Rusty Bowtie
General Category => General Discussion - Intros => Topic started by: 39delux on May 15, 2019, 08:11:26 PM
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Been thinking about putting an I.R.S. under the '39 and researching what is out there. Because the '39 has a back seat I want to use air bags to adjust the ride in case of passengers, this rules out 'Vette rears. Lake model Jags look good and would lend themselves to bags in place of the coil springs. Late Model Mustangs (2015 up) also look good and not to wide. Ford Navigator and Expedition look good but would require narrowing. That's where I'm stuck, nobody seems to know anything about narrowing an I.R.S. Anyone have thoughts and inputs?
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each of my 1935 Chevrolets has Jaguar IRS. They come in wide 61 3/4 flange to flange 1962 --1986, XKE super narrow at 53 1/2 and also S series 1964--1974 56-57" wide.
The lower control arms can be easily shortened by cutting to length , inserting 1/4" wall tube inside and drilling 1/2" holes on either side of the cut. All this has to be done in a home made jig easy to construct.
The 1/2 shaft forgings are a diff story and much more complicated. But can be done.
I actually produce WILWOOD rear caliper adaptors sold on ebay along with special grade 9 side bracket bolts and lastly UHMW bushings to replace the ball bearing system. All these are listed on ebay. The caliper bracket also has the emergency WILWOOD brake spot brakes cnc milled right into it.
SNOW WHITE chassis in California makes a urethane bushed rear cross member that has sliders to adjust height.
Half shaft u joints are 1955-1970 Chevrolet truck. The hub carriers have 1/2" studs and are chevy 4 3/4 pattern.
For air bag rears you only need the 2 of them.
mike
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Thanks for the reply Mike, nice setup you have there. I think I'm going to spring for a late model (2015) Expedition with 3.31 gears. It will have to be narrowed but lends itself to bags. I didn't know the early Jags could be bagged. Later ones just replace the coil with a bag, very easy.
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whats really trick is when you do like boyd coddington did and mount the 2 air bag on top of the cross member using a custom made bracket that is used on inboard front systems. Indy style also Lil John Buttera did it also.
Only thing you see is the 1/2 shafts and the lower control arms. Mind you on the truck your wanting this for it would be a stretch to see anything unless you were lying on the ground from behind.
I do not have any stored easily accessed pictures of it.
Good luck with the expedition install. Some pictures posted as you go along would be nice.
mike
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One of the potential problems you may encounter using other than a jag rear.
A jaguar rear end half shafts move straight up and down and the mounting flange always remains straight when hitting bumps or cornering.
Corvettes and other types the half shafts flange arcs inwards towards the body. A vet rear out of adjustment you will see the wheels tilting in at the top , lower you make it , worse it gets . Vet rears are plentifull look good ride terrible unless converted to air or coilovers
On our early cars wheel well opening in rear is limited to tire size and wheel offset . Its important to get it perfect.
Body roll. You need a healthy 3/4....1" anti sway bar to stop it happening and rubbing paint off wheel well inside.
mike