Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Oops! I cut up some Southside Bars (Read 4318 times) previous topic - next topic

Oops! I cut up some Southside Bars

This is what happens when things don't fit! Southside Bars (as well as all others) bolt into our beloved ThunderCats but they do not fit!  I have been dealing with this problem since I installed my first set of Southsides in 1997. They make the ThunderCat rearends move forward exactly 1 inch and look "goofy" with the tire too far forward in the fenderwell. So, I took a perfectly good pair and hacked them up. I stretched them exactly 3/4 inch and lowered the spring perch 1.5 inches. It moved the rear back exactly 1 inch and now the rear end is back where it should be. I love my mig welder!:D --X

X

X
Alan Mackin--Semi Professional Ford der
83 T-Bird 460
83 T-Bird Heritage 5.0
84 T-Bird 5.0
86 T-Bird Turbo Coupe NHRA Stocker & Super Stocker
87 T-Bird Turbo Coupe
88 Bronco II Drag truck 302
95 Mustang GT auto
2004 F-350 CC Dually V-10

Oops! I cut up some Southside Bars

Reply #1 –
Before and after--X

X
Alan Mackin--Semi Professional Ford der
83 T-Bird 460
83 T-Bird Heritage 5.0
84 T-Bird 5.0
86 T-Bird Turbo Coupe NHRA Stocker & Super Stocker
87 T-Bird Turbo Coupe
88 Bronco II Drag truck 302
95 Mustang GT auto
2004 F-350 CC Dually V-10

Oops! I cut up some Southside Bars

Reply #2 –
Before and after--X

X
Alan Mackin--Semi Professional Ford der
83 T-Bird 460
83 T-Bird Heritage 5.0
84 T-Bird 5.0
86 T-Bird Turbo Coupe NHRA Stocker & Super Stocker
87 T-Bird Turbo Coupe
88 Bronco II Drag truck 302
95 Mustang GT auto
2004 F-350 CC Dually V-10

Oops! I cut up some Southside Bars

Reply #3 –
Before and after--X

X
Alan Mackin--Semi Professional Ford der
83 T-Bird 460
83 T-Bird Heritage 5.0
84 T-Bird 5.0
86 T-Bird Turbo Coupe NHRA Stocker & Super Stocker
87 T-Bird Turbo Coupe
88 Bronco II Drag truck 302
95 Mustang GT auto
2004 F-350 CC Dually V-10

Oops! I cut up some Southside Bars

Reply #4 –
Much better! That's some nice work.
 

Oops! I cut up some Southside Bars

Reply #5 –
Thanks Birdman! My 275-55-16 M&H Drag Radials are on the way. They will go on stock TC wheels.  Alan
Alan Mackin--Semi Professional Ford der
83 T-Bird 460
83 T-Bird Heritage 5.0
84 T-Bird 5.0
86 T-Bird Turbo Coupe NHRA Stocker & Super Stocker
87 T-Bird Turbo Coupe
88 Bronco II Drag truck 302
95 Mustang GT auto
2004 F-350 CC Dually V-10

Oops! I cut up some Southside Bars

Reply #6 –
I'm a novice when it comes to suspension and the geometry thereof, but wouldn't that shorter LCA throw off the pinion angle?

Oops! I cut up some Southside Bars

Reply #7 –
He lengthened it, Brian - the Mustang LCA moved the rear axle too far forward (look at the pic in his avatar) so he lengthened it to put the axle back where it should be.
2015 Mustang GT Premium - 5.0, 6-speed, Guard Green - too much awesome for one car

1988 5.0 Thunderbird :birdsmily: SOLD SEPT 11 2010: TC front clip/hood ♣ Body & paint completed Oct 2007 ♣ 3.55 TC rear end and front brakes ♣ TC interior ♣ CHE rear control arms (adjustable lowers) ♣ 2001 Bullitt springs ♣ Energy suspension poly busings ♣ Kenne Brown subframe connectors ♣ CWE engine mounts ♣ Thundercat sequential turn signals ♣ Explorer overhead console (temp/compass display) ♣ 2.25" off-road dual exhaust ♣ T-5 transmission swap completed Jan 2009 ♣

Oops! I cut up some Southside Bars

Reply #8 –
Great work.  Looks much better.

Oops! I cut up some Southside Bars

Reply #9 –
That's some good work. I recently bought a set and I'm thinking how to make them work for me. I was thinking of relocating the mounting points at the rear. I'm now thinking of adding the 3/4" they left out. Good stuff.

Oops! I cut up some Southside Bars

Reply #10 –
Thanks. I had been wanting to do this idea for years and when I found a cheap set on ebay, I saw my opportunity. Now I am going to make the spring perches on the arms adjustable so that if I want to put on 315-35-17 tires on the back, it will allow me to set the rear ride height.
Alan Mackin--Semi Professional Ford der
83 T-Bird 460
83 T-Bird Heritage 5.0
84 T-Bird 5.0
86 T-Bird Turbo Coupe NHRA Stocker & Super Stocker
87 T-Bird Turbo Coupe
88 Bronco II Drag truck 302
95 Mustang GT auto
2004 F-350 CC Dually V-10

Oops! I cut up some Southside Bars

Reply #11 –
O.K. Here is the finished ride height with M&H Racemaster D.O.T. 275-55-16 Drag radial with 7 inch TC wheels and a 5/16 inch spacer. I love the way it looks and rides now. The rear is now centered in the fenderwell in the stock location.
X

X

X
Alan Mackin--Semi Professional Ford der
83 T-Bird 460
83 T-Bird Heritage 5.0
84 T-Bird 5.0
86 T-Bird Turbo Coupe NHRA Stocker & Super Stocker
87 T-Bird Turbo Coupe
88 Bronco II Drag truck 302
95 Mustang GT auto
2004 F-350 CC Dually V-10

Oops! I cut up some Southside Bars

Reply #12 –
Why can't I see any pitures???
'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..

Oops! I cut up some Southside Bars

Reply #13 –
That Thing Looks Bad Ass!!!
RIP 1988 and 1990 Lincoln Mark VII LSC
I welcomed the dark side and currently am driving a 2000 Dodge Durango SLT plus, with a 5.9, Code named project "Night Runner"
Shes black on black, fully loaded, with headers, 180 tstat, e fan, straight exhaust into a cherry bomb vortex ler, full tune up, ported intake and T/B, MSD coil, and round aircleaner.
Mods to come: Fully rebuilt and heavily modded 46RE, and a richmond rachet locker.
my $300 beater ;)
R.I.P Kayleigh Raposa 12/18/90 - 2/24/07

Oops! I cut up some Southside Bars

Reply #14 –
drop the front a little and the rack will look amazing!IMO
1986 Cougar LS