Criwn vic suspension idea!

[nuke1]

I do not know about you guys, but lately I have been helping EASTNINEMOTO with a project, We are working on a 68 F@rd truck. I KNOW, I KNOW, it is a ford. Anyways, we used a 2003 - 2007 crown vic front suspension, it unbolts right off of the frame and basically bolts right on to the truck frame, i believe the outside frame rail measurements are 34". With this application, we used a police interceptor P71, it has the heavier springs in it, 700lb, versus the normal which is 400lb. comes standard with 12" brakes dual piston calipers, 5x4.5 bolt pattern, track width is 67.5.... aluminum crossmember and can be had for cheap, we bought a complete car running for 800 with 130000kms on it, ex cop car 2005. This is a very nice cheap alternative suspension for someone, I will post pics later.

James

[Lextech]

My front suspension is finished, but I would still like to see some GOOD pics of the setup/install.

Jeff

[63 & 64 Bowties]

Interesting idea. I'd like to see some pics too.

[T Hilde]

I have seen this somewhere else and it is amazing. The guy was also putting a twin turbo 4 cyl diesel in, supposed to have V8 power and 30mpg.

[nuke1]

Originally Posted by T Hilde

I have seen this somewhere else and it is amazing. The guy was also putting a twin turbo 4 cyl diesel in, supposed to have V8 power and 30mpg.

You Bet!, F@rd truck forums, carcrafter is his name, twin turbo isuzu 4bt1 motor, 400hp and 1000tq. crown vic front with a gm 14 bolt rear, 32.2 mpg. this is not where i got the idea but I have read his whole tid bit.

[nightmare_56]

James

thanks for posting this.

i just ordered a crown vic front form the junkyard $300 including brakes and sway bar.
the crown vic frame is 34" out side and the 55.5-59 is 34" out side. this looks like the perfect swap for front suspension

[dwcsr]

Is the ford frame 34 or 43 as the first post states?

[nightmare_56]

ford frame is 34" on the trucks and the crown vic

[dwcsr]

Then it may well be a good alternative swap.

[NONHOG]

Originally Posted by nightmare_56

James

thanks for posting this.

i just ordered a crown vic front form the junkyard $300 including brakes and sway bar.
the crown vic frame is 34" out side and the 55.5-59 is 34" out side. this looks like the perfect swap for front suspension

How does the 47-54 compare width wise ? Hmmmmmmm !

[nightmare_56]

i belive the 37-54 is 28"

right now i am researching the crap out of this and have to many numbers in my head right now so i might be wrong

[chevyrestoguy]

This could be very interesting. With the recent Cash for Clunkers promotion, there are lots of these cars in the wrecking yards right now.

[dwcsr]

AD's are 29.5 at the CL of the front axle.

I don't know if this will help you but I did a C10 on a 58 frame
http://www.thehollisterroadcompany.com/C10ifs.html
It has a lot of measurements I had to do to get it to work

[NONHOG]

Originally Posted by dwcsr

AD's are 29.5 at the CL of the front axle.

I don't know if this will help you but I did a C10 on a 58 frame
http://www.thehollisterroadcompany.com/C10ifs.html
It has a lot of measurements I had to do to get it to work

Thanks and nice write up !

[nightmare_56]

right now the only issue i see si the track width and the hub to hub width

i need to hit the junk yard and measure the hub to hub then i will know

[fixit-p]

Sudscribing

[OrrieG]

I'd like to see some pics too to see how the steering lays out.

[nuke1]

Hey guys, the track width is 67.5. the distance between the rails is 34" sorry, my blunder. Remember these key words, CHEAP FOR THE PERFORMANCEm here is a few pics, the first on is lukes, the others I borrowed from another forum, carcrafter22 at the othe dark side of things. Thanks.I will see if I can get Luke to do a build in the alternative tinkerings forum, the only down side is he has snail speed internet, out in the boonies, we will see.

[nightmare_56]

the track with is the to the out side of the tires or to the center of the tires?

[nuke1]

I do believ that the track width is to the face of the rotor where the rims bolt on, correct me if I am wrong, but this seems right.

[Steve@OldSub.com]

Originally Posted by NONHOG

How does the 47-54 compare width wise ? Hmmmmmmm !

The AD frames taper inward through the area that matters. That complicates adapting the suspension from anything that has parallel frame rails and even more so from anything that tapers differently.

Someone here said 28, another said 29.5 at the axle center line. On my suspension swap I ended up with a number that is between those two. While I don't think the margin of error could be 1.5 inches, production tolerances were not so tight that I'd expect mine to exactly match yours.

[NONHOG]

Originally Posted by Steve@OldSub.com

The AD frames taper inward through the area that matters. That complicates adapting the suspension from anything that has parallel frame rails and even more so from anything that tapers differently.

Someone here said 28, another said 29.5 at the axle center line. On my suspension swap I ended up with a number that is between those two. While I don't think the margin of error could be 1.5 inches, production tolerances were not so tight that I'd expect mine to exactly match yours.

It seems my original idea of adding better brakes to the factory set up just makes sense (for me anyway) maybe a drop axle.
This Crown vic set up is still very cool. I'll be watching just for fun !

[918733]

What was the other forum were the swap info came from? I have a wrecked crown vic. and this could be some good info for a future project.

[dwcsr]

What other years work for this or is it only 03 up

[nightmare_56]

the only oned that have the bolt in cross member are 03-07