IRS in a Fox? Can it be done?

Big-T · 11-27-2002, 11:21 AM

Here I go again....

A few years ago when the Cobra first came out with IRS, a magazine (one of the big Mustang magazines), indicated that the mounting points for the IRS suspension system were the same as the traditional live axle. They seemed to feel that the IRS should be possible to swap into a non-IRS car, and even a Fox-bodied Mustang.

- Anyone seen this?
- Anyone know if the mounting points are indeed the same?
- Anyone seen other IRS setups for the Fox-bodied Mustang?

I know - it's pretty nuts, but I'm not looking to build something that is just like everything else (no offense

). Again - humor me

I'd love to hear from you on this, and I will take guesses/opinions on this, since I suspect very few have actually done this.

T.

lx5091 · 11-27-2002, 11:40 AM

I'm sure you're not looking for a 900HP application, so don't let people tell you it's a stupid idea and not as strong. What are you seeking, just shock value for show's or are you interested in traction or something else?

Big-T · 11-27-2002, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lx5091
I'm sure you're not looking for a 900HP application, so don't let people tell you it's a stupid idea and not as strong. What are you seeking, just shock value for show's or are you interested in traction or something else?

Good question! I am looking to build a great street car. I don't care what it can do on the track 1/4 mile. For engine I was hoping to swap in a 32V Cobra modular (see my other post on this topic). With some mods I am not looking for anything more than perhaps 350hp.

I am interested in the IRS because I consider it a superior suspension system (except for 1/4 mile) that would be unique and provide improved handling and comfort. I am looking to build a street car first and foremost, but I will build it 'worthy' for an occasional show appearance. I want to build something that is not like all other modified Mustangs out there.

What do you think?

Kamaro Killer · 11-27-2002, 01:17 PM

I think you should purchase an 03' Cobra. After all, that is what you will be building, except with a different platform. Just my opinion though. Take care, Keith

lx5091 · 11-27-2002, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Big-T
I want to build something that is not like all other modified Mustangs out there.

kinda hard to achieve this goal, with an '03 cobra

even though, I don't have one!

Dark_5.0 · 11-27-2002, 01:41 PM

Yes it can be done, I also read the mounting points are the same.

I know for a fact that a live axle from a GT will mount in my cobra so it should work vise versa.

90GT Vert · 11-27-2002, 02:21 PM

sorry man, I can't help you on this....i'm not a suspension man

MEDIK418 · 11-27-2002, 03:30 PM

Yes it is possible and not as expensive as I once thought. The company is called "IPS" and they make some very strong IRS setups for Fox bodied Mustangs using the Lincoln pumpkin and a lot of engineering. I'm not sure where or if they have a web site but there are several articles on the web about their products.

Big-T · 11-29-2002, 03:56 PM

Thanks for replies, guys. Some thoughts:

MEDIK418: I couldn't find any web site for IPS, but I found a few references to them. It appears that they are out of business, and I read some negative feedback about their suspension systems. Anyone know if they are still in business, and if so, any web site?

Kamaro Killer: With all due respect, I think you've completely missed my point

There's nothing creative about buying a car like a Cobra, no matter how good it is. It's about building a unique car, and it's about doing it myself. Buying a new car off the lot completely defeats both those purposes, no?

LX5091: Thanks for positive note, I think you're understanding my quest.

Dark_5.0: That sounds interesting, are the live axle mounts the same for the Fox body cars as yours?

Anyway, I really appreciate all the input, I'll keep you posted if this project ends up having an IRS or not.

T.

MEDIK418 · 11-30-2002, 01:43 AM

Darn . . .I was waiting and hoping I could save enough to get one of their setups too. The only article/test I ever read on them was one on a blown Saleen and the thing worked like a charm on it. THe guy who wrote the article owned the car and he pretty much hammered it all the way back to Calif. I think they "were" in PA. somewhere.

