Technical => Suspension/Steering => Topic started by: jhildy69 on April 30, 2006, 11:20:16 PM
Title: stabilizer
Post by: jhildy69 on April 30, 2006, 11:20:16 PM
does anyone know if it is possible to install a steering stabilizer on an 86 Cougar? I am running oversized tires and she wanders around a little more then I'd like. Thanks
Title: stabilizer
Post by: Red_LX on May 01, 2006, 10:45:41 AM
That's something you just have to live with, and a stabilizer wouldn't help with that anyway. Wider tires tend to catch grooves in the road and get pulled around.
Anyway, far as I know you can't use a stabilizer with rack & pinion seering.
Title: stabilizer
Post by: Ether947 on May 01, 2006, 12:00:33 PM
are your steering/suspension components up to snuff? and have you gotten an alignment recently?
Title: stabilizer
Post by: thunderjet302 on May 01, 2006, 08:45:27 PM
How big are these tires? It shouldn't be wandering around that much. Check your bushings in the front end and also the steering rack.
Title: stabilizer
Post by: CougarSE on May 02, 2006, 12:14:43 AM
The 245/50's on my car wonder a bit.
Title: stabilizer
Post by: jhildy69 on May 02, 2006, 08:59:24 AM
thanks everyone. I should have elaberated a little more, I guess. My '86 has a complete new frontend from the rack out. I'm running 235/45/17 BF Goodrich G Force tires which are wearing bad on the outside edge. The car was aligned when the tires were mounted. And back to the shop twice since then. I have about 7000 miles on them. Also, I have Helwig sway bars front and rear and KYB shocks and struts. How about this idea? What does everyone think about upper strut braces and support? Oh yea, I should tell you I'm running a little more weight in the front end. A few years ago I went over the deep end and installed a Chevy 350 and turbo 350 trans into my Cat. NOW it runs.
Jeff
Title: stabilizer
Post by: MasterBlaster on May 02, 2006, 09:33:11 AM
Quote
installed a Chevy 350 and turbo 350 trans into my Cat.
Oh, oh. Now you've gone and done it! :eek: Better put on your asbestos underwear and your hardhat. :flame:
Title: stabilizer
Post by: slowfoxbird on May 02, 2006, 07:47:30 PM
That is blasphemy!! Almost as bad as seeing a sweet chopped and channled '32 with the distributer in the back.
Title: stabilizer
Post by: Ether947 on May 02, 2006, 08:38:39 PM
well there's your problem... you've got a chevy in the engine bay. :D
seriously though, get some caster/camber plates. should be able to get a better alignment.
Title: stabilizer
Post by: SLEEPER T-BIRD 87 on May 02, 2006, 09:11:50 PM
Quote from: jhildy69
A few years ago I went over the deep end and installed a Chevy 350 and turbo 350 trans into my Cat. NOW it runs.
Jeff
Congrats, good to see someone being differant I myself built a SBC fox body a few years back.. in the form of an 85 coupe mustang.
Title: stabilizer
Post by: tbirdscott on May 02, 2006, 10:02:38 PM
Quote from: jhildy69
A few years ago I went over the deep end and installed a Chevy 350 and turbo 350 trans into my Cat. NOW it runs.
You are one Sick Sick puppy! just you wait till I get my 351W into a camaro then we'll see, then we'll see *storms off*
Title: stabilizer
Post by: Haystack on May 02, 2006, 11:32:26 PM
you guys are so close minded. Get some caster camber plates for a muistang. that will fix it.
Title: stabilizer
Post by: jhildy69 on May 03, 2006, 07:36:57 AM
Just to let you guys know, I gave Ford TWO opportunities to prove their engines to me, and they failed miseribly. Originally my Cat had the pitiful 3.8. I hated the output. When the bearings went at 80,000 miles (and yes, I changed the oil and filter every 3000 miles), I had a factory rebuilt 3.8 bored 40 over installed at the local dealership. Well that motor ended up with a blownout spark plug which was found when I returned the car for a warrenty tuneup. Of course it "wasn't their fault". So I had this reworked (from the crank up)"79 350 laying around and thought, what the heck, this should give this car the power that it needs. Now a few thousand dollars and a lot of work latter, I have a Cat that well run with the best of um. Usually in the front. lol. Any way, I need to find a way to stop the wandering that I have . Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks, Jeff
Title: stabilizer
Post by: jhildy69 on May 03, 2006, 08:10:16 AM
I just posted a few pic,s of my Cat so hopefully they'll be up soon. The tires and wheels have been changed since these were taken. And as you can see, I am missing the rear valance. I was rearended and it was unrepairable. So if any of you guys has one laying around............Jeff
Title: stabilizer
Post by: jhildy69 on May 03, 2006, 08:11:24 AM
Thanks Haystacks, I was wondering if they would work. My next investment. Jeff
Title: stabilizer
Post by: EricCoolCats on May 03, 2006, 09:20:43 AM
Caster/camber plates for the Thunderbird/Cougar are available from Maximum Motorsports (http://"http://www.maximummotorsports.com/") and those should be used...not the Mustang ones. It sounds like they should help with your problem though.
Title: stabilizer
Post by: 84t-bird on May 03, 2006, 01:04:53 PM
Quote from: jhildy69
Just to let you guys know, I gave Ford TWO opportunities to prove their engines to me, and they failed miseribly. Originally my Cat had the pitiful 3.8. I hated the output. When the bearings went at 80,000 miles (and yes, I changed the oil and filter every 3000 miles), I had a factory rebuilt 3.8 bored 40 over installed at the local dealership. Well that motor ended up with a blownout spark plug which was found when I returned the car for a warrenty tuneup. Of course it "wasn't their fault". So I had this reworked (from the crank up)"79 350 laying around and thought, what the heck, this should give this car the power that it needs. Now a few thousand dollars and a lot of work latter, I have a Cat that well run with the best of um. Usually in the front. lol. Any way, I need to find a way to stop the wandering that I have . Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks, Jeff
so you gave ford engines 2 chances using an engine that from what ive seen and heard is one of the worst in their line? thats a fair chance you gave them.;)
Title: stabilizer
Post by: jhildy69 on May 03, 2006, 02:22:43 PM
Thanks Erik
Title: stabilizer
Post by: Ether947 on May 03, 2006, 06:24:28 PM
Eh, well I would pick a 350 over a bloody 3.8 anyday. Unless it's a SC 3.8. :D