North American Turbocoupe Organization



Lower Front A arms for 86 coupe
Mike C Offline
Senior Member
#1
I'm buying the parts for the front end of my 86 now. The article on coolcats says I can use the new lower A which seems to be better fit with new brakes ETC. What happens to the 3/4" gained on the bottom when it gets to the top?
I want to be able to change A arms and struts now and upgrade wheels and brakes with hubs later. Will this work?
" The later 1987-88 front A-arms, originally adapted from the rear-drive Continental, have a deeper cup for the spring seat, and a raised section for the ball joint. What that means is, they allow for 1/2" more travel, meaning better control and ride. You can use the new FRPP kit, p/n M-3075-D, which would upgrade your A-arms to 2003-04 Mustang Cobra specs. An added bonus, according to Ford Racing, is that the turning circle will improve roughly 10 percent. This may or may not apply to our cars."

Thanks,

Mike C
86 5 speed TC black with MS spats and spoiler since 88, 3.73 8.8 since 89. Fresh rebuild at 240K with new Racer Walsh roller cam, 88 hood. All 3" exhaust w/3" performance cat. 13" Cobra brakes,SFC, Max/Motorsport C/C plates,adjustable lower control arms w/ double adjustable uppers. Konis & Eibachs.
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svo_thunderchicken Offline
Senior Member
#2
you can use any fox mustang front a arms on your 86... 87-88 are different and would have to use 87-88 spindles to keep geometry correct
84 TC Silver 5 speed - PE EEC, Big Vam, RR cam, 35lb injectors, E6 swap, T3 60 Trim, 87-88 intercooler and hood, BOV, K&N Cone Filter *under constrution*
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2298891/1

87 TC Black 5 Speed - Stock IHI, BCS Bypassed
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2390431
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Robert Camp Offline
Posting Freak
#3
Now I may all washed up. But my understanding is you can use the '87/'88 spindles on the '86. If you tried to use the '87/'88 A arms you would also need to get the '87/'88 K member, to move the mounting points in 3/4", to replace the '86 K member also. I think the A arm you need for the '86 is M-3075-A, '79-'93 Mustang. The -D would likely fit the '87/'88 but not the '86. Your quote even mentions '87/'88.
Robert Camp
'86 Medium Regatta Blue TC, 5-speed, original owner.
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Robert Camp Offline
Posting Freak
#4
I should have added, using the '87/'88 spindles on the '86 requires you to use the 11" brakes from the '87/'88 also.
Robert Camp
'86 Medium Regatta Blue TC, 5-speed, original owner.
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russ c Offline
Senior Member
#5
If you use the 87/88 A-arms you will need to swap the K-member. I just recently did this swap and the only acceptable way to use the 87/88 arms is to also use the K-member. I tried every possible combination of front end parts before finally swapping out the K-member. I also swapped the rack and pinion and tie-rod ends.

The K-member swap is really not that difficult. You just need to support the engine while doing it. I had about 3hrs. into it but then again my shop is well equipped. I'm also working with Southern cars as opposed to NY car so rust and corrosion will also play into it.
86TC Saved from certain death
88TC Gave its life so other TCs could live.
88TC DD.
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EricCoolCats Offline
Member
#6
If it were me, and didn't want to go through the hassle of swapping the K-member...I'd keep the 1983-86 length A-arms on a 1983-86 car. Ultimately it's going to give you the correct suspension geometry, plus the wheel will still fit inside the fender.

We've gone the rounds on the Fox message board about K-members and their various differences. The mounting point on the 1987-88 cars are in toward the center of the car more than the earlier ones (even the 1986 ones). So the longer A-arms sort of make up for that difference, even though they do tend to stick out more. Even with caster/camber plates it's difficult to overcome a 3/4"-longer A-arms on an earlier car.
Eric - COOL CATS
The 1983-88 Mercury Cougar
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Mike C Offline
Senior Member
#7
Thanks Eric,
I thought I read where you changed back to older parts?
I'll buy the new fox A arms and start from there. I'll be able to do this in 2 parts? I have the M/M c/c plates and the new struts I want to do now (Stock now), then change to 96 hubs and hang the new 13" discs on them ?

Thanks for the input.

Mike C
86 5 speed TC black with MS spats and spoiler since 88, 3.73 8.8 since 89. Fresh rebuild at 240K with new Racer Walsh roller cam, 88 hood. All 3" exhaust w/3" performance cat. 13" Cobra brakes,SFC, Max/Motorsport C/C plates,adjustable lower control arms w/ double adjustable uppers. Konis & Eibachs.
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