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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
Posts: 1,757
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Thunderbird IRS in an AD Truck
I am still in the planning stages for this project, but I figured I might as well document all the info I am digging up!!
I know this has been done before, but I could find very little documented in regards to a Chevy install. ![]() ol' chebby over at Classic Parts Forum has one in his 3600 and I have spoke with him numerous time about it. Below is his truck....and another truck he built. ![]() Good donors are 1989- 1997 Thunderbird/ Cougars and 1993 - 1998 Lincoln Mark 8. The Fords were on coil springs, the Lincolns are all on bags. Fords are available in 7.5" and 8.8" with drums and discs available. The Lincolns were 8.8 only, and only disc brakes. Depending on your location, they can be bought pretty cheap. I found a 8.8" in 3.23 ratio with discs locally for $250.00. My plan is to put it on air. With this set up, you can lay frame without a huge notch, or relocating the height of the bed floor. Below is a picture of the IRS in a TF truck. ![]() ![]() more later.......... |
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#2 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
Posts: 1,757
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Re: Thunderbird IFS in an AD Truck
A few more pictures of them installed.
Ol' Chebby's 3600. ![]() ![]() Ford Install ![]() ![]() Team 321 makes mounting brackets for the Ford IRS system to mount to Ford trucks. A link to their website is below. Dave at Team 321 is a great resource for IRS info. http://team321.com/truckirs/truckirs.html Below is a picture of a 56 Ford installed with the Team 321 kit. ![]() Another Ford Install ![]() |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
Posts: 1,757
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Re: Thunderbird IFS in an AD Truck
Below is a great build thread on step by step install in a 1951 F1
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/81...ll-how-to.html ![]() |
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#4 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Faribault, MN
Posts: 385
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Re: Thunderbird IFS in an AD Truck
I had looked into that once because I have one those rear ends. My plan was to leave it as a bolt in unit. But didn't when I became disillusioned with the Danforth kit and went to the dakota chassis.
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http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=414646 |
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#5 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
Posts: 1,757
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Re: Thunderbird IFS in an AD Truck
I have my heels dug in on staying with the stock frame, so I really like this option.
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Yakima Valley, Washington
Posts: 580
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Re: Thunderbird IFS in an AD Truck
Not sure if titles can be modified, but looks like all Rear installs instead of ifs right? Or are you going to do the front as well?
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#7 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
Posts: 1,757
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Re: Thunderbird IFS in an AD Truck
Quote:
Thanks for the heads up. I have not decided on IFS yet. |
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#8 |
Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Faribault, MN
Posts: 385
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Re: Thunderbird IFS in an AD Truck
Had I kept the stock frame I would have used the T-bird rear. The dakota was sitting there, my son quit driving it.
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http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=414646 |
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#9 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Toppenish, WA
Posts: 15,824
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Re: Thunderbird IFS in an AD Truck
That looks interesting and you had me wondering with that Thunderbird IFS in that I was trying to figure out what you were going to do with the struts.
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Founding member of the too many projects, too little time and money club. My ongoing truck projects: 48 Chev 3100 that will run a 292 Six. 71 GMC 2500 that is getting a Cad 500 transplant. 77 C 30 dualie, 454, 4 speed with a 10 foot flatbed and hoist. It does the heavy work and hauls the projects around. |
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#10 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
Posts: 1,757
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Re: Thunderbird IRS in an AD Truck
Obstacles:
Rear end bolt pattern is 5 x 4-1/4. New hubs can be bought for 5 x 4-1/2 which would allow a much better wheel selection. Redrilling the stud holes is also an option. I am hoping there is enough room to redrill them 5 x 4-3/4 so I can keep my existing wheels. I won't be able to determine that until I pick up the rear end. |
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#11 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: West Side of the valley, CA
Posts: 878
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Re: Thunderbird IRS in an AD Truck
Wonder why ford did that? Figure it would have been cheaper to have everything 5 x 4.5...
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
Posts: 1,757
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Re: Thunderbird IRS in an AD Truck
Very good question.
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#13 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: West Side of the valley, CA
Posts: 878
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Re: Thunderbird IRS in an AD Truck
LOL...cuz its ford...
I've owned a few in the day and I have caught myself asking myself, usually when under the hood, "why'd they do that? What where they thinking..." |
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#14 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Cactus Patch So. Az
Posts: 4,749
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Re: Thunderbird IRS in an AD Truck
My neighbor just finished a 52 Chevy AD truck and he installed a 300 ZX IRS and it fits great and rides great the bolt pattern is a 4 1/2 Ford, this is the only pic I have.
There is a rod builder in Washington that is all he uses is 300 ZX Just as a thought, have you heard about these?
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53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD) 53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25 55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73 62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327 340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis LS 3 4L70E 65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11 78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42 2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser) 2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42 |
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#15 |
Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Cactus Patch So. Az
Posts: 4,749
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Re: Thunderbird IRS in an AD Truck
Found another one !
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53 TuTone Extended Cab 350 4-Spd 3:08 (SOLD) 53 Chevy Moldy pearl green ZZ-4 4L60E 9" 3:25 55 GMC 1st Black Mll (ZZ4) ZZ6 TKO 600 5 sp 3:73 62 Solidaxle Corvette Roman Red (327 340hp 4spd 3:36) C4 & C5 suspension tube chassis LS 3 4L70E 65 Corvette Coupe 327 350hp 4spd 4:11 78 Black Silverado SWB (350/350) 5.3 & 4L60E 3:42 2000 S-Type 3.0 (wife cruiser) 2003 GMC SCSB 5.3 4L60E 3:42 |
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#16 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
Posts: 1,757
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Re: Thunderbird IRS in an AD Truck
Awesome truck. I have heard of the 300z IRS....but have never seen one installed.
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#17 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Yakima Valley, Washington
Posts: 580
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Re: Thunderbird IRS in an AD Truck
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
Posts: 1,757
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Re: Thunderbird IRS in an AD Truck
That is good to know!!
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
Posts: 1,757
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Re: Thunderbird IRS in an AD Truck
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#20 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Oblong, Illinois
Posts: 7,028
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Re: Thunderbird IRS in an AD Truck
Quote:
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#21 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Memphis, TN
Posts: 10
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Re: Thunderbird IRS in an AD Truck
Any updates? been a while.
Bill |
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#22 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
Posts: 1,757
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Re: Thunderbird IRS in an AD Truck
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.
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#23 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Western MA
Posts: 281
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Re: Thunderbird IRS in an AD Truck
Gotta see this done...sounds very cool. Adaptive re-use at it's best!
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Pics of Finished 49 AD: https://www.flickr.com/photos/103194...7686536275403/ Pics of build process: https://www.flickr.com/photos/103194...57684031425944 |
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#24 |
Hollister Road Co.
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Houston
Posts: 6,131
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Re: Thunderbird IRS in an AD Truck
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 |
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#25 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Post Falls, Idaho
Posts: 1,757
|
Re: Thunderbird IRS in an AD Truck
I am hoping to start the install in the next couple weeks. I want to get my front cross member installed first.
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