the Factory Five bunch. The diff carrier is aluminum but has a single side rear end. A 8.8 Traction Lock carrier can be used, but the side gears are different in the IRS rear end in order to accept the axle retaining clips. The side gears from the iron case T-Bird Traction Loc can be swapped in (or use the entire T-Bird 8.8" Traction Loc diff) or the original side gears machined to hold the clips.

The other 'snag' is the 5 x 4.25” wheel pattern. Obviously this can be redrilled to whatever pattern is needed at some additional cost.

But for those wanting an IRS, these are a good way to get there. The calipers and rotors are said to be good units as well.

Thats a strange bolt pattern? I wonder why they didn't stick the the typical fomoco rwd bolt patern to keep it simple?

I suspect these are related to the T-bird IRS, also plentiful in wrecking yards.

Mark vIII are pretty much a t bird- cougar from 89-96 - 7 -?
lots of stuff bolts up. I had numerous birds -cougars. Was allways gonna get a wrecked mark 8 and put the powerplant in my bird. Then I decided that a pickup was a smarter choice.
I still dont understand why guys use a jag rear when there are so many t bird rears and subframes out there to use and parts are everywhere.I guess I just never cared much for jags.

Many of those IRS are the 8.8 ring gear as I recall.

We used the IRS in a mid engine sand rail back in 1998... a SB-Chevy with a powerglide hooked to the differential yoke with only the u-joint and slip yoke into the PG.

It is possible that they were just the ones that everyone used at first and it became mainstream. Even though something else would work well and was easier to come by. Kinda like the mustang II front ends dominance of the industry.

For one thing, they are a work of art when detailed out, and back in the day they were about the only game in town AFA having anywhere near the strength needed to handle American torque.

That makes sense . Run what you got I guess. The t bird might not look as pretty when it is all said and done .There is most likely a LOT of them around.
I have owned a herd of t birds in the late 90s and a few cougars. Never had trouble with the rears. The supercoupe I had had the 8.8 and the axles were the larger size compared to the v-6. IIRC the v 6 could have the 7.5 or the 8.8 but both had the skinny axle. the supercoupe and te v8 cars had the 8.8 and the thicker axles. Just thought it was worth the mention.
My oldest brother is looking for a miata to put a 4.6 liter in and from what he is telling me they guys are also putting 8.8 rears under them. must be they arent to hard to squeeze in there.

That must be a heck of a squeeze. Even the 4.6 sohc in the Mustang is a tight fit.

H e said there are kits being produce to bolt all that in. I am sure it is a tight fit. Good thing the spark plugs are on top and not like a 5.0 or sbc :D

Hahaha good call. I'd honestly hate to have to do anything other than regular maintenance after putting it in. The fact that they make a kit for it is very cool, a PI SOHC or the DOHC 4.6L would make a miata a real screamer.

sounds like a win
 

Thanks for all the input guys :thumbup:
Cobalt a wealth of knowledge about getting a limited slip in it...Thanks

I'm thinking this is gonna be the way to go for me. Affordable strong and easily adaptable. Might even detail out nicely with the cast aluminum lower arms.

Time to grab the tools and head to the old pic-n-pull :D

The Trac-Loc diff in a solid axle and an IRS are the same. Just need to get either 28 or 31 spline to fit your axles. Both diffs are available from Ford for less than $300.

IRS rearend
 

I have seen the Corvette, T-Bird and other IRSs. I chose Jag IRS because I have two of them and I didn't have to go searching for another one.
I may regret my choice, but for now, I'm going with what I got