T-Bird Independent rear end?

[TerryO]

I am considering putting independent suspension under my '49 Ford coupe. Can anybody that has used these things recommend if there is a specific year/s of T-Bird that would be best to use? I want about 3.5/3.7 ratio and traction lock (or whatever they call posi in a T-Bird) to use behind an AOD. I don't care whether or not is has disc brakes as I will use whatever it comes with. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

[unklian]

I think they all the T-Bird independant rears come with Disc brakes.
Some of the late model Mustangs also came with an independent rear.

[Bob Paulin]

I am considering putting independent suspension under my '49 Ford coupe. Can anybody that has used these things recommend if there is a specific year/s of T-Bird that would be best to use? I want about 3.5/3.7 ratio and traction lock (or whatever they call posi in a T-Bird) to use behind an AOD. I don't care whether or not is has disc brakes as I will use whatever it comes with. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Rear tread width on your '49 is approximately 56-57 inches.

Rear tread width on an '89-up IRS T-bird is 60.2 inches - according to the "Standard Catalog of American Cars."

Measure really carefully, and decide exactly how you will make it fit before cutting anything.

Bob Paulin

[btrc]

I've got a T-bird rear in my '37 Ford.  I had to narrow it about 6" to get everything in.  To do that I had to have shortened axles machined and had to fabricate my own a-arms along with a subframe to mount them to.  I'm not sure but I don't believe all the T-birds have disc brakes.  My stuff is from a Super Coupe and it does.  The V8 and super coupe have the 8.8 gear and the V6 has the smaller gear.   My ratio is 3.25:1 and has the posi.  I don't know if anything besides the Super Coupe has the posi.  One thing to remember on the track measurements given is that the T-bird uses the large inset wheels like a front driver so you have to take wheel offset into mind when deciding if it will fit.  Also I had to redrill the hubs and rotors because the T-bird uses an odd (110 mm I think) bolt pattern.

Bob

[Phat]

Not all t-birds with IRS use discs or are they 8.8s.  Some also have the smaller rear. Stick with a super coupe rear.  I have a couple of them in big sedans and they work real well. Not as easy to use as a vette but about half the price to buy. (supercoupe rear about 200 vette about 5-600) Becarful narrowing it as you can really get buried in a money pit for something that rides marginally better. Allways loved my super coupes (owned 3 of them) they ride like caddy but really put the hurts on the 5.0 crowd.(blown v-6)  Exhaust clearance is a also a pain in the butt.