Handling Mods

[1987cp]

Huh, interesting. Hope you're not getting into any binding? I'd not heard of that approach before.

[DuceAnAHalf]

i think what he did was cut the flat base down and replace the missing bushing with metal, that makes less bushing material to flex. not sure if it is an ideal job because it could cause the sway bar to bind

[crown vic muscle]

it only really works with the older rubber bushings, the new ones are firm enough. and i havent ever had a problem with them. It works pretty good.

[turbo2256b]

After 40+ years of moding vehicles bottom line is the fatest tires possible is the biggest improvement in handling. Restrictions are front or rear tires (front most critical to this because of geometry) should be between + or - 1" of factory standard tires. Width as wide as possible. Weel back spacing as close to factory as possible. This keeps the wheel brgs from being over loaded. Inset is the best if it can be accomidated usuall less loadinng of the brgs. Zeron ofset will plant the biggest possible tires under the box bodys.

[88grandmarq]

my first hand experience, I can tell you better springs and new shocks make a dramatic improvement. my 88 MGM was draging the bumper in the rear when I first got it. a trip to the local pull a part yard found a retired, low mileage, 1990 police car. I got the springs and sway bars off it and install them. new springs and some new, cheap shocks from the parts store made a huge difference in how the car rode and handled. at the time I was still running stock turbine wheels and didnt want to spend a lot on wheels and tires, I installed some H rated 225/70/15 tires, which also made an improvement because of the stiffer sidewall. I later added HPP rims and 16" tires which helped more, because shorter sidewall and wider tread section.

When I rebuilt the front end and did the big brake install on my 89 CV, I used late model Town Car limo prep front springs and kept the box body rear police springs. Over all the limo prep springs ride decently, but the front end feels mushy when the car is really pushed hard in the turns. if I had it to do all over again, I would probably cut one coil off the front springs to stiffen them up some.
not sure how that would affect the ride height.

[mrltd]

handling and grip are two different (though obviously related) things....Huge tires will improve grip, but the car will still feel like a waterbed-so it handles poorly.. But that's also how you take the definitions of things.....

The way I look at it, comparing my protege and country squire the protege out handles the wagon. Sure, the wagon handles incredible for what it is and will outrun the protege on an autocross course (and pretty much any other type of course). It's all about what the car feels like and how it reacts to inputs.

[1987cp]

Colin, what diameter front swaybar do you have now? I was measuring the three front swaybars in my possession a few days ago ... the one on the '87 seems to be the biggest, with the one I removed from the '79 being slightly smaller and the '81's smaller still, measuring in at just under an inch (!) if I remember correctly. One semi-important project after the engine install that keeps getting delayed due to cold and rain and other factors will be to find the cheapest way to get urethene swaybar and endlink bushings under there ... the P-S-T Polygraphite bushings on the wagon still seem to be handling great, and with the 16" rims it corners oh-so-flat.

I say get a set of 16x8 US Wheel 87 Series (chrome 10-hole), give them several extra coats of clear so they stay nice instead of rusting like my 75 Series did, and mount up tyres in, say, 255/50/16 or so.

[88Vic]

There's still plenty of RWL tire options for 16" wheels, if you include truck tires which work since Panthers are as heavy as a lot of trucks.

[1987cp]

This is true; however, it seems like the options are getting a lot thinner lately. One of the big problems is finding a wider tire of an appropriate height. Used to be options like Radial T/As were readily available in 265/50/16 (very tough to find now) as well as 265/50/15 (currently available in Cooper Cobras and not much else). 275/50's are nearly nonexistent unless you count competition tires .... 255/50/16 at 26" tall for BFG g-Force Sports seem like a decent compromise if a $130 tire works for your budget.

[gadget73]

? I was measuring the three front swaybars in my possession a few days ago ... the one on the '87 seems to be the biggest, with the one I removed from the '79 being slightly smaller and the '81's smaller still, measuring in at just under an inch (!) if I remember correctly.

Thats normal, sedans usually have a 3/4 or 7/8" bar while wagons normally had 1 1/16, 1 1/8 or 1 3/16 depending on I don't know what. Cop cars got bigger bars and handling package cars may also be toward the larger end of the scale, but most civi cars got coat hangers. Less bar stiffness gives you a better straight line ride but gives that fat guy on a waterbed sort of feeling when you try and turn a corner. Considering the driving style of most panther buyers, cornering ability was probably far less important than feeling like you were floating on a marshmallow.

[yucatec]

Dear Panthers, Started with 89 CP barge.
Added better fatter tires, rear swaybar, limited slip. Scott added fatter swaybars, polybushings, new shocks and at least one coil spring. Next times around he changed to 16 inch wheels, bigger front amd rear disks and new police steering box.

It steers and handles about as well as my friend's new volvo wagon. Details of Scott's mods on his site.

Donald McCaig

[1987cp]

I was just noticing how many cheap steel wheels are available in both 16x8 and 16x10. Unfortunately, my research has suggested a person would have a devil of a time finding street tires to fit this wheel combo without mixing tire models ..... any suggestions?

[Archangel]

There's still plenty of RWL tire options for 16" wheels, if you include truck tires which work since Panthers are as heavy as a lot of trucks.

Yeah, like the 235/85-16s I roll on - I should take a picture of my fronts after I've just made a turn into a parking spot at near full lock - you can see how much they flex, even at such a low speed. You can't really get handling out of 16" truck tires, they're mostly made with tall sidewalls for high payload capacity, for handling you need short sidewall.

[Archangel]

I was just noticing how many cheap steel wheels are available in both 16x8 and 16x10. Unfortunately, my research has suggested a person would have a devil of a time finding street tires to fit this wheel combo without mixing tire models ..... any suggestions?

You freakin kidding me? 16x10 run for like $100 a piece, if they were any cheaper I'd be running a pair as super-singles in the front of my truck, I'm pretty annoyed with all the mush I got there now!

[P72Ford]

You freakin kidding me? 16x10 run for like $100 a piece, if they were any cheaper I'd be running a pair as super-singles in the front of my truck, I'm pretty annoyed with all the mush I got there now!

Is your truck a dually?

Need to convert it to 22.5's if it is...