Have come across the full rear from a 2000 GT Mustang. Width is very close, but I don't know enough about Mustangs, to know if the frame would have to be narrowed as with a Vette rear.

Has any looked at this? ( Yes I know its a Ford, but the 8.8 is supposed to be strong and the independant suspension would be great).

It's a heavy suspension setup but works pretty well for handling. It has some nasty wheelhop tendencies if you drag race the thing (which is why a lot of the serious Cobra draggers swap out the IRS for a stick axle.)

They still do break, but usually on the Cobra's making 600+rwhp and leaving on slicks.

Troy

Have come across the full rear from a 2000 GT Mustang. Width is very close, but I don't know enough about Mustangs, to know if the frame would have to be narrowed as with a Vette rear.

Has any looked at this? ( Yes I know its a Ford, but the 8.8 is supposed to be strong and the independant suspension would be great).
Ummm... does not quite compute.

The rear end in a 2000 Mustang GT is nothing more than a solid axle with converging 4 link just like in our classic Chevelles/El Caminos. Definitely not an IRS.

Now if you are really talking about a 2000 Mustang Cobra... then we get closer because Mustang Cobra has had IRS from 1999 onward. But still we have a problem because there were no 2000 Mustang Cobras as Ford was trying to figure out how to fix the performance problems on the 1999's (the 1999's had a bit less than advertised performance and triggered a recall on the entire year's production of cars).

I have a 1999 IRS in my 2001 Mustang GT and it is a definite improvement over the original solid axle setup for going around corners. It does suffer greatly from wheel hop whenever the tires think about spinning. There are some reinforcing parts for the differential to keep the back aluminum cover from breaking. Also a number of vendors of improved halfshafts. Typical failure mode results from drag launches with either sticky tires or wheel hop and can either be broken halfshafts or differentials ripped right out of the frame.

My mistake it is a Cobra, is supposed to be a 2000 but could be wrong.

I plan on using vehicle on street only (But in my area there are more curves than straights). I'm still looking at options for the rear. Was planning on building a three-link, similar to those on the forum, just saw this and wondered if it might be worth changing my plans.

Thanks everybody

My mistake it is a Cobra, is supposed to be a 2000 but could be wrong.


Yeah, check your year. They never made a '00 cobra due to the '99 Cobra low hp fiasco that sent SVT scratching their heads. That is unless you count the '00 Cobra R.

If you can, find an '03-'04 as they have a crossmember brace for added strength and (if my memory serves me correctly) they have 3.55 gears vs. 3.27's for the earlier units. You can bolt it (the brace) onto earlier models so don't worry if you come across a good deal on the earlier IRS.

Maximum motorsports sells the brace powdercoated for a nice price & you can still get it through Ford.

Good luck with the fabrication to bolt the unit into our LCA torque boxes :thumbsup:

Please take pics as I would love to see this swap!

Joe