Crown Vic crossmember install

Has anyone installed a Crown Vic front suspension on anything ? thoughts, tips, alignment issues , etc. Did you use the factory mounting tubes ( which are threaded on the top end ) bolts and nuts.

 

I’ve got a stack of em.
Only messed with one install. Great set up. Almost always too wide.
A friend of mine built a jig to narrow the factory x member.
You can use frame measurements for a CV to get the lower control arm the correct width. That’s the bulk of the fab work.
The guys I know that used them make their own tubes.

 

I got a young guy I have become friends with and he bought someones unfinished project and I have agreed to bring it to my shop and give him a hand building a Hot Rod ! He has a fresh 500 + cu. in. BBC and has bought a new Tremec 5 speed/scattershield and all the needed pieces. It is a super solid 60 model F100 and he just does not know where to begin. So we will see where this leads.

 

I've done 2. 1st was stock width in a 72 F100. 2nd was in a 51 F1 and I narrowed it around 4.5". I don't remember if that was the correct number but the right number allows a Lincoln mark 8 rack and pinion to be used. I have all of that in my records if someone needs to know. I used the factory mounting bolts put they go in from the bottom instead of the top. I made the boxing plates rather than buying a kit. Both trucks had IRS and were excellent road burners.

 

You might consider a xj6 jag as a donor, they are a better fit from a width stand point, can be rubber mounted or welded. There are guys that have installed on the ford trucks and have documented on the web.

 

I did a 69 f100 . Used the factory tubes and bolts and boxed the frame . Very easy with the front sheet metal off . There are templates that you can get that layout where to drill the holes for the bolts and alignment pins on the crossmember. Don’t forget to mark the wheel centerlines to double check . It also lowers the truck about four inches in the front.

 

We do not have the factory frame, someone built one from 2 x 4 tubing and it is junk. The plan is to build a new one from 2 x 6 tubing and use the CV front and truck arms at the back with the long term goal to put it on air.

 

TA DAD, if you go to this link, you can see how I did that with 2x4 running into 2x6.

 

Thanks WFO, that is a great help. That is a sweet truck and really nice work and a good video. Right now I am working on ride height/frame height using the included frame and getting a plan together. Time will tell where this goes. Right now I have nothing but a worn out CV crossmember , solid sheet metal , a 454 + and a 5 speed. The truck has what I think is a 9in ( could be a 8 ) I flipped it over last night and put it on top of the springs just to get an idea of where I am heading. He wants it low , so hey we might just fix it to lay frame or at least he can grind the rockers off of it. lol

 

I have started looking for the factory tubes/crush sleeves, it looks like they are no longer serviced so right now the plan is to salvage some out of a frame rail. I like the idea that they tighten up from the bottom independent of the nut on top.

 

@wfo guy that is one nice truck!

 

^^^^
Thank you.

 

FatMan makes control arms to narrow the front track.

https://www.fatmanfab.com/ford-crown-victoria-control-arms-03-11

 

I have not seen those before, I think the width is going to be ok. I have been out gathering up parts today so we can get it mocked up to figure out the chassis . One shop supplied a junk Merlin block ( wow is it heavy ) another one a set of Cup Car truck arms. Another stop landed me a set of headers lol.

 

Getting a look at what we have to work with here, it looks promising .

 

I still have to come up with some junk heads.

 

One thing I have not come across in my research is where anyone has put their truck on an alignment rack to see where the caster is at. They use a really odd offset bushing. Here is a photo of one, the center sleeve is oval and that sleeve is offset in the outer bracket ? I have to locate a CV and see how the bracket is oriented on the chassis. The Youtube gurus say to install the oval center parallel with the ground ( no mention which way to put the offset ) but I don't see how moving the lower control arm side to side will adjust caster . Looks to me like you would want it to move up and down . https://www.ebay.com/itm/1962239594...fdZN1Ki_5pAZBcir2sfnAgh4i8W-XSPEaAhmpEALw_wcB

 

So far one head, and I hope for another one to get dropped off at the house today. Plus we got some working room in the firewall.

 

Now for some motor mounts

 

I came up with the factory crush sleeves along with the bolts and nuts. We got the crossmember stripped down and just kinda sorting things out.

 

Slowly getting things done, next is to drag this old frame out of the shop.

 

I got the old frame rolled out and moving forward .

 

We have a little forward motion !

 

Getting things sorted out so I can put some temporary crossmembers in place .

 

I have the Crown Vic crossmember installed along with 3 temporary ones. The cab is sitting square on the rails within a 1/8 of an inch. The frame is within 1/16. So far so good. Now for some cab mounts.

 

keep posting !!
6sally6

 

That is the plan, I had never heard of the Crown Vic swap before this, but it is a nice deal that is for sure. I have all new front end parts ordered and on the way, so for less than a grand you can replace everything there. We have a ready to go BBC with aluminum heads and a March drive system on the front of it. The original plan was truck arms but now I am thinking 4 link or maybe a 3 link set up. Time will tell.

 

Interesting to watch this go together.

 

Drilled the holes for the locating dowels in the bottom of the frame rails and added a couple gussets in the front corners.

 

I have been knocking all the sharp edges and casting flash off of the crossmember and then sandblasted it. On a side note the front rotors where super rusty from being out in the weather for ever. So I put 16 oz of vinegar along with 32 oz of water in a pan and after 24 hrs and a couple scrubs with a wire brush I believe we can get some use from them.