Damn that looks good I wish I knew how and had the place to do that. I will just have to deal with wheelspin city for now.

I don't think I'll have to worry about wheelspin with my NA 13B. Wish I had the power that monster of yours puts out. :) someday...

that is a nice project you have there....i so needed to mini-tub mine before i went as far as i did....that is going to look amazing when done with those fats stuffed under it like that....well done(doing) sir

Thanks 85turbo12a. It's nowhere near the quality of yours or 2gslse's build, but it's been fun. The rear suspension was supposed to be the easy part, but whadda I know? What else am I going to do anyway?

I could have probably gotten away with either a slightly narrower tire or used the spacers, but I'm not sane and wanted FD size tires on the SA, but they have to fit under the sheetmetal. The rear suspension needed revising anyway.

It's the same rear setup as the Fox body Mustang I'd run before, except that Mazda was nice enough to put in the Watts link which Ford neglected totally. The Mustangs had a very nasty tendency to snap oversteer which gets WAY too exciting at speed (angled upper control arms). I had read that the rear behaved about the same on the first gens too. Studied up on suspension design a little and sooo...

DGRR '13: Invasion of the silver 1stGens. :)

yeah im not real keen on pushing the limits with mine...if you keep it at entertaining speeds its pretty stable, but i have no idea what it would do if pushed hard and i really dont want to hurt it...and now with the substantial addition of torque ill have to be nice to it :D

yes having that big meats on there is going to be neat, gonna look sick from the back, also kudos for keeping it under the skin, sometimes the extra work is worth the result.

my car is using the "modified" watts link with the 8.8, basically all stock, with energy bushings and a .75" rear swaybar that i suspect might be a bit much...but we shall see, at some point i foresee a total re-design of the rear workings....i would like to get the car low(er) to the ground again.

it seems like us DIY guys can never have the perfect car...we have to give up one major mod to do another...always leaving a weak link due to funds, abilities or time...

I think your car is a very high quality build and very original, eventually I will need to do some major work to the rear to allow it to hook up and handle well. Just think I will have an egg under my foot on the dragon and you will be able to flat foot it all the way with the traction available. How many silver FB's you think will be there?

:lol: If we ever got them perfect, we'd probably be so bored we'd have to get a different project anyway. I like riding the edge of traction in corners so ironing out the suspension was a priority for me. Donuts are fun, but not when you run into stuff.

I thought about using my 8.8, but the added unsprung weight was prohibitive. I plan on staying with the rotary so the GSL-SE rear should handle most power levels I'm likely to achieve. I can see where it's an absolute necessity with the power and torque yours will be putting down though. From what I've read the SE rears are fine up to about 350 - 400hp.

The uneven Watts link was less than ideal, but the super short angled upper arms are the big culprit in suspension bind and driveline angle change. Which is why a lot of guys don't run a rear swaybar, the bind already provides enough swaybar effect. After cycling the stock suspension a few times without springs I saw that it had a LOT of bind. :)

Thanks, but it's pretty rough. Egg under foot. :smilielol5: Yeah, I can see that. It could be worse, you could still be on the 185/70 13s.

:dunno: I know of at least three though, if I can get mine wrapped up in time.

I really like the work you're putting into the rear end, the chopping and fabbing up on everything is awesome. I like the new wheels too!

Thanks Brett, trying to provide your parts with a good home. :)

FINALLY! Got one side fabricated and welded in. Needs a lot of cleanup before I prime the rest of it and apply seam sealer. Some of my welds got mighty ugly, but they'll do the job. :)

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8183/8...e6aa9338_n.jpg
wheel well front by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8331/8...879c81a3_n.jpg
wheel well rear by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8332/8...5939f13f_n.jpg
wheel well inside by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

Ugly welds or not, that's awesome Gunny.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. Not up to the par of your FD, but I'm trying. I really have to learn when not to get carried away. ;)

great build!

great work. i'd never have the patience or the nerve to go that far with a build. props man.

