coil over cross swap

[pupaxel]

I have a 2001 2WD standard cab. I have some interesting plans for her.

Mostly I want to have some good street fun, maybe a little track time.

so I'm a little disappointed that I have not been able to find much in suspension upgrades for performance.

My current ideas are to perform a full Mustang II IFS setup replacing the complete set-up.
OR
does anyone know if suspension parts from a Mustang or Crown Vic are relatively easy to make work? Part of the reason for this is to upgrade my front braking options as well. My background is a mechanic with welding and fabrication skills, I am willing to go long lengths in this project.

 

[pjtoledo]

torsion bar or coils up front? I'm guessing coils because its a regular cab.
anyway, if its torsion bars you can use spindles from a Sport Track, and maybe some later Rangers, to install 12" front rotors, they give a 1/2" drop.
if its coils you cannot do that,,,easily.
on the spindle the upper ball joint hole is bigger on the torsion, smaller on the coils so swapping the upper control arm would be needed. but, the arms are different lengths so camber cannot be adjusted enough, which means moving the mounts for the upper control arms.
I'm thinking the coils are the same diameter as a Crown Vic, similar configuration so swapping should work.
stabilizer bars, the coil setup has bulges in the frame for the coils. that makes the frame 2" wider right about where the sway bar is. so the 2wd coil sway bar is 2" wider.
brakes, if torsion setup its a simple swap of the spindles to get 12" rotors.
if its coils, the 12" rotors will bolt right on, BUT the calipers won't fit now!
it seems that to go from 11.25" coil rotors to 12" torsion rotors Ford used the same caliper and bracket for both but moved the mounting holes on the torsion spindle out 3/8" to clear the bigger rotors.
you could use fancy Wilwood radial mount calipers, but most of them are 4 or 6 piston which are quite wide and may protrude out past the wheel/hub plane and hit some wheels.

if anybody knows of a parts combination that will allow calipers for 12" rotors on the coil spindles let us know, I would like to do that.

a while back TRUCKS tv show did a custom suspension on a Ranger/Mazda that they stuffed a 4.6 into. complete with an independent rear suspension.
should be some good info on their website.

 

[pjtoledo]

front Ranger 2wd coil shocks are almost identical to Crown Vics, the slots in the lower crossbar need minor adjusting.