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Suspension upgrades?

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Posted by: jakenmark

Hello all. I'm brand new to this board. I just bought an 1988 Mark VII LSC off my brother. It's not pretty but it's in darn good shape overall. It runs great. My intentions are to swap in a T5 and lower the gears in the rear end. Any suggestions on a good ratio? It'll be a daily driver and see some highway time so I don't want any driveability issues. Also, I'd really like to upgrade the suspension. My front air bags seem to leak slowly once the car is shut off(is this the norm??) and the ride is just to soft overall. Is there any aftermarket suspension parts/systems that improve handling etc.? Like I said this is all new to me. I've built up Mustangs and Camaros and a ton of different 4x4's but luxury cars are new. How much of the aftermarket for Mustang 5.0's can be used on the Lincoln's? Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.

Posted by: Awesund

Oi mate! Welcome.
I was happy with 3.55 gears and my T5. Drivability was good. Now I have 3.73's and I like it fine, but it's a weekend hot rod, not a daily driver so keep that in mind. You should be fine with 3.55's.
You can do a search here about most of these questions, esp the suspension trouble. Sounds like you have some leaking airsprings.

For suspension upgrades without going to coils, the first thing is to replace all of your struts/shocks. Be sure to get gas charged and if you want, adjustable ones.
Next you should replace you front sway bar with one from an 87-88 T-bird turbo coupe. Thickest one you can buy and makes a big difference.
Most of the mustang stuff will bolt right up. It's all fox body/Ford.
Some great tech articles here...
http://www.lincolnsonline.com/tech/tech.html

Posted by: CFH

well, you could convert to coils, thats what im gonna do once i get some money and time. my front airbags leak too, ive replaced them with a different cars, and im just over dealing with all that so im just goin with coils.

Posted by: jakenmark

This helps. I was thinking about 3.55 or 3.73 gears. I think 3.55 sounds better. I did see that strutmasters has a coil conversion for both the front and rear. The tech article at Lincolns online sounds like a ton of work, but the results may be the best.

Posted by: skymasteres

If you are looking to firm up the ride I would deffinately go with the thicker sway bar, some chassis braces, and a set of subfram connectors. I have a MKVII that was converted to springs and the ride is no where near as nice as the one I have with bags on it.

There is a fine line between good road feel and harshness. I think the coil equipped mark crosses that line.

Posted by: ND4SPDLSC

Add an Addco 415 7/8" rear bar to that list to balance the 1 5/16" front bar from the Thunderbird. You'll get nasty understeer if you don't. The only dampers you'll find easily are KYB GR-2 struts, KYB GR-2 or Gas-A-Just (stiffer) for the rear or Bilstein HDs for Fox Thunderbirds and Cougars.

For the front air springs, replace them both with rebuilt ones from Bagmaster in TX or buy new ones from Ford or a Ford parts dealer. The other aftermarket generics use a softer spring rate different from the LSC's. For the small cost and ease of replacement, the ride and handling offered by the air suspension is a great deal. I'm autocrossing my LSC with the air suspension. Another guy has taken his largely stock LSC on road courses across the Eastern seaboard, beating many a pony car in the process. The system works.

Posted by: jakenmark

Quote:

Originally Posted by ND4SPDLSC

Add an Addco 415 7/8" rear bar to that list to balance the 1 5/16" front bar from the Thunderbird. You'll get nasty understeer if you don't. The only dampers you'll find easily are KYB GR-2 struts, KYB GR-2 or Gas-A-Just (stiffer) for the rear or Bilstein HDs for Fox Thunderbirds and Cougars.

For the front air springs, replace them both with rebuilt ones from Bagmaster in TX or buy new ones from Ford or a Ford parts dealer. The other aftermarket generics use a softer spring rate different from the LSC's. For the small cost and ease of replacement, the ride and handling offered by the air suspension is a great deal. I'm autocrossing my LSC with the air suspension. Another guy has taken his largely stock LSC on road courses across the Eastern seaboard, beating many a pony car in the process. The system works.

Where can I find either/both sway bars? Is there and after market source?

Posted by: Awesund

Well you can put Addco or Addco sway bar in a search engine or on eay.

Ya know, I think most of those selling aftermarket spring kits didn't do enough research to match the right spring for ride comfort. You might want to do some of your own. But remember...what some people complain as a harsh ride may be suitably firm to someone else. Additionally, if your struts and shocks are worn out, the car will have such a mushy ride it's a sickening thing that some idiots think is luxurious ride...lol. And I'm sure some people did the coil kit with new Shocks/Struts and together everything got so firm they think it's just hard springs.
The kit I bought 10 years ago used springs from a Nissan Maxima for the rears if I recall correctly. The ride was the basically the same as the airspring gimmick.
I've since gone to the T-Bird setup. And since I used the turbo coupe control arms, I also used the rear sway bar to match the front one. The car sits about a 2" lower and handles very well.
Air suspension is fine when it works but there are many components to break down VS. virtually no components to breakdown with a coil spring system. if it's such a great idea, we'd be seeing airsprings on all cars...like wiper delay. now thAt was a great idea.

or power windows..hey!
Like I said, I've seen Mark VII's and Continnentals burn to the ground because of Air suspension neglect. Keeps those parts in good shape.
Autocrossing a Mark VII on airsprings? Sounds fun.