Kamaro Killer · 11-30-2002, 02:09 AM

I didn't mean any disrespect to you. I understood your question though. You can buy a 03 Cobra and modify it to your specs, unless you are set on a fox-body (which I understand, I own 2

) It would be a very nice set-up though, a new Cobra engine in a fox-body. You will have to keep us updated on the status of this. Take care, Keith

Big-T · 11-30-2002, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kamaro Killer
I didn't mean any disrespect to you. I understood your question though. You can buy a 03 Cobra and modify it to your specs, unless you are set on a fox-body (which I understand, I own 2 ) It would be a very nice set-up though, a new Cobra engine in a fox-body. You will have to keep us updated on the status of this. Take care, Keith

No worries, i know what you mean

lx5091 · 12-10-2002, 12:12 AM

look what I found....

http://www.dvsrestorations.com/

click on [IRS for vintage mustangs]

go all the way to the bottom and there's a kit that can work in a fox body!
It says 99-03 but will bolt directly into an sn95 and can be made to fit a fox, email them or call.

Big-T · 12-10-2002, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lx5091
look what I found....

http://www.dvsrestorations.com/

click on [IRS for vintage mustangs]

go all the way to the bottom and there's a kit that can work in a fox body!
It says 99-03 but will bolt directly into an sn95 and can be made to fit a fox, email them or call.

Hey, that's cool!!

ChunkFunky · 12-10-2002, 02:18 PM

I just happened to see this car on ebay.. check it out... maybe you could talk to this guy

IRS Fox Body

-as

90GT Vert · 12-23-2002, 12:23 PM

nice car but i'm not too sure on the yellow

stevstum · 12-24-2002, 04:50 PM

stangprts.com has a complete IRS for sale. Thought you might take a look.

Rear suspension - COBRA IRS COMPLETE SETUP

DESCRIPTION: '99-'02, Mustang Cobra IRS complete rearend setup. This is a complete dropout unit rotor to rotor, with bolts, springs, shocks & exhaust. MUST BE PREPAID & SHIPPED TRUCK FREIGHT COLLECT!
STATUS: Used, = Item must be prepaid and will be shipped truck freight.
PRICE: $1,750.00

Big-T · 12-24-2002, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by stevstum
stangprts.com has a complete IRS for sale. Thought you might take a look.

Rear suspension - COBRA IRS COMPLETE SETUP

DESCRIPTION: '99-'02, Mustang Cobra IRS complete rearend setup. This is a complete dropout unit rotor to rotor, with bolts, springs, shocks & exhaust. MUST BE PREPAID & SHIPPED TRUCK FREIGHT COLLECT!
STATUS: Used, = Item must be prepaid and will be shipped truck freight.
PRICE: $1,750.00

Damn, I don't have the money right now, will have to wait and see if another one comes up later. Very interesting though!

T.

Shaggy · 12-25-2002, 12:26 AM

The other thing to loo for is i have seen a few cobra owners atround here trade there whole IRS for a live axle because they are drag racers and all that i have talked to said there are 2 extra holes to drill but other then that it works fina and has been acomplished in a full weekend.

Big-T · 01-01-2003, 06:51 PM

I love the Internet. You can surf porn and find cool stuff. In regards to the topic of this thread, check this out:

http://www.mouthbreather.net/IRSSWAP.html
http://mustangsvo.org/wwwboard/messages/25051.html

So, confirmation that it can be done has hereby been presented. I'm lusting for an IRS right now....

T.

11-27-2002, 11:21 AM	#1
Big-T Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 31	IRS in a Fox? Can it be done? Here I go again.... A few years ago when the Cobra first came out with IRS, a magazine (one of the big Mustang magazines), indicated that the mounting points for the IRS suspension system were the same as the traditional live axle. They seemed to feel that the IRS should be possible to swap into a non-IRS car, and even a Fox-bodied Mustang. - Anyone seen this? - Anyone know if the mounting points are indeed the same? - Anyone seen other IRS setups for the Fox-bodied Mustang? I know - it's pretty nuts, but I'm not looking to build something that is just like everything else (no offense ). Again - humor me I'd love to hear from you on this, and I will take guesses/opinions on this, since I suspect very few have actually done this. T.

