2000-2006 Lincoln LS irs

[Ohiotinkerer]

Has anyone ever swapped a 2000's Tbird/Lincoln irs into a bump? I know people have done it with the 90's Tbird irs but I found one for $300 on Craigslist close to me but the mounting framework is way different than any of the earlier versions.....

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[Ranchero50]

It's the same basic setup as what's used on my '07 Jag XKR. It's OK but be aware that it uses an 8" ring setup on an 8.8" carrier (on the early cars) and has a wonky pinion gear due to using a rubber U joint. It should have 3.31 or 3.58 gear and maybe 3.08's. Personally for a truck I'd pass as I think the wheel base will be too narrow and the drive shaft issues are a PITA to overcome.

[Ohiotinkerer]

Thanks Ranchero - saved me a headache down the road! Stopped at the junkyard one town over from me on the way to work and they have 1 1997 Lincoln Mark 8 in the whole yard - no thunderbirds at all - and the rear suspension is there and complete for $250 so I'm gonna go back Sat morning and have them pull it. I guess from my reading they were all 7.5 rings with 3.07 gears - not exactly what I wanted - but that can be changed and there are almost NONE around here anywhere so I'm gonna grab it and find an 8.8 posi for it later........

[Ranchero50]

Why not a late model Explorer? Should match the CV front end (should but I haven't checked).

[Ohiotinkerer]

I looked at them in photos and I think it would be easier to fab parts to mount it vs the explorer looking at the mounting points - I could be wrong - and for some reason they are scarce around here along with the Tbird's......and the Tbird/Lincoln rear is only a little over an inch width difference from the CV front from what I've read.......and I'm getting both front and rear suspensions from this yard for $400.......

[Ohiotinkerer]

Well change of plan......just scored a TracLoc 8.8 rear suspension with 3.27 gears from an 89 Super Coupe for $200......now I don't have to deal with the air ride suspension or the 7.5 differential in the Mark Viii........

[poke em]

The Mark VIII rear has 8.8" with aluminum housing. Easy to find a trak loc and 3.73 gears from a junkyard explorer and drop them right in. The air ride is usually dumped in favor of coils or coil overs. It is about 4" narrower than the CV front end. I put one in my truck along with a CV front end and it is a great setup.

[jamesdfo]

IIRC, the lincoln iRS is 108mm bolt circle(~4.25" BC), do not recall ATM if T bird is as well, but the early 2000's cobra hubs can be swapped to make it 114.3MM (4-1/2" BC)


There has been at least one fellow on another channel that used a LATE MODEL (in this instance, IIRC, a 2017) Mustang IRS, much better geometry, etc....

Part 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK4x1n1a10I

Part 2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoA_8IFAJHg

Part 3
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sk8XfAbSEaM

Part 4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fpEWVX2rrLE

Part 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjYtHJ10vKM

Part 6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7onv7iGxdKk

[Ohiotinkerer]

IIRC, the lincoln iRS is 108mm bolt circle(~4.25" BC), do not recall ATM if T bird is as well, but the early 2000's cobra hubs can be swapped to make it 114.3MM (4-1/2" BC)

Correct for the Tbird also - 4.25 BC.......Ford Performance part number M-1109-A for the 4.5 inch hubs and to use them you need the Ford Performance bearings part number M-1215-A.......about $165 apiece for the hubs and $64 apiece for the bearings.......I'm going this route because parts for the Mustangs are slim pickings around here - I got lucky when I found that Supercoupe because the junkyards around here pretty much pull the money parts and scrap the rest anymore. I did pull the lower control arms off the Mark 8 because they are aluminum but will have to fab a set of spring perches since they were all airbagged.......along with making a set of inner bushings out of Delrin because nobody makes bushings for them except one place i found......and they are $155 a side for them.......

[Ohiotinkerer]

The Mark VIII rear has 8.8" with aluminum housing. Easy to find a trak loc and 3.73 gears from a junkyard explorer and drop them right in. The air ride is usually dumped in favor of coils or coil overs. It is about 4" narrower than the CV front end. I put one in my truck along with a CV front end and it is a great setup.

Glad to hear someone did what I'm doing with good results - but the Mark 8 I got the control arms out of was an aluminium housing but was a 7.5....looked at the tag when they had it in the air.....possibly an option? Also wanted the Tbird rear for the 3.27 gears....got lucky on it being a posi since it was an SC........for $200 I couldn't pass it up!