darkblaze

Hi i am thinking of doing a custom suspention on my 83 gsl, and i was wondering if a mustang k-member and control arms would work. here is the link to the site http://www.uprproducts.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=299 i am also going to do a ford 8.8 rearend swap to replace the stock diff. plz let me know any info on this. i want to know how much custom work needs to be done to make it work.

Kentetsu

What do you intend to use the car for?




.

darkblaze

the car is intended to drift and or track raceing

Kentetsu

Why the need for a Ford rear end? Are you sure that you want to recreate the wheel with this build? There are a lot of high quality performance parts already made for these cars, and already proven. You might want to consider what's already out there before tackling a job like this. But of course, only you can make that decision.

Check out www.re-speed.com And take a look at some of the videos in my signature line in my previous posting to get an idea as to what can be done with what's already out there.

But if you do decide to do this the hard way, then take lots of pictures and write up a good tutorial. There's always a need for new ideas and new ways of doing things. Good luck.

darkblaze

its not that i dont want to use whats out there its i want to have a very unique car setup that no one else has. i mean think about it, how many ppl do you know that have the same setup? I think it would be cool to have a new and unique setup. i want to go with the 8.8 b/c it is a very strong and sturdy rearend that can take the power i wish to have. round 4-5 hundred. lol in other words i like a challenge!

thunkrd

iTrader: (1)

so you're willing to put 4 thousand dollars into the rear end?

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

I could see the usage of the rear end as you want it to hold up to extreme HP. There are threads on the 8.8 rear end and you can get them at grannyspeed.com.


As far as the front end goes, I can't see the benefit of the modification when all of the money can be spent on components that are a bolt in for our cars.

Rx-7Doctor

iTrader: (13)

https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.p...=ford+rear+end

darkblaze

um why would it cost 4k to put a 8.8 in my car when i can get it for around 150 from a junkyard and rebuild it myself? i have access to all the stuff i need for cheap. there are a lot of shops out here in mesa that can do a good job on custom work for a very reasonable price. which is no where near 4k. and as far as the front why not have more of a market for our cars then what we have. the bigger our market is the easier it is to find what you are looking for. plus its my car i can do anything i want to it. not to be rude but when ppl dont see my way of thinking they dont have to put it down. just support it and if it pans out its a benefit for all 7 owners!! 1st , 2nd or 3rd gen! yes i know there are a lot of bolt ons out there but why not make another one!

thunkrd

iTrader: (1)

i'm sorry i was going from this one guy's widebody 8.8 with wilwood brakes.

blackdeath647

iTrader: (2)

i'm gonna be a bit rude, just because i hate it when people do this. if you're gonna end up doing w/e you want then why ask for help? also it won't be very unique, for one, people have already done it before, and two it's a "ford" rear end, therefore it's used in ford, therefore it's not a unique idea. ....sorry i can't give any good advise this time.

Kentetsu

The main reason I tried to talk you out of that rear end is the weight. There are good axle alternatives that will stand up to high hp configurations while retaining the stock housing. But like you said, you can do whatever you like, so go for it if that's what you want to do.

Best of luck to you, and like I said, take lots of pictures of the process.

darkblaze

ok blackdeath prove to me there is a FB out there with a COBRA front suspention! And for one i was not asking for direct help i was asking what was needed to do it. kentetsu what other rearends are out there with strength of the 8.8? b/c if there is one i would like to know. better yet what can i do to the original to make it better? Kentetsu i wont just take pictures i will try to get video of it to.

(null).exe

iTrader: (2)

Personally, I would only suggest doing the 8.8 if you're going to do straight drag. Anything else like drift or track and you'd be better off with some of the high-hp boltons like Doc and Kentetsu suggested.

I'll agree, the lure of the unique is hard to resist, but you gotta balance that against the time, effort and frustration of the failures that WILL happen doing a new setup like that. If you're going to do it, +1 for a massively detailed writeup of the project, it'll be good to see.

