Crown Vic IFS - Installation Complete (For Real)

[flyboy71]

Well I have done a little here and there with the install around kids activities and work travel. I located the sway bar where it seems to be in the car and drilled holes for the bushing brackets. If the sway bar is supposed to actually turn in the rubber bushings then this one is frozen. I couldnt turn the bushings at all to get it up against the frame to bolt it in. I guess Ill buy new ones and just go that route.



I picked up some 3/4" ID washers at the local surplus store. They measure 1/8" thick so I used 4 of them on the bottom and 1 on top, so I have 1" on the bottom and 1/8" on top to fill the gap. This seems to work ok. I guess I will line them up, stack them and weld them to the frame later on. SIDE NOTE: Since the distance from the crossmember to the upper arms when installed is 6.5", you subtract 3/8" for the upper and lower frame thickness, plus 5/8" of added material (the washers), which leaves 5.5" inside the frame rails for the length of the bolt sleeve tubing. Pretty slick eh?



I also grabbed some 3/4" ID tube at the same store. $2.80 for a piece 4 feet long was a good deal. I cut 4 pieces 5.5" long to sleeve the bolts and will hopefully do that after I fab the trailing arm brackets so I can remove the front end altogether and just start welding things.

[flyboy71]

Yeaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its hard to tell from the pics since my drive is sloped but trust me, its a decent 5" of drop.








My son pulled himself away from the video games just long enough to hold the fender. It was a struggle. Yeah, I bolted the rad support on so it's right about where it should be. I was crossing my fingers I got it centered in the wheel well.

[fordman]

it's a police truck now.

[jeepgod]

just curious what do you have in mind for the rear suspension

[flyboy71]

it's a police truck now.

Yeah now I dont know if Im Starsky, Hutch, Officer Poncherello, Cooter, Roscoe P. Coaltrain, Crockett or Tubbs.

just curious what do you have in mind for the rear suspension

Not sure just yet. I may stick with the 9 inch but havent decided. I looked at the crown vic rear 4 link setup and the guy I got the front end from has rear frame section chopped out with the 4-link still attached but the CV frame rails are way wider than the truck so its no an easy graft. Im open for ideas though

Today I picked up those police car wheels and tomorrow Ill go back for 2 more trailing arm brackets. Im gonna use the bracket shoe and cut the round part off and use the plate to attach to. Ill post pics when I get it.

[MadMaxetc]

Looking good man!

[HayHauler]

NICE!

[powerman]

I was looking at the suspension and was curious, can a guy polish the crossmember? May be a lot of work but it would look nice!

[flyboy71]

I was looking at the suspension and was curious, can a guy polish the crossmember? May be a lot of work but it would look nice!

I have considered it but I will probably just clean it up and make it look shiny. Its getting slightly corroded and dirty already from being in the car. I considered a clear coat but Im afraid it wont stick to the aluminum or worse it will yellow over time.

I didnt do a whole lot recently. Picked up two more trailing arm brackets and cut the bushings off. The plates when switched are a mirror image so now I have a plate to fab to the frame. I also pulled the rear leafs and lowered the frame to simulate a full hangar flip. Ill probably do that in the rear and adjust as I put the truck back together to get the ride height where I want it. (Yeah thats a '70 Stang gas tank waiting to be fitted in the frame )

[marvin2]

Keep it up man....its looking good!

[marz68]

Very nice work!!

[flyboy71]

Hey thanks guys! Its a lot of fun seeing it come together.

Last night I started to fab the trailing arm bracket mounts. I used some 3x3 and 2.5x2.5 square tubing and some fancy work with the sawzall. Ill weld the contraption together and to the extra brackets I picked up. It might be overkill but I doubt it will fall off the frame Ill probably hack and cut some more before I weld it on.

[flyboy71]

I trimmed more metal from the brackets to clear the cab mounts and frankly because they were way too much. I welded the channel to the trailing arm shoes and welded the assembly to the frame. More weld practice. Im proud of the one side but not so much the other side. Nothing a grinder cant fix I guess.

So that pretty much completes the install. All that is left is to box the frame rails. Ill post plenty of pics in a project thread when the frame is painted and shiny. Stay tuned!

[td]

looks great!! i'll be watchin.

[Orange Beezy]

Can't wait to see it on down the road. keep up the good work