I can chime in a little on this and say, yes, the Corvette suspension is
crafted generally better than the Mustang's IRS. The benefit I can see with
the Mustang IRS is cost. The overall design of the Cobra's setup is taken
roughly from the MN-12 platform (89-97 Thunderbird, 93-98 Mark VIII) and as
such, you can usually find SOME parts on the cheap. The pumpkin, for
example, is the same 8.8 inch unit found in the MN12 (aluminum in the Mark
VIII and Cobra, cast iron in the Thunderbird.)
If you're really wanting to go all out, certainly the Corvette rear is the
way to go, but if you're looking for the cool-factor of IRS without breaking
the bank, the Mustang setup could work too. That said, if you don't plan on
putting much load on the back, there is the MN12 IRS too, plenty of V8
Thunderbirds and Mark VIIIs out there ready for plucking.
Good luck on it,
Josh
On 4/7/03 10:25 AM, "JohnHuntD@aol.com" <JohnHuntD@aol.com> wrote:
> Hi Jon,
>
> I can only comment on the Mustang IFS from pictures I've seen of it, but it
> appears to me the Corvette IRS is different in the same way that a stock
> Corvette is much more technolgically advanced and performance-oriented than a
> stock Mustang, and is priced accordingly. The Corvette suspension arms are
> beautifully forged light-weight aluminum pieces vs. the stamped steel
> suspension arms of the Mustang; the Corvette brakes rotors and calipers are
> much bigger and beefier; the Corvette IFS uses a transverse single leaf
> composite spring compared to the steel coil springs of the Mustang. In short,
> the Corvette forged aluminum IFS and brakes are impressive looking and close
> to state-of-the-art for a production car, and for a gearhead like me, that is
> very appealing.
>
> Also my 1988 Corvette front brakes are designed and equipped for anti-lock
> braking, and if I ever figure out how to do it without spending a fortune, at
> some future date I'd like to install the anti-lock braking hardware and
> software. For a pickup truck with a heavy front-end weight bias, that seems
> to me to be a very good thing to have.
>
> The Corvette IFS is attached to a bolt-on crossmember, such that when you
> attach the crossmember to the frame, all the suspension pickup points,
> located brackets for the steering rack, etc. are in place and properly
> aligned.
>
> My choice is for Corvette pieces wherever possible since what goes into the
> Corvette generally represents GM's most advanced engineering and
> development. And from owning in the past 20 years two Mercedes, four BMW's,
> two Porsches, and three Corvettes, I'm firmly convinced that GM's engineering
> capabilities compare favorably with the best of Germany when the GM
> bean-counters don't force the engineers to cut corners.
>
> One man's opinion.
>
> John Doak in Baltimore, MD
> oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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