I wasn't saying you had ugly welds, I was basically saying I couldn't tell from the pics whether they were ugly or not LOL, but it didn't matter because it's awesome regardless. And either way, they'd be better than anything I welded lol. Didn't realize you knew my car either lol.

Thanks guys. I've seen pictures of your car speedjunkie and it's very nice. Now if I could just remember where I saw them, I suffer from CRS (Can't Remember Shit)? :lol:

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8469/8...18ed2956_n.jpg
Wheel Well (other side) by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

Driver's side wheel housing fabricated, welded, and etching primer applied. Ready to bolt back in and weld tomorrow. Did my best to mirror the passenger side.

OK. I've spent way too much time on this part, but it's done, except for seam seal and undercoating. All fitted, welded, cleaned up, and primed. Have to build the enclosure for the third link in the middle and I'm done inside the car.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8510/8...b15ab102_n.jpg
wheelwell LF by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8524/8...a382893e_n.jpg
wheelwell LR by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8243/8...2237d3db_n.jpg
wheelwell RF by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8089/8...b95f7c11_n.jpg
wheelwell RR by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8094/8...e053aa59_n.jpg
wheelwell inside Left by GySgtFrank, on Flickr
with spring perch installed.

It's amazing how much longer things take than what you had planned for. :facepalm:

That's pretty damn awesome. This is giving me bad ideas of a SA/FB with the IRS out of a FC. The thought of my engine/drivetrain in a ligher chassis makes me drool. One project at a time...

Thought about using the FC IRS, since I have most of one from the parts car behind the shop. I decided against for now. If I ever get to large enough power numbers where the SE rear reaches it's limits, I may have to reconsider. Those power levels would require swapping in a large differential and the straight axles for those would be far too heavy for handling.

Awesome work!

Thanks Glenn, getting there, slow but sure. Looks like the Mustang shocks are going to work out like I thought and should be relatively straightforward. Not always the case. :)

Looks great, very well done !!

I has no idea a Marine could make something that good!

Just giving you shit Gunny. Looking good.:icon_tup:

Thanks, hopefully it comes out the way I envisioned it.

Youse a dick. I'll get you for that at DGRR. :lol:

Ill take a set for my FB :o16:

Don't let TTT see that comment. He'll simply state that FBs don't have a set. :)

Todays progess. Got my springs back in, a shock mount fabbed/tacked in, and a shock mounted. Then put on a wheel and started checking suspension cycling. No go. Have an interference problem with off camber movement. Going to have to modify the wheel wells some more to move the shocks further inboard, I didn't move them enough. Figures. I'll post a pic or two of it when I get it figured out and fabbed up. :blush:

Still awesome, Gunny. Any idea on completion time?

There have been pics floating around since October when I had some taken while I was home on leave. Hard telling. And thanks!

Oh, I also suffer from CRS lol.

This is where it starts. Seeing what someone else does on their build...very slippery slope after that.

Trying really hard to at least have it back up for DGRR. Everything is taking longer than I had planned though. I should have the rear done in a few more weeks I hope. The front suspension is a big question mark at this time, cross my fingers and hope I can make it.

I think it was in the Mountain section either here or on 7Club. I keep checking the Montana thread since I moved here from Bozeman a few years ago. Trying to see if anybody is posting from there and checked out the Colorado threads since it's relatively close.

It's all downhill from here. :lol:

A few more pics from weekend progress, it's a real shocker (sic). Had to notch the wheel well housings and rotate the bottom mounts slightly to angle the shocks inboard.

inside of wheel well
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8365/8...8ac8d35c_n.jpg
Spring &Shock by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

interior mount.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8246/8...64ddf83d_n.jpg
shock mount by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

on ground at full drop, tires hit sheetmetal slightly.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8095/8...51d678bb_n.jpg
on ground 2 by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

At desired ride height.
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8249/8...8a953b1a_n.jpg
on ground 4 by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

Found that the rear axle was not centered from the factory, offset slightly to the driver's side. Planning on replacing the lower arms with Maximum Motorsports arms that use a captured Heim style joint. Adjustment shouldn't be a big deal with my panhard rod once I get rid of the bind.

Don't look at the puddle of oil under the car. Left the driveshaft out and it emptied from my transmission when I lowered the car back down to the ground. :banghead:

Had a couple of requests for shots from the rear to see what a 275/40 17 looked like when tucked in.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8250/8...e36dc289a3.jpg
rear by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8109/8...fb8457404e.jpg
rear view by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

Not the best shots, but it's starting to get dark.

Love it man... really...

It's got the dragster stance in the rear now but in a good way :)

I like the rear sitting level or slightly up. I wasn't really digging the rear lower than the front on the original worn out springs. Right now the rear is actually a little lower than the front. I'll have to see where it sits when the front suspension is done. Good part is I can crank it up if it's low and can bring it down some if need be. If I need it real low, I'll have to find a shorter tire though.

A couple more requested pics.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8104/8...5931d261_n.jpg
orig. to new wheel compare by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8517/8...82c5fed3_n.jpg
orig. to new wheel compare 2 by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

just a leeetle bigger. :)

Awesome work!

She looks bad A$$!!

Thanks. Getting the Maximum Motorsports lower control arms fitted and welded in now. At least I will be if I quit trying to burn the car down, Stupid sound deadener burns real good when you get it too hot.

Here's the latest little bit. Firstly I finally got the panhard bar axle mount located, modified, and welded in. I had to narrow the G Force mount a little to accomodate my new shock locations and integrate it with my new inside lower control arm mounting tab. Trying to locate (and hold) the mount in the proper plane for 3 different axes was a pain, got it done though.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8252/8...11e53047_n.jpg
panhard bar axle mount by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

Next came the new lower control arms for the axle. I only have the driver's side done for now, starting on the passenger side in AM. Used the Maximum Motorsports extreme duty arms for the Fox body Mustang. They have a captured Heim style joint and should eliminate the bind from the stock rubber bushed arms without being a noise monster like normal Heim joints.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8229/8...47da95ff_n.jpg
lower control arm - front mount by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8234/8...7fed84eb_n.jpg
lower control arm - rear mount by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

They don't look like much, but they were a pain in the butt to get them in there at the correct angle. Used the stock outside control arm mounting tab on the body and axle so I didn't get them out of alignment. It also makes it easier to get an identical copy on the other side. The arms are quite a bit wider so I had to fabricate the inside mounting tabs on both ends.

Once I get the other side done, it's on to figuring out how to get the Maximum Motorsport swaybar mounted. I love a challenge. :rofl:

Had a request for more pics of the body side panhard bar mount.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8526/8...15bfcc89_n.jpg
panhard body mount - inside by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8225/8...86496a8d_n.jpg
panhard body mount - outside by GySgtFrank, on Flickr

It's one of the last of the G-Force Engineering panhard kits that I purchased when he was clearing his stock so he could retire. I installed it when I was doing my engine swap to free up the room for the over the axle dual exhaust. The Mustang bar I have is considerably longer. It could have been made to work, but I already had the G-Force bar. So I modified the G-Force provided axle mount to clear all the craziness at that end and left the body side mount alone. Good thing I picked up a driveline dial protractor, it has come in very handy.

You can see the temporary bar tack welded between the axle and frame in the inside view if you look close. Welded it solid once I had it in the correct stock position. Did this until I get all of my arms and swaybar finalized so that it does not move and mess me up. Then I'll grind out the tack welds, remove the temporary supports, and it should be in the proper position, well cross my fingers and hope anyway.

What sized front tires are you running? are you going to modify the metal and run wider up front as well, or have sizeably larger rears than the front?

Beasty build. i didn't know it was this in-depth.