IRS into SN95 Cobra...

[RAGEN-CAJUN]

This topic has probably been covered somewhere before, but I'm a newbie to the snake world and fortunate enough to land two of them. A 98 coupe and a 99 vert. Both are in the modification process currently. The 99 undergoing a Terminator transplant. But the 98 coupe is where I plan on doing some serious mods to. I would like to set it up for the twisties as it was a strickly straight line machine in its previous life.

My question relates to installing an '03 IRS into the SN-95 body. I've obtained an entire unit from an donor car. Unfortunately i wasn't around during its removal so I don't know how much is involved with installing one. Second, the transmission is a Tremec TKO 500 matted to the 4.6 DOHC. Would I be able to use my aluminum driveshaft, an '03 aluminum shaft, or do I need to get one custom made for that rear. Last, does anyone know where I can purchase coil overs for the rear. Any help and suggestions are appreciated in advance. Thank you.:D

[snakbitn]

I wouldn't waste my time with the IRS.Doesn't make that much difference unless the track is really rough and off camber and they are a pain to get set up right.Most American Iron car's all have straight axel's.

[RAGEN-CAJUN]

Ok. Well that's one view point. Any one else with anything to add to that or completely opposing. There's got to be more to the IRS than that. After all, those Corvettes are canyon carvers with them. Not to compare the two. Also, the Cobra IRS is pretty heavy. Wouldn't that make the car more evenly weight distributed for better overall handling? Seems logical enough.

[Larry95]

Here's my two cents worth. First of all I’ve only been doing this sport about 4 years now and have only had my dedicated track car for 2 of those. I am far from being what you would call an open track star and I’m still on a very steep learning curve. Right after I bought the dedicated track car, I noticed that I was getting to the point where I was going through some slower tight turns and the car just didn’t feel right. I talked to two of the guys here in our local SCMC group that had done rear suspension modification to their SN95s and both recommended that I go to the torque arm and panhard bar combination to correct my problem. I took their advice and did those two mods (along with some other things recommended by the dealer) and have been completely satisfied with the results. I’m sure that the car is capable of going through corners much faster than me and my pucker factor are going right now. People that have followed me through the turns now say that my car is really planted and looks like it is on rails. It fells that way to me also.

[RAGEN-CAJUN]

Thanks Larry. Where can I find more info about that kind of setup? Does it eliminate the rear control arms all together or works with them?

[cobrabitn]

It eliminates the upper control arms! :)

[RAGEN-CAJUN]

I just read an insightful article in this July Snakebite issue entitled "The Mystery of the Cobra Independent Rear Suspension", by Bruce Cameron. He broke it down pretty well based on his personal experiences with it. Kind of gives hope for the ailing Ford IRS. I appreciate all you guys info, it's all food for thought. I'll keep you guys posted. thanks.

[ohiiicobra]

I wouldn't waste my time with the IRS.Doesn't make that much difference unless the track is really rough and off camber and they are a pain to get set up right.Most American Iron car's all have straight axel's.

I agree.