11-27-2002, 11:40 AM	#2
lx5091 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fall River, MA Posts: 467	I'm sure you're not looking for a 900HP application, so don't let people tell you it's a stupid idea and not as strong. What are you seeking, just shock value for show's or are you interested in traction or something else? __________________ '02 Explorer XLT 4.0L --Nice Vehicle '97 Saturn SL1--Soon to be ditched for a Ford!

11-27-2002, 01:17 PM	#4
Kamaro Killer Mustang Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 528	Honestly.. I think you should purchase an 03' Cobra. After all, that is what you will be building, except with a different platform. Just my opinion though. Take care, Keith __________________ 1993 GT 5.0-My Stang Rice Hater's Club Member 22

11-27-2002, 01:41 PM	#6
Dark_5.0 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Staging lane Posts: 4,337	Yes it can be done, I also read the mounting points are the same. I know for a fact that a live axle from a GT will mount in my cobra so it should work vise versa. __________________ 92' LX-Big brakes, Lots and lots of suspension, GT40X heads, Ported cobra intake, stock cam, Vortech SC trim. 00' Lightning-Stock 88'CRX-13 second ego killer

11-27-2002, 02:21 PM	#7
90GT Vert Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Baytown, Texas Posts: 81	sorry man, I can't help you on this....i'm not a suspension man __________________ 90 Ford Mustang GT Vert AOD Some Mods..... "its ok!"

11-27-2002, 03:30 PM	#8
MEDIK418 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Amarillo, Texas, USA Posts: 780	Yes it is possible and not as expensive as I once thought. The company is called "IPS" and they make some very strong IRS setups for Fox bodied Mustangs using the Lincoln pumpkin and a lot of engineering. I'm not sure where or if they have a web site but there are several articles on the web about their products. __________________ 1986 four-eyed LX coupe, 358 Cleveland, Tremec TKO600/centerforce clutch, dish cut Probe forged pistons, comp cams hyd.roller cam, .579/.588@224/230, Edel.performer, 670 holley street avenger, CPR custom built long tubes, ported and polished 4bbl heads, manley valves, beehive springs, MSD peo-billet dist/MSD6AL, fluidamper, 5 lug conv. with 17x8 bullits there's more but it's still not finished yet. Oh, and the oldest boy is turning his 89 GT into a FFR cobra this next summer.

11-29-2002, 03:56 PM	#9
Big-T Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 31	Thanks for replies, guys. Some thoughts: MEDIK418: I couldn't find any web site for IPS, but I found a few references to them. It appears that they are out of business, and I read some negative feedback about their suspension systems. Anyone know if they are still in business, and if so, any web site? Kamaro Killer: With all due respect, I think you've completely missed my point There's nothing creative about buying a car like a Cobra, no matter how good it is. It's about building a unique car, and it's about doing it myself. Buying a new car off the lot completely defeats both those purposes, no? LX5091: Thanks for positive note, I think you're understanding my quest. Dark_5.0: That sounds interesting, are the live axle mounts the same for the Fox body cars as yours? Anyway, I really appreciate all the input, I'll keep you posted if this project ends up having an IRS or not. T.

11-30-2002, 01:43 AM	#10
MEDIK418 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 1999 Location: Amarillo, Texas, USA Posts: 780	Darn . . .I was waiting and hoping I could save enough to get one of their setups too. The only article/test I ever read on them was one on a blown Saleen and the thing worked like a charm on it. THe guy who wrote the article owned the car and he pretty much hammered it all the way back to Calif. I think they "were" in PA. somewhere. __________________ 1986 four-eyed LX coupe, 358 Cleveland, Tremec TKO600/centerforce clutch, dish cut Probe forged pistons, comp cams hyd.roller cam, .579/.588@224/230, Edel.performer, 670 holley street avenger, CPR custom built long tubes, ported and polished 4bbl heads, manley valves, beehive springs, MSD peo-billet dist/MSD6AL, fluidamper, 5 lug conv. with 17x8 bullits there's more but it's still not finished yet. Oh, and the oldest boy is turning his 89 GT into a FFR cobra this next summer.