Last thing, you came to us to ask for advice, you got it from some very knowledgeable people and you're being a little bit abrasive in response. If you don't like the advice, let it slide and move on to something else. Or better yet, explain why you would rather do something else so that we can all learn the positive and negative aspects of your idea. That's what makes the forum better.

blackdeath647

iTrader: (2)

i was talking about the rear end, but i hate it when people ask for help and wanna do w/e they want anyways, and you can sugar coat it all you want, but asking what is needed is still asking for help , anyways i'm done before i cause a thread to be closed.

and yeah, by all means do a How-To on this, for future reference. Some people are always looking for ways to do something different.

Kentetsu

In regards to strengthening the rear end, I was thinking of Moser axles. They've been used with great success in many high hp applications. Availale at www.re-speed.com

thunkrd

iTrader: (1)

so would it be the axles that go first?

BeenJaminJames

Greetings, I have assisted in a very similar experiment, on a stock width SA. We used the independent rear end from a ford t-bird (1988-1997 models will work), shortened the half shafts, and practically bolted it right up with a few custom fabbed mounting brackets for the differential. The swap took a day and a half for the two of us, but we had all the tools we needed available. We used the 8 inch differential because it's lighter and will hold upwards of 500 lb/ft of torque rather easily. Unfortunately we didnt take any pictures, but post back, I'd love to help. Do you have a widebody kit? I would love to see if the stock width ford rear end could fit under a mariah kit. Oh and the weight difference and independent suspension made a huge improvement as far as laying down power in the turns without the classic rx-7 oversteer . Let me know what you have so far in your research, etc. and I'd love to help. Oh and PS, make sure you have the power before you make the change, because the weight difference will slow you down if you don't.

Re-Speed.com

iTrader: (3)

Depends on the gear ratio as to which will break first. I have customers who constantly snapped axles before the mosers and I have customers who constantly break the rear ends on stock axles.

To be honest I am from the old school, break it first then re-engineer a better solution. I highly doubt most people snap an axle on anything but slicks. It also depends on how the power is used, from a dead standstill at 9K or squeezing the power on out of a corner.

To answer your question on the weight. The axles are roughly 1 pound heavier per axle. Remember though, it is all in the shaft so this is weight that is not far from the spinning centerline axis.

-billy

thunkrd

iTrader: (1)

okay, well then billy imma order some axles soon. along with the bigbrakes and the whole shebang

still waiting for my coilovers, gonna do those asap.

on the rears should i use some silicone or something to stop the nut from spinning?

Re-Speed.com

iTrader: (3)

The nut will not spin on the rear since it does not rotate like the fronts when they steer.

-billy

BoostedRotors

I dont want to be a dick, but...it's suspension, not suspention.

darkblaze

sorry you took my reply the wrong way. what i was trying to say was i am taking suggestions on how i can be done. suggestions being the keyword. i can use them or not. but i will ultimately make the choice to use them. i am not sugar coating anything. i am asking for help in regards that it will be done right and safe for me and others to do themself.

kentetsu if the stock rear w moser axles will hold up just as good as the 8.8 i am sure i will still use it.

boosted dont bother trying to correct my spelling because its the internet- i dont care how its spelled as long as you get what i am saying. thats all that matters.

thunkrd

iTrader: (1)

plus when its misspelled it draws more attention...

darkblaze, I have similar plans for my car as well. I will go with the mosers and a high performance clutch-type lsd. probably from kaaz

Kentetsu

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't recall hearing of many stock differentials blowing out on sub 400 hp cars unless running drag slicks. They're pretty tough units...

I was also thinking some more about your ideas for the front end. The problem with trying to make drastic changes to that area is the possibility of changing the suspension geometry in the process. Unless you're an expert on this subject, I would be hesitant. Billy could cover this in greater detail, since he is our resident expert, but I know enough about it for the idea to scare me just a little bit...