Skip to main content
Topic: Air Ride (Read 1934 times) previous topic - next topic

Air Ride

How difficult would it be to swap the Lincoln MK VII Air Ride into an 80's T-Bird?

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
"as if 'religion' were something God invented, and not His statement to us of certain quite unalterable facts about His own nature." -C.S. Lewis

Air Ride

Reply #1
I'm not aware that the Mark VII's had factory air suspension, I could be mistaken on this though.  I am sure that the Mark VIII's had factory air.  This is a direct swap on a '89 up Tbird or Cougar, but would take major fab work to get it in a fox chassis.  The Air Ride setup for the fox chassis mustangs should be a bolt in for the fox Tbird.  It's a little pricey though.

Air Ride

Reply #2
Didn't they only have front air ride?

Air Ride

Reply #3
Quote from: joemac;276183
I'm not aware that the Mark VII's had factory air suspension, I could be mistaken on this though.  I am sure that the Mark VIII's had factory air.  This is a direct swap on a '89 up Tbird or Cougar, but would take major fab work to get it in a fox chassis.  The Air Ride setup for the fox chassis mustangs should be a bolt in for the fox Tbird.  It's a little pricey though.


The Mark VII had air ride front and rear.

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
"as if 'religion' were something God invented, and not His statement to us of certain quite unalterable facts about His own nature." -C.S. Lewis

Air Ride

Reply #4
I think the LSC's had only front air ride (I may be wrong) and Bill Blass Mark VII's had full air ride if that helps.

Air Ride

Reply #5
You're right, they did have it.  Front and rear.  I would say definitely a bolt on.

This link has some good info;  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lincoln_Mark_VII

Air Ride

Reply #6
I'd think it could be done.I'm not sure,but you may need the k-member from the Mark as well.If you have the Mark VII for parts,why not?I wouldn't want it myself due to potential problems that the Mark VII owners have ,and install T-Bird suspension.
'88 Sport--T-5,MGW shifter,Trick Flow R intake,Ed Curtis cam,Trick Flow heads,Scorpion rockers,75mm Accufab t-body,3G,mini starter,Taurus fan,BBK long tube headers,O/R H-Pipe, Flowamaster Super 44's, deep and deeper Cobra R wheels, Mass Air and 24's,8.8 with 3.73's,140 mph speedo,Mach 1 chin spoiler,SN-95 springs,CHE control arms,aluminum drive shaft and a lot more..

Air Ride

Reply #7
Mark VII owners are converting to springs, that ought to tell you something... You'd need the k-member, control arms front and back, plus you have to weld in a upper pad for the rear bags...

Plus with the amount of wiring involved it'd be more work than swapping the 5.0 into my TC... Better forget it...

Air Ride

Reply #8
I owned a Mark VIII with air ride, and to me it was more trouble than it was worth. Granted, it never worked completely right, so I don't know how it was supposed to feel, but to me it felt rough. The parts were expensive too. I would vote NO on that project ;)

CoogarXR
CoogarXR : 1985 Cougar XR-7

Air Ride

Reply #9
The mark 7 owners convert to springs because of the cost to replace the air bags and also if the pumps or control unit go out of them....your screwed on price. They are expensive to fix and replace.......and replacement parts are hard to find new.
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:

Air Ride

Reply #10
Oh and it all does work but you have to tie into the speed control system and pcm for the air ride to work correctly. For all the hastle I would just go with a mustang set up from Air Ride Technologies. Less problems and you can tune it yourself.
1988 Thunderbird Sport. Work in Progress
5.8L swap w/fitech efi, 4R70W swap w/quick 4 controller, 2003 GT rear diff, 5 Lug swap

Bought this car back as an old project car.

:burnout:

Air Ride

Reply #11
Quote from: 86caprirs;287762
Oh and it all does work but you have to tie into the speed control system and pcm for the air ride to work correctly. For all the hastle I would just go with a mustang set up from Air Ride Technologies. Less problems and you can tune it yourself.


What I was thinking was to utilize the air springs only, then use something aftermarket for the control unit.

But, as I have spent way too much already, I don't think this is something I will attempt any time soon!

Shiny Side Up!
Bill
"as if 'religion' were something God invented, and not His statement to us of certain quite unalterable facts about His own nature." -C.S. Lewis