11-30-2002, 02:09 AM	#11
Kamaro Killer Mustang Enthusiast Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 528	Big T I didn't mean any disrespect to you. I understood your question though. You can buy a 03 Cobra and modify it to your specs, unless you are set on a fox-body (which I understand, I own 2 ) It would be a very nice set-up though, a new Cobra engine in a fox-body. You will have to keep us updated on the status of this. Take care, Keith __________________ 1993 GT 5.0-My Stang Rice Hater's Club Member 22

12-10-2002, 12:12 AM	#13
lx5091 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fall River, MA Posts: 467	look what I found.... http://www.dvsrestorations.com/ click on [IRS for vintage mustangs] go all the way to the bottom and there's a kit that can work in a fox body! It says 99-03 but will bolt directly into an sn95 and can be made to fit a fox, email them or call. __________________ '02 Explorer XLT 4.0L --Nice Vehicle '97 Saturn SL1--Soon to be ditched for a Ford!

12-10-2002, 02:18 PM	#15
ChunkFunky Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tustin, CA Posts: 465	I just happened to see this car on ebay.. check it out... maybe you could talk to this guy IRS Fox Body -as __________________ '89 GT Convertible: TFS TW Heads, TFS Street Intake, TFS Stage 1 Cam, FMS 1.6 RRs, 24# Injectors, Pro-M 75mm MAF, No Name CAI, 3.73s, O/R H-Pipe, FlowMasters, AOD w/ Trans-Go Shift Kit

12-23-2002, 12:23 PM	#16
90GT Vert Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Baytown, Texas Posts: 81	nice car but i'm not too sure on the yellow __________________ 90 Ford Mustang GT Vert AOD Some Mods..... "its ok!"

12-24-2002, 04:50 PM	#17
stevstum Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Salem, Or. USA Posts: 233	Look at stangparts.com stangprts.com has a complete IRS for sale. Thought you might take a look. Rear suspension - COBRA IRS COMPLETE SETUP DESCRIPTION: '99-'02, Mustang Cobra IRS complete rearend setup. This is a complete dropout unit rotor to rotor, with bolts, springs, shocks & exhaust. MUST BE PREPAID & SHIPPED TRUCK FREIGHT COLLECT! STATUS: Used, = Item must be prepaid and will be shipped truck freight. PRICE: $1,750.00 __________________ Steve Stumbaugh 89 LX 5.0 5sp, Removed air silencer Mac High Flow Air Filter Motorcraft 8mm wires Autolite platinum plugs Mac O/R h-pipe Flowmaster American Thunder 3:55 gears Accel Super Coil (42,000) 75 mm Mass Air Meter

12-25-2002, 12:26 AM	#19
Shaggy Registered Member Join Date: Feb 1999 Location: Houston,TX Posts: 466	The other thing to loo for is i have seen a few cobra owners atround here trade there whole IRS for a live axle because they are drag racers and all that i have talked to said there are 2 extra holes to drill but other then that it works fina and has been acomplished in a full weekend. __________________ A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week. George S. Patton, General (1885-1945)

01-01-2003, 06:51 PM	#20
Big-T Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Manassas, VA Posts: 31	I love the Internet. You can surf porn and find cool stuff. In regards to the topic of this thread, check this out: http://www.mouthbreather.net/IRSSWAP.html http://mustangsvo.org/wwwboard/messages/25051.html So, confirmation that it can be done has hereby been presented. I'm lusting for an IRS right now.... T.