88 Town Car...Suspension Help Please!

[waselvis]

I'm getting ready to upgrade the suspension on my TC, and already have scored a rear swaybar from a late 80's Crown Vic police, along with a complete set of KYB GR-2 shocks. Ideally, I'd like to lower the car about 1" and upgrade to better rubber than the factory 215/15's, and perhaps add a beefier swaybar up front.

Is there any backwards interchange between a bubble panther and my TC as far as suspension pieces go? I'm finding tons of info on the later Vics/GM's, but if you're stuck in the 80s like me, not so much out there.

Links/suggestions/websites all gratefully appreciated...

Thanks y'all!

[gadget73]

Anything that works on a Vic works on a Towncar. Its the same chassis, and those parts all interchange. Depending what you're after, we've got a fair bit of info on here.

Some big brake info, this largely covers the various things that will swap, and the specifics on how to do it

http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?t=30138

http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?t=28069

http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?t=28473

http://www.grandmarq.net/85crownLX/pages/Big_Brakes.html

[waselvis]

Thanks!

So...will a front swaybar from a 92 on up Crown Vic PI bolt up to my 88 Townie? That's been the toughest thing for me to find--especially not knowing what will/won't work.

Are there threads on the rear disc swap? I've been looking, but haven't run across any (which doesn't mean they're not out there!)

[89LincolnTWNcar]

I have all the mods you listed, it's quite an improvement over stock on my 89 Town Car. For my rear disc swap I am putting in the entire axle from a 92 marquis.

[sly]

the "whole assembly" method. sometimes it's just easier that way. Wish I had some fun money for the cars... I would love to do the whole HO conversion on mine... actually I'd love to convert it to carb and put a 600 cfm carb on it with a good intake. This is the main reason I miss that pontiac parisienne... when the carb worked... it ran great and sure beat the hell outta my grand marquis. The TH700R4 in it was a lot more solid than the AOD as well. It would idle up an 8 degree incline. That car really liked to GO. *wonders off to daydream about mods*

[waselvis]

Just askin' again...if anyone's out there.

Will a front swaybar from a 92-up Crown Vic PI bolt up to my 88 Townie? That's been the toughest thing for me to find--especially not knowing what will/won't work.

Are there threads on the rear disc swap? I've been looking, but haven't run across any (which doesn't mean they're not out there!) I'd much rather just swap the rear out of a later-model panther if possible.

Thanks again y'all, and Happy Easter!

[gadget73]

The later model front bars have a small hole in them instead of the large hole we have. The later endlinks have these ball stud things instead of the rubber donuts like the boxes got. It will fit in there, but the stock endlinks won't install properly and I suspect they'd just bend and snap. Physically it will fit in though.

Yes, rear discs are possible. I can't find the threads either. I know they exist, along with all sorts of documentation but the search fails me. If you're looking to swap the whole axle, its not so terrible. You need to do some brake line routing to actually get things connected up, and the parking brake cable needs a little work but its nothing unreasonable. I'll see if I can dig up more info after dinner. I know its here someplace.

[gadget73]

This is what you're after methinks:

http://www.grandmarq.net/85crownLX/pages/Rear_disc_brake_conversion.html

[waselvis]

Exactly what I was hoping to find--thanks, Gadget! As far as the front swaybar, looks like I'll keep trolling for a wagon one to turn up...

[hemihotrod402]

This is what you're after methinks:

http://www.grandmarq.net/85crownLX/p...onversion.html

hey I was looking for that too. Thanks Gadget!

Question (sorry for the thread jack) is there an obvious advantage for using cop caliper vs civilian calipers? I imagine the cop ones are bigger, but is there a big performance difference? Im leaning towards using cop stuff when I do both the fronts and backs, and would like to know if it would be worth spending the extra money.

[Lincolnmania]

i have the stock 7/8" solid bar on the front of my town car, and it is just fine, i really do not notice a difference in handling.....my vic has the big solid pi front bar

[gadget73]

At one point, the cop pistons were steel, vs phenolic for civilian apps. Sometime later, this reversed. It also seems to depend whether or not the car has the handling package. I don't know when or why this changed exactly. The pistons are the same size and give the same clamping force, and honestly I know of no real advantage of one material over the other. Just make sure you know what you have. The clips on the brake pads are different, and from recent experience I can tell you that the pads for the phenolic pistons are more difficult to get. I had to drive Fairplay about 100 miles round trip to fetch up the only set of pads available on a Sunday. Everybody had the pads for the metal calipers.