Anybody ever done it?? I have a junk thunderbird.. It has that corvette type rearend.. Seems like somebody could try it.
Well it seems like that rearend would be good for something i been trying to sell this car for ever its a good car but it just doesnt have a title..
I know a guy that put one under a '66 Mustang Convertible. Came from a Super Coupe, he also used the super charged 3.8, a T5, and the front suspension from the Super Coupe as well. He grafted the Super Coupe's shock towers into the '66 Mustang, it all looked factory. Had the car painted up light blue with orange stripes like a GT40. Unfortunately some idiot on a cell phone pulled out in front of him an totaled it like 6 months after he finished. it.
I just sold some 96 Cobra spindles to a guy over in Tampa, he had 3 Factory Five Cobra's. What they use (which I thought was cool) is a Mid 90's+ model Lincoln Contenital IRS diff, Thunderbird spindles and shortend half shafts. This would be a very cool setup for a Mav. And yes they can handle power! If I already didnt have my car 4 linked I would look into doing this.
I've always wondered about using one of those rears in something. I think the carrier is a 8.8, so any 8.8 gears should work in it. The half shafts could be shortened to fit anything, and you could probably shorten the control arms or make new ones with heim joints and tubing.
I was looking at getting a Factory Five Cobra about three years ago. You can order the chassis set up for a live axle (8.8 out of a 5.0 Fox Mustang) or you can order them ready for and independent rear suspension, and those can use components out of the Thunderbird IRS. I think it is correct that it is the center, brakes and the ends with custom half-shafts. Just be sure that it is an 8.8, because I believe T-Birds and Cougars also came with a smaller version center, as well, (7.5?) if I remember right. Never paid too much attention to this because I was going to go live axle, ... I figured that I would grenade an IRS in no time ...
I would avoid the Tbird IRS (7.5 ring gear for the V6) and go for the 03-04 cobra IRS if your dead set on swapping
