Thunderbird IRS in an AD Truck

[Coach529]

Just stripping the truck apart now. Went to the local junkyard and picked out a rear end yesterday. 8.8 with 3.23 posi with disc brakes out of Super Coupe. Picking it up next week.

[Hampshire]

Gotta see this done...sounds very cool. Adaptive re-use at it's best!

[dwcsr]

I'll have to follow you on this one. I'm starting that same swap on a F3 Ford
This is the path I'm going to follow by modifying the mounting points show in the picture. This should work for a 3600 as well

[Coach529]

I am hoping to start the install in the next couple weeks. I want to get my front cross member installed first.

[Coach529]

In my possession.......

[solidaxel]

What are you going to use for rear wheels?

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by solidaxel

What are you going to use for rear wheels?

I am going to have the hubs changed from the stock T-Bird 5 on 4-1/4 to a more popular 5 on 4-1/2 then us the same style Cragar 69 Delux wheel.

[vics stuff]

I have a T Bird IRS and had planned to install it in a 1935 Ford Sedan for the wife
Vic

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by vics stuff

I have a T Bird IRS and had planned to install it in a 1935 Ford Sedan for the wife
Vic

They are becoming really popular in hot rod projects

[vics stuff]

It looks to be a easy proven IRS installation into another vehicle. Currently the IRS is still in my donor vehicle.
Vic

[Coach529]

Finally drug the rear end in from the driveway.



The front mounts were trimmed off and will be boxed in.



Inside to inside on my boxed frame is 31". I trimmed the back mounts on the IRS to 31".

[Coach529]

First step today was giving the rear end a bath. I loaded it up and headed to the carwash.



I then jockeyed into position.....which with the help of my hoist was shockingly easy.





I tacked a piece of flat strap (I did not have any square tubing on hand) at the new axle centerline. New axle centerline is 1" rearward to stock to center the wheel in the fender better.



I tacked the carrier to the flat strap and then used a floor jack to set the pinion angle.



Then as I was going to tack the carrier into place....I ran out of welding wire. 4 tacks from putting the tires on and checking ride height and I was dead in my tracks!!

[Coach529]

First initial mockup last night. Have to go back to the drawing board.

I was hoping my notch would be sufficient, but it looks like I need a bit more room for the upper control arm to travel. The UCA is hitting the notch and the boards are 3-1/2" off the ground.









I have a little over 2" from the top of my frame hump to the bottom of the frame wood. I plan on having a local fab shop cut me some small step notch pieces out of 3/16" steel and I will weld it in place and cut out the center of my existing notch.

[tmoble]

question? in post #19 it's mentioned that this rear is 63" wide. in the pics above I see a lot of space between the frame rails and the insides of the tires. Is this deal going to fit in the fenders?

Also looks like those upper arms are going to having issues with the bedsides? just eyeballin'....

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by tmoble

question? in post #19 it's mentioned that this rear is 63" wide. in the pics above I see a lot of space between the frame rails and the insides of the tires. Is this deal going to fit in the fenders?

Also looks like those upper arms are going to having issues with the bedsides? just eyeballin'....

Stock S-10 4 x 4 rear end is 60" wide and I was running 2" spacers on each side and fir the truck perfect.

This is 63" wide and running the same backspaced rim. I will only be 1/2" narrower than before.

Remember this is a 3600 truck.....the frame is narrower than a 3100.

There will have to be a small tub inside the bed to allow upper control arm clearance.

[1-ton of fun]

looking good. makes me want to put one of these in something! kinda wish i didn't already have my 4-link done (only kinda, its a great setup)

[BlueJeep]

Looking great! I've got the same setup lined up for a 48 Willys pickup next.

I assume your T-bird tires are the same size as what you'll be using in the end, right? Where are you going to have the hubs re-drilled?

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by BlueJeep

Looking great! I've got the same setup lined up for a 48 Willys pickup next.

I assume your T-bird tires are the same size as what you'll be using in the end, right? Where are you going to have the hubs re-drilled?

These T bird wheels about 1.5" shorter than what I will be running. That is why the board is underneath the time.

There is a place called IRS machining (Link Below) that is going to redrill the hubs and rotors, as well as replace the bearings.

The other option is to buy new hubs....but having them drill is cheaper.

http://irsmachining.com/

[Coach529]

I spent last night trying to figure out a step notch.

Went through a couple variations by the time I felt comfortable I had enough metal to be strong enough.......and had enough clearance for the UCA and LCA as well as bag clearance.

Hope to take the templates to the fabricator in the next couple days.

[Coach529]

Not too much to report.....still waiting for my step notch parts from a local fab guy. Hopefully this week.

I did spend some time tonight mounting the torsion bar mounts. I cut them off the stock Thunderbird mounts and welding them to the frame.

[Coach529]

Fab guy finally came though with my parts. I got a little bit of time last night and an hour this morning before work to get some stuff done.





I was able to get both outside pieces tacked in before having to go work.

[Bigdav160]

Subscribing.

I installed one of these in my '50 Ford Coupe roughly ten years ago. The car hasn't moved since as the tires rub the outer part of the inner fender well.

Initially I thought I'd fix it with a different wheel offset until I found the limited rims with the small Taurus bolt pattern.

I'll have to look into changing hubs.

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by Bigdav160

Subscribing.

I installed one of these in my '50 Ford Coupe roughly ten years ago. The car hasn't moved since as the tires rub the outer part of the inner fender well.

Initially I thought I'd fix it with a different wheel offset until I found the limited rims with the small Taurus bolt pattern.

I'll have to look into changing hubs.

yea......either buy new hubs or have them redrilled to 5 x 4-1/2 and you will have unlimited rims available.

[dwcsr]

Originally Posted by Coach529

yea......either buy new hubs or have them redrilled to 5 x 4-1/2 and you will have unlimited rims available.

I read there was a fairly easy conversion to mustang hub that gives you the 4.5 pattern

http://members.tccoa.com/dlf/Article.html

[Coach529]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

I read there was a fairly easy conversion to mustang hub that gives you the 4.5 pattern

http://members.tccoa.com/dlf/Article.html

It is an easy swap if you buy hubs, and bearings