Does anybody know if this will bolt up to my '88 H.O. Swapped T-Bird?
I have found more and more differences between this Bird and my Fox Mustang.
http://www.sinistermustang.com/upr-2005-79sk-100.html
If not, does anybody know about a coilover kit, or something similar that would work on my car?
Should work. The only big difference between a 79-93 Mustang K-member and an 86-88 Thunderbird/Cougar K-member is the engine mounts. A Mustang K-member is a bolt in swap.
You may have to put a 3/8"-1/2" spacer between the upper mount and the body to keep the k member parallel with the rails. I have a stock 2003 mustang k member in my 85 tbird and it took 3/8". Other sources claim 1/2".
This is part of a message from Jack Hidley at Maximum motor sports to me regarding my project.
http://www.maximummotorsports.com/K-Member-Spacer-Kit-12-thick-P1268.aspx
The kit includes spacers for both the upper and lower mounts, for installing the mustang k member in a tbird or cougar you would not use the lower spacers.
I made my own from some 3/8 steel plate. - Joe
Almost a bolt in. You need a spacer close to 3/8" thick on both sides for the 4 top/front bolts, then you'll need to elongate the 2 rear holes on each side forward close to an 1/2". Then you'll need to trim the tabs where those rear holes are enough for the k member to sit flat.
LOL Joe, you beat me to it :-D
This is just a guess, but you may not have to elongate the 2 rear holes on the lower mounts or trim the tabs if the k member is meant for a 79-93. The 94-04 k member 1badbird and I used this was needed.
Awesome. Sweet. Now I just need the funds. lol
So wait. Does that mean that I need the 94-04 or modify the 79-93? Is the control arm length a factor? Im a little confused.
why are these k member motor mount plantforms at a 45deg angle?
does these Kmembers require you to use truck mounts instead?>
You will need the A-Arms for the SN95
Mustangs use a 45* motor mount with a stud that drops into the slot on the k-member.
The 79-93 k member should be your best choice with a 5.0.
On the 94-04 k member the lower mounting holes need to be relocated forward and the mounts trimmed off. Not positive, but this should not be needed with the 79-93 k member. I used the 03 because of the 4.6 swap.
You'll increase your turning radius by 10% if you stick with the fox a-arms, as mentioned above.
If you are installing a Windsor based push rod motor (302W or 351W) then use a 79-93 Fox Mustang K-Member with Fox Mustang lower control arms if you have a 83-86 Thunderbird or with the SN95 Mustang lower control arms if you have a 87-88 Thunderbird. Some K-Members will move the wheels forward 3/4" as will the control arms for a total of 1-1/2" of forward movement. If you want the wheels to stay in the stock location then make sure that you use something like what Maximum Motorsports offers which is a zero offset K-Member and zero offset lower control arms.
Darren
Ok. So I need the SN95 Control Arms, do I need the SN95 K member too? And Will the Mustang motor mounts fit in the Tbird engine bay? Are there any other issues I need to keep in mind?
If a guy were to reread this entire thread all of your questions would be answered. Fox k-member, SN95 control arms, & Fox Mustang motor mounts.
Darren
I will be installing my UPR chromemoly K member (for a 79-93 fox stang) sometime in the next couple of weeks in the 88 TC. I mocked it up and after checking everything, it looks like a 3/8" spacer will be fine in the upper mount to frame area.
I am also going to use the UPR fox control arms. They should narrow the track width a little which is what I want as my front skinnies are all the away out at the edge of the fender opening and I would like to tuck them in a bit. If I remember correctly, it should move the wheels inboard approx. 1/2"-3/4" on each side.
Pretty good read:
http://forums.stlmustangs.com/index.php?/topic/173678-99-cobra-qa1-k-member-fox-body-a-arms/#
Darren
What if your wanting to put in the tubed k - member from the mustangs but want to keep the 2.3 in the 88TC? I understand all the mustang suspension part are fox body
They installed 4 cylinders in the Mustangs. I pulled the 4 cylinder out of my Coupe and installed a 5.0 in the same K-member with no mods. With that being said I would say that you could use a Fox Mustang tubular K-member and just use Fox Mustang 4 cylinder mounts to put a four cylinder in the car. I would call someone like Maximum Motorsports to verify this before trying it though.
Darren
If I got the aftermarket Mustang K-member will the different motor mounts cause clearance issues anywhere in the Tbird?
So, we spent time getting THIS INFO (http://www.foxtbirdcougarforums.com/showthread.php?27386-Stock-K-Member-Dimension-Info-Thread) together. It still needs data, as people get their hands on parts. Check out post #23 on dimensions for the 87-88 TBird/Cougar K-member vs the 99-04 cars...
Stock K-members are one thing. (Or several things, if you actually look at how much the dimensions changed. ) Casting about info on AM ones is another, when it comes to dimensions. Without hard numbers for control arm mounting widths and control arm lengths, it's a shoot. Check measurements, or just roll the dice.
The Mustang motor mounts *shouldn't* cause problems, but you *are* dealing with a 20+ year old car and aftermarket parts built for another application, so anything can happen.