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Chassis upgrade? |
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ClevoMike 
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Joined: 28-March-2021 Location: Ok Status: Offline Points: 2 |
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 Topic: Chassis upgrade?Posted: 03-April-2021 at 1:09PM |
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Has anyone here done a complete chassis swap with a late model Crown Vic? There's a great write up on adapting the brakes, but I haven't found anything on a complete swap. The panther chassis evolved out of the Gran Torino frame and the wheelbase is only 3/4" different. Between the scarcity of GTS parts and the popularity of Resto-mods surely somebody has done this. |
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1st car 73gts 3k blue, current 72q-code project and 72 h-code project.
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72 RS 351
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Joined: 04-September-2014 Location: Knoxville TN Status: Online Points: 2341 |
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Posted: 03-April-2021 at 2:42PM |
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That is interesting. I knew the CV front suspension was much better, and am planning to graft one 03-06 version to my keeper 73 Ranchero. But I like the rear suspension of the 70's cars, it's a competent design. I've owned four CV's, an 86, 85, and two 95's. The tire wear improved in the 90's chassis cars over the 80's design. I don't dislike or love the rear suspension of ride of them. Only the gas tank mentioned in wrecks blowing up ever concerned me. If the difference is only 3/4", that's workable if you want to do that. The middle body mounts would be the most critical, those need to be somewhat close to matching. I'd check the body mounts carefully before committing anything.
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Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000+ rpm 351-4V &4R70W 73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later. 92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W |
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Rockatansky
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Joined: 30-July-2010 Location: On The Road Status: Offline Points: 5798 |
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Posted: 03-April-2021 at 4:19PM |
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72 GT Ute
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Big Bird
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Joined: 25-August-2013 Location: New York Status: Offline Points: 4194 |
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Posted: 04-April-2021 at 3:45AM |
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This guy started but no recent updates. He seems to have taken it a bit far...
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"What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind."
Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |
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californiajohnny
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Joined: 05-October-2013 Location: winlock, wa Status: Offline Points: 14469 |
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Posted: 04-April-2021 at 8:05AM |
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same car
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JOHN
74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
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Rockatansky
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Joined: 30-July-2010 Location: On The Road Status: Offline Points: 5798 |
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Posted: 04-April-2021 at 9:48AM |
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Yes cross posting but pertinent to both threads IMO and FWIW i always think the front tire looks too far back in the opening, that 3/4" might fix it
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72 GT Ute
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shanewherry
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Joined: 27-March-2021 Location: Alberta Canada Status: Offline Points: 38 |
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Posted: 11-April-2021 at 6:28AM |
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To be honest with you, I have been looking at the Lincoln Town car chassis to slip under my wagon body. the Lincoln TC is 117.7" and the Torino wagon is 118.0" chassis. Plus it has rear air bags and you can buy a front air/strut assembly.
I was looking at the guy doing the yellow 73 coupe but he basically cut the floor and firewall off the Torino and set it down on the frame/floor/firewall of the crown vic. it is a lot of work plus it looks like it has been years since any updates.
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1973 Gran Torino Wagon
400/C6 |
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72 RS 351
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Joined: 04-September-2014 Location: Knoxville TN Status: Online Points: 2341 |
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Posted: 11-April-2021 at 7:26AM |
That could work well. If that CV is a 2003+ model, I'd aim at the 03/04 Marauders for some parts, and yes any frame of 03-2011 should have the same location body mounts. The 03-06 was used for the Marauder, so large wheels and tires are possible on those for sure. The 07+ had a different front suspension, so I have no clue if the same wide front tires are possible. Marauders often had 275mm tires put on them, I saw that from the forum for those cars. Those late cars had minor differences in the rear suspension. I saw a couple from underneath at a Ford dealer. Some had Watt's link rears, likely the Town Cars for sure. So if those chassis's could work, get a look at each, and decide if they will fit under the 73 body back there.
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Don
73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000+ rpm 351-4V &4R70W 73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later. 92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W |
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shanewherry wrote: