144 replies to this topic

[SilverFox]

Here is the info gathered in a concise format so no one has to wade through the mass of info on the other threads. I will update this info as the need arrises. This is dedicated to KEEPING the Lincoln Air ride. If you want to convert to springs, the swap is as simple as bolting shit up with mods to brake lines/tie rods/spring tower.

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SN95 (94-2004 Mustang) Steering Rack and Pinion swap:

1984-1989 M7 = FOX stang steering shafts and rack
1990-1992 M7 = Sn95 "style" steering shafts and Fox rack

On all models a SN95 rack can be emplyed with the simple swap of the adapter at the rag joint. The Fox vs SN95 racks have different input shaft splines.

Little has been documented on why or how the 90+ M7 steering is different. Noel has done the complete swap and was nice enough to provide us info about the 90+ M7 application. He found the setup was identical to the SN95 steering shaft with some minor differences. He mated a 2000 Mustang steering shaft by clocking the shaft 180* and installed a SN95 Rack.
(HERE)

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SN95 (94-2004 Mustang) Suspension Upgrade swap:

SN95 Lower Control Arms Facts:
1) Mount to the M7 OEM K-member
2) Struts will work in the M7 OEM tower mounts
3) Improve steering/suspension geometry (angle/pitch related)
4) Hold brake upgrades
5) SN95 Lower control arms are the same exact length as the M7/T-bird/Cougar (Fox stang and 85-86 Tbird are 1" shorter)

SN95 Spindles:
1) Have improved geometry over the Fox spindles and SVO and are 5mm wider than Fox per side.
2) 1994-95 have curved tie rod arm that has proven to be the best for FOX upgrades
3) 1996+ have straight tie rod arms and lesser material on the caliper mount holes to hold larger calipers.
This is easily modified on the 94-95
4) 1996+ move the wheel out even further by 8mm per side, this could cause interferance with tire vs
fender and appearance.

94-95 Bent arm - - ---------------------------------------- - - 96+ Straight arm
http://re3.yt-thm-a0...5/m3/2714668329

You will need:
1) 94-98 brake lines with banjo bolts to mount SN95 Calipers
2) Mustang struts due to the shock body differences (Boosted23L)
3) Wheels that fit the new rotor/brake combo (16"+)

You might need:
1) Bumpsteer kit if your car is lowered or experience any trailing of the front end.
2) Offset rack bushings to help locate the rack higher to help with bumpsteer.
3) SN95 Inner tie rod do to the legth you will need to get sufficent length for tie rod ends to thread to. Rumor is only 3/4" threads are used after swap on Fox steering components. If you DO PLAN on keeping the Fox rack and need that extra length when using 96+ spindles you will need SN95 Outer tie rods do to the SN95 inners you need to install being metric thread. It would be just as simple to completely swap over to a SN95 Rack.

Spindle / C0ntrol Arm options:
Since the SN95 SPindle does not fit the SVO/M7 Balljoint
1) Machine out the 94-95 spindle to fit the larger SVO/M7 balljoint - 7* taper
(Tech artical)
2) Machine/make spacers to fit the smaller SN95 balljoint into the SVO/M7 balljoint hole in
the OEM control arm
(Tech artical)
3) Mount SN95 or 87-88 T-bird Front control arms on the car - use springs or fabricate ways to
make airride work with this setup

Reemed Spindle (done at Pete & Jakes Hot Rod Supply)


Fabrication & Hypothesized problems:
1) SN95 Spindles push the wheel out further than FOX/SVO spindles and MAY cause
SOME wheels to not fit under the fender - this would look horrid unless you spaced the
rear wheels out to match - which is not a good idea. Emphasize the MAY and SOME.
2) May have to fabricate a new sway bar mount on the SN95 lowers if you choose this
route or use wider SN95 sway bar (not as thick as Tbird)

Misc. Notes:
1) Cobra kits will upgrade your brakes to as large as you can go (13"), but must run 17"
wheels.
2) 1999+ V6 and GT front calipers (duel 45mm) and Cobra calipers (duel 40mm) are the
only FORD options you have to upgrade your calipers BETTER than what you have
now (M7 73mm) - Fox calipers will not fit SN95 Spindles.
4) SN95 V6 and GT both have EXACT same front suspension with exception of the strut
(GT-V8 has heavier valving)....
5) You must run, and mount FOX/SN95 front struts, but they are NOT valve for the heavy M7
6) Running Steeda X2 or Ford FMS-3050-S ball joints CAN BE USED on fox facotry arms as long as you upgrade to the 94+ spindles...confirmation here
(HERE)
7) ABS Brakes using the SN95 Rotors has been accomplished with simple wiring
(HERE)

Resources:
http://mjbobbitt.hom...stang/5lug.html
THIS SITES OWNER HAS REMOVED THE PAGE - I HAVE A COPY IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION. THE OWNER KNOWS I HAVE THIS COPY
http://www.mustangmo...m/underhood.htm
http://www.nomotivation.com/5lug.cfm
http://www.coolcats....ed/4to5lug.html
Paul from SVPU
www.diskbrakesrus.com
www.maximummotorsports.com
www.sn95brakes.com

[SilverFox]

Update: Brake lines, Deletion, Condense

[CaptainZilog]

What I don't get is, how heavy WERE the SN95 Mustangs? They couldn't have been TOO much lighter than a Mark 7, I mean, shit, a 2003 convertible Cobra weighs 2 lbs less than my Mark 7.

[88lscsupercharged]

I read some where that the fox chassis coupe was in the neighboorhood of around 2800lbs while the conv. was around 3150.

[CaptainZilog]

Just read: Convertible is about 3257, Coupe is about 3077. Damn.

[fast Ed]

Maybe with a 2.3 motor in it. ;)

My 87 LX 5.0 hatchback was 3218 with a 6-point cage, and some sound deadener removed under the carpet and behind the interior trim panels.

The 94 - 98 cars are around 3400 lbs. IIRC.

cheers
Ed N.

[big daddy javier]

3) Lincoln factory wheels may not be able to use this setup, but research says the will
if you use the sn brakes no way you can use stock 16 wheel

[SilverFox]

big daddy javier said:

3) Lincoln factory wheels may not be able to use this setup, but research says the will
if you use the sn brakes no way you can use stock 16 wheel

I will make that update, thanks. You are correct after I think about it, The t-bird guys have had luck using the old wheels, but they wer MN12.

Quote

Thunderbird Turbocoupes that the same tooth count on the tone rings as the SN95's... if someone wanted to they could probably keep the ABS.... lets see, when using SN95 spindles you WILL have to use the SN95 inner AND outer tie rod ends.. the Mk7 struts are too lot and will hit the LCA.. and fox and SN95 struts will work, even with the MK7 strut mounts... with modifications

I did mention that ABS could be retained - though you would have to upgrade the brake system.

Why do you have to use the SN95 tie rods? Explain, so it can be used as fact.

The M7 will not work for the upgrade, i will note that as fact above (instead of maybe)
How does it hit the LCA?

I already noted that SN95 Struts will work in the Notes section...what mods do you suggest?

Thanks guys....

[Southern MD LSC]

I just completed my front end. As soon as I get time I'll write it up and post it. For now I can just give you a list of what I had to Contend with. The car handles like a dream...Hard to discribe!

Russ

QA-1 K-Member
SN-95 Spindles
With ABS (that works)
Mustang Lower A-Arms (modified to except Air Bag) (SN-95 Ball Joint Fits)
Cobra Brakes (13 inch rotors)
Modified Motor Mounts (cut/welded to lower engine max amount)
New Ford SN-95 Close-Ratio Rack & Pinion
SN-95 Outer Tie Rods
Flamming River Stearing Shaft & U-Joint
Poly Bushings (All)
Mustang KYB 3-way adjustable shocks
BBK Caster/Camber Plates (Modified Strut Tower)
Russell Stainless Brake Lines

[SilverFox]

You are now using the mustang lower? WHy did you abandon the ball joint work?

Can't wait to see how the mustang lower ca turned out with the air ride provisions.....did you use fox or Sn95 arms? It sounds like you are doing the FOX SVPU style setup.....but I could be wrong.

[SilverFox]

added some links, did some updates......just keeping up with it, one day at a time. Enjoy.

[1LapLSC]

Just a little something I've run across...

MM SVO Spindle/Ball Joint Adapter
Installation Instructions: MMFCAB-10


The solution to worn out SVO ball joints! This adapter enables the installation of 1984-86 SVO Mustang spindles (sourced from Lincoln) with 1979-2004 Mustang ball joints. The ball joints for the original SVO front control arms are no longer available.

SVO/Lincoln spindles can be installed on a Fox chassis Mustang.

84-1986 SVO MM Spindle adapters MMFCAB-10 $34.95/kit

http://www.maximummo.../SVOadaptor.asp

...so for those of us using springs, all we need is lower arms from a donor OR M-3075-A motorsport arms. YEEEEEHAAAAAAWWWWW !!!!

Wiley

[CaptainZilog]

Fuckin A - good find!

[SilverFox]

Nice.....to bad they didn't go the other dirrection and make SVO balljoints that fit FOX spindles......that would make our day now wouldn't it. And MM is selling them for less than the cheap BJ's at the store! WOW.

I wonder how they made them?

[virginiafiveo]

ok with new inners and outers for a 94 GT showing 86$
brake lines about 30$
but I am confused about the struts, do I keep the VII struts or go with something different. if so what year make and model (hate doing that considering they are brand new.)
finding the right spindle I would need someone to do for me there if possible.
and than I would just go ahead and buy a 13 inch brake kit for it instead of looking for rotors and calipers and such.
is this about all I need? I am keeping my air ride, but I want 13 inchers in a bad way.
this will all be done when I do my sway bar bushings and control arm bushings.
damn and SN-95 lower ball joints 82 $ do we need uppers too??
so over all not to bad, plus the 13 inch brake kit
13 inch kits with 4 piston calipers for the 94 GT is right at about 1000 bucks.
what else am I missing

[SilverFox]

UPDATE: FRONT SUSPENSION
Been a while, but thought I would run a fresh reply through here with a parts list update w/some pics

1995 SN95 Mustang Front spindle that has been tapped out to match the SVO Balljoint
This balljoint is grease zerked and liftime warrently through NAPA from Precision. They seem to be IDENTICAL to MOOG for $5 less each.


PBR 45mm x 2 Front Calipers - soon to be painted

[Lux]

:drool:

[Southern MD LSC]

I've completed the conversion and now have SN-95 spindles, 13-inch cobra brakes, SN-95 close ratio steering rack, tubular K-Member, 92 Mustang control arms, and a Flaming River steering shaft. I modified the spring perch and control arms to accept the airbags and cut the engine mounts to lower the engine. I even modified the anti-lock brakes and they work fine with the newer spindles.

This is a very difficult conversion. By this I mean that everything needs to be modified. It took several months to figure it all out and I almost gave up. A little help and motivation from Rusty, my son, and I completed the job. The end result is very much worth the trouble.

I've been driving the car with this conversion sense last winter and it handles and stops much better then before with only one drawback, the wheel hits the control arm on tight turns. I believe if I were using 8-inch instead of 9-inch wheels in the front I wouldn’t have the problem. I want to keep the 9-inch wheels in the front so I'll figure out a fix for it this winter.

I'll try to get this written this up in the next couple of weeks. I was hesitant to post it before now without knowing if it would work without any problems. I’ll be as detailed as possible so it’ll be much easier for you.

Russ