.boB

Is there a relativly easy way to swap to a solid axle? Something like a narrowed 8.8, using a 3 or 5 link suspension and coil overs?

I did a google search but didn't come up with much.

The Wretch

Bob, I've got a 7.5" rear. Custom 4 link, with panhard bar and coilover setup. I'll take some pictures tonight and post them up tomorrow to give you an idea of how it's set up. If I can find some today, I'll throw them up. Pretty simple setup, and performance wise, seems to work well for all applications.

charchri4

Bob just wondering why you would want a solid axle. Unless you wanted a less than 5 figure set up for serious drag racing I have never heard a benifet to a solid axle in a performance car.

.boB

This is going to be primarily a track car. With a little work, you can make a solid axle perform just as well as an IRS. Some say a 5 link will outperform an IRS on a road course.

On the street, there's no question. The IRS is far superior to a solid axle in a light weight car. No amount of engineering is going to change that - just ask the Ford engineers. I

With an IRS, between the diff and the tires there's 6 joints, two nuts, two bearings, and 4 rubber boots. 6 points where you can lose power and efficiency; and, six failure points. When you start talking about durability, the solid axle wins hands down.

Life's full of trade offs. You just have to decide what's going to meet your goals, and what you're willing to trade for it.

And, I don't want this to happen again


This is what happens when an axle stub breaks at 85mph.

charchri4

Well I'll be dog gone you learn something new every day around here! I saw one somewhere set up as a solid axle that has nice photos of it so let me ponder on it for a bit.

The Wretch

Here are a few pics I found on my phone. I wasn't able to get any last night. I'll get a tire off and get a few in the next day or 2 and get angles of everything. These don't show all that much...

cvx_20

Is this for the Cobra? Doesn't FFR offer mounts for an optional straight axle? Pretty much a bolt in deal?

Mike

The Wretch

Here are some additional pics with the passenger tire off...and a few more from the rear.

5.0MX5

The purist will be appalled, but I kinda like it. What do you mainly use the car for? Curious as to the ride (if street driven) and what about traction,,,,wheel hop in particular. Sure sounds like a fast ride with 2.76's.

The Wretch

What is this thing called wheel hop you guys keep referring to?

I've never experienced wheel hop in this car. I mainly use the car for cruise in nights, joy rides, and spirited driving on back roads from time to time. It is very well behaved, even through the twisties. I have not auto crossed the car yet, although I plan to this summer a couple times. It's made a pass or 3 down the 1/4 mile strip during a test and tune session just to see what it's capable of. With the coil overs and the lowered stance, the ride is a bit stiff, but it's flat and predictable and as always it's nice to be able to enhance your cornering skills using the gas pedal.

It is certainly a fast ride and actually has a usable 1st and 2nd gear.

.boB

Very nice work. Did you fab that yourself? Looks like it went in there pretty easily. Did you have to narrow the rear?

No. Once I get the Exocet on the track, the Cobra will be retired to street use only. And that's where an IRS really shines.

The Wretch

The rear is narrowed. I wish I had the skills to fab a rear end and produce quality work like that. That work was done by a speed shop that specializes in this type of work. I've been honing my automotive fabrication skills for a while, but I'm not quite there yet...unfortunately. Oh, and it's amazing how much room you have to work with under the car when you relocate the fuel cell to spare tire wheel well.

charchri4

LOL yeah but they are appauled by nearly every car on this forum!

Flag on the play! You can't post a note like that with out posting the ETs too!

The Wretch

Your right, my fault. Best run of the day was 10.9 @ 127. Running on Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Specs... 60' was 1.8sec, and the DA was ***.

I'd like to throw a cheap set of slicks on the back this summer just to see if I can hit 10.5. After that, I'm sure they'll ask me to leave since I don't have a full cage

charchri4

Outstanding! That is one fine build you have there!

The Wretch

Thanks Jim, I still have a few things I'm working on that I'll post some pics of up soon (new switch panel, custom center gauge cluster, new gauges - Autometer Ultralites, etc). But otherwise, appreciate the feedback!

IndyDJ61

I'm running an 8.8, 4.10 posi, disc brake rear out of a late model Ford Exploder. $120 complete at a yard. Probably driven by a soccer mom and totaled by her son. Very nice fit, and you can narrow it dirt cheap. Cut the left side down 3", and just use a right side axle in the left. CE 4 link kit and fabbed brackets for the stock coil overs. (correct spring rate, aren't they??) I can send pics if you want. Less than $500 in parts!

charchri4

^^ Oh yeah I would LOVE to see photos of that!

IndyDJ61

I just posted my project album.

.boB

Now, that looks interesting! It looks like a parallel bar set up for drag racing, but with a panard bar for cornering. Looks like something I could do.

Who narrowed the rear for you? I can weld, but not good enough for that.

What coil overs are they?