IRS for your chassis

Three Peaks · #1 (**permalink**) 06-01-2005, 04:08 PM

I stopped by Dutchman motorsports in Portland today to drop off my axles to be shortened and found out they now make a beautiful 9" Ford IRS rear that can be adapted to just about any chassis and they are good looking and darned tough looking too.
They also offer IRS components like hub carriers, custom halfshafts, outboard brakes and mounting parts, bearings, etc...

Check it out at http://www.dutchmanaxles.com

Alex, this might be just what you're looking for.

Price lists are also on the site. Hope this helps someone doing a scratch build- or changing out your rear end. They even come with Polyurethane mounts and mounting brackets and cross pieces cut long to be fit into your chassis.

Let me know what you think- Bob

mylesdw · #2 (**permalink**) 06-01-2005, 04:28 PM

Nice looking but I reckon the four-bar hub location might be a bit of a problem in a Cobra. The rods would either end up VERY short or located where the driver sits.

Three Peaks · #3 (**permalink**) 06-01-2005, 04:37 PM

I talked to the company owner/manager and he said part of the price is making the axles to the proper length and also trailing/locating arms will be made to length, swaged, threaded and returned to you.
I realize some redesign may be necessary to make this system work in a Cobra, but I think it is at least as good (if not better) system than the AMP rear. They also offer 13" rear outboard brakes and several custom options. In fact, almost every piece on this unit is customizable.

The hub carriers are VERY nice and would be a nice addition to build a suspension around.

mylesdw · #4 (**permalink**) 06-01-2005, 05:09 PM

I agree, the system is much less ugly than the AMP effort and the uprights do look great. Personally, if I was going for the amount of 'redesign' that you mention I would want something with an upper wishbone.

mloy · #5 (**permalink**) 06-07-2005, 07:32 PM

Anyone know of using an IRS out of a T-Bird SuperCoupe on the 427 chassis? I have a friend that wants a 427 and has sucked me into building him one. He has a T-Bird IRS and I am wondering if I could make it work.

Oh, and I guess I am going to need a set of 427 chassis plans....

Three Peaks · #6 (**permalink**) 06-07-2005, 08:35 PM

mloy,
I'm in the process of installing a T-bird IRS in a 427SC chassis built from the Cobra restorers' plan.

I've been talking to grumpy from this forum about the suspension pieces and think we have it pretty well licked. If you need the information, let me know and I'll share what little I know and how I accomplished it, though I'm not finished yet and there is still room for improvement.
As for chassis plans, check on Cobra Restorers site at www.cobrarestorers.com and look under literature and they have the Chassis plans for around $200 or so. Be careful using them as there are some contradictions and outright mistakes on them. There are enough guys on this forum who have used them that you can usually get past any tough spots by just asking. Don't ask me how I know this!

-

The plans don't include a few other items- roll bars, fuel tank mounts, suspension pieces, and several other things, but they will get you where you can take over and finish. Grumpy is helping me with the suspension pieces but I'm not using original style pieces, I'm going with the Mustang II front spindles and the T-bird IRS differential and hubs/knuckles.

BTW, I believe the guy I got my frame/body from still has a really nice Shelby 427SC body available for a great price.

Let me know if I can help.- Bob

Michael4yah · #7 (**permalink**) 06-17-2005, 01:48 AM

Ive got an 04 GTO and its ind rear end looks like it would be a natural for a Cobra. Not many in the junk yards yet but it worth looking into.

427sharpe · #8 (**permalink**) 07-03-2005, 10:30 AM

One way or another the TBird/Cougar/Mark VIII rear is being used by a lot of the US based builders...F5, Everett-Morrison, etc..
I use a number of the components in my chassis. I se an Explorer differential and shafts (shortened), the TBird spindle, and a hub from a '99 Mustang Cobra. The hub has a 5 x 4.5 bolt circle, and the spline will accept the Explorer axle...
Use the Explorer diff..better mounting points and a stronger carrier. Internals are the standard 8.8, so plenty of parts available. The Explorer diff..