Fox T-Bird/Cougar Forums

Technical => Suspension/Steering => Topic started by: the_intimidator03 on July 31, 2006, 01:01:53 PM

Title: A-arms interchange
Post by: the_intimidator03 on July 31, 2006, 01:01:53 PM
I was curious. if perhaps people know of the different lengths of A-Arms that will fit our fox bodies.. if i remember correctly the sn-95 A-arms bolt into place but put the wheel/tire assy further out to the sides.  Think we can get a list of the differents A-Arms that fit without modifications to our cars? also just a couple other questions. different struts from different cars? what fits what does? benifits of each Etc. Thanks yall
Title: A-arms interchange
Post by: Chuck W on July 31, 2006, 01:05:15 PM
It depends on the year of car you're talking about.

The 83-86 Tbirds/Cougars used the 79-93 Mustang A-arms.

The 87-88's are the same length as the 94+ Mustang A-arms, but the SN-95 ball-joints are different and will not work with Fox spindles.

This is all pretty much covered on coolcats.net and via a search of this forum......
Title: A-arms interchange
Post by: the_intimidator03 on August 07, 2006, 11:44:55 AM
ah ok.. just tryin to see the different ventures with the fox bodies. be it cougar/tbird/stang etc  i did find out my 89 2.3 mustang motor mounts wont work in my 84 cougar :-| unless i were to cut n weld stuff.
Title: A-arms interchange
Post by: Chuck W on August 07, 2006, 12:28:22 PM
Quote from: the_intimidator03
i did find out my 89 2.3 mustang motor mounts wont work in my 84 cougar :-| unless i were to cut n weld stuff.


Not sure how that could be (unless the Cougar is not 2.3T) I have both 84 Cougar 2.3T and 89-ish 2.3 Mustang motor mounts in the garage...they are identical.
Title: A-arms interchange
Post by: the_intimidator03 on August 07, 2006, 12:59:35 PM
my 84 cougar is the 3.8 v6... im tryin to stick a n/a 2.3 in it... it looks as if my 86 mustang 2.3 n/a mounts would work... cept i dont have the metal bracket from the rubber isolator to the engine itself.  my 89 2.3 mounts have 2 bolts that go around the rubber isolator (this is off the top of my head atm.) and has two tabs (on 89 stang K-Member) with one side threaded and a bolt that runs through it... you remove that 1 bolt and u can pull the entire 89 engine mount with isolator.
Title: A-arms interchange
Post by: Chuck W on August 07, 2006, 01:13:19 PM
Trust me..I know how the motor mounts work ;)

Sounds like the 89 mounts were taken apart.

If you have the 86 ones though...should work fine.
Title: A-arms interchange
Post by: the_intimidator03 on August 07, 2006, 02:16:19 PM
the problem is im missing the bracket that goes from the engine block to the rubber isolator :-|
and i can disasymble and reassymble the 89 mounts how they were on the car... i outta get pictures next time up at the shop im bringin A. what parts of my 86 mounts i have. B. 89 mounts. C. pics of my cougar finally
Title: A-arms interchange
Post by: the_intimidator03 on August 10, 2006, 04:29:17 PM
Ok im havin issues getting my pic up online but... i have a pic of motor mounts. i beleive there is a bracket that mounts to the cross member that has 2 tabs that go on the inside of the tabs of the actual mount/isolator then the threaded bolt goes through the holes in the tab... Chuck... do ya understand that? if so... that bracket that mounts to cross member is what i do NOT have..  is that what im missing to make the 89 mustang mounts work on my 84 cougar?
    Sincerely,
                Eric
Title: A-arms interchange
Post by: Chuck W on August 10, 2006, 08:36:59 PM
You're missing the K-member adapter brackets that were used on the 4  cyl cars.  You might be able to find some in a JY.  The 83-84 TCs also use the same adapter bracket as the 2.3NA Mustangs.
Title: A-arms interchange
Post by: the_intimidator03 on August 18, 2006, 11:51:38 AM
well i have located a 87-93 4 banger stang to get those K-Member brackets for bout 20 bucks me pull em... guess ill get em.. Thanks Chuck for helping me out.. i didnt want to go get a different motor :))
Title: A-arms interchange
Post by: Cougar5.0 on August 18, 2006, 12:07:28 PM
Quote from: Chuck W

The 87-88's are the same length as the 94+ Mustang A-arms, but the SN-95 ball-joints are different and will not work with Fox spindles.




...without modification I assume. I can machine the top part of the mount down so that the nut will engage enough to lock the threads - correct? The taper seems to fit properly otherwise - no?
Title: A-arms interchange
Post by: jkirchman on August 18, 2006, 12:53:40 PM
Would it not be possible to just use a Fox balljoint in the SN95 control arm?
Title: A-arms interchange
Post by: Chuck W on August 18, 2006, 02:12:09 PM
You could swap ball-joints as mentioned, or if you're feeling froggy, then yes, machining the spindle down so the ball joint boss is shorter would work too.
Title: A-arms interchange
Post by: Cougar5.0 on August 18, 2006, 06:32:39 PM
That's what I'm going to do. I got the 2003 Cobra arms and I have no intension of removing the ball joints. i have a milling machine in my garage so machining it is no problem.