Crown Vic suspension

[Charter]

Has anyone measured the frame width to see if a C Vic front end swap is possible in a Ranchero ?

[RICH MUISE]

I think the only way any conversion would work is a total frame clip from the firewall forward...........Friends have checked a Mark VIII suspension and the trac width was way to wide. I know a guy who put a Dodge Dakota front clip on a '54 Merc.....you may want to check into that, but why? I also heard of  guys that put a Fatman front clip on '57's, but they are few and far between. Most everybody is happy with the basic '57 design with a few mods.
To answer your question directly, no, I haven't measured for a cv front suspension.

[Charter]

OK. Just a thought. By the way Rich have you been to the Carlisle Ford Show with that black car in the picture ?

[gasman826]

I looked hard at CV frame swap for a '41 Ford...way too wide.  The CV swaps are working under '50s, '60s, '70s and '80s Ford pickups.  Even being wide pickups, an OEM setback wheel is required.

[lalessi1]

There was a one time show that aired on the Velocity channel in November called "High Performance Throw Down" where the guys from "Car Fix" put a Crown Vic chassis/drive train under a '63 Mercury Marauder. It seems the car's owner won some kind of contest.... I personally would have passed on the "prize". 

[RICH MUISE]

I think I passed thru Carlisle about 35 years ago on the freeway, lol. I do remember passing thru Hershey and thinking that was where all that good chocolate came from. Nope, never been there, and my car isn't black anyways...."dark tarnished silver".

[SkylinerRon]

The CV front is too wide. You would need some goofy front wheels to fit under the body, like a 60's Toronado only deeper
reversed the wrong way.

The 57-64 Ford front suspension is a good unit. Big brakes, sway bars and r&p steering are available. No need to reinvent the wheel.

Carlisle and Hershey draw vendors in part because of Charlotte and Englishtown. 4 huge fleamarkets on 4 continuous weekends
draw vendors from all over the country. Plus the AACA show too.

Ron.

[Ford Blue blood]

There was a one time show that aired on the Velocity channel in November called "High Performance Throw Down" where the guys from "Car Fix" put a Crown Vic chassis/drive train under a '63 Mercury Marauder. It seems the car's owner won some kind of contest.... I personally would have passed on the "prize".

I think it was a late model Marauder chassis.  The Marauder had the 4.6 quad cam engine.

[thomasso]

I don't know if this is the appropriate place to ask this but has anyone used a 91 T bird front clip with 302 HO motor, AOD and the independent rear suspension in a 57.  Hate to throw my old one away, paint job cost more than the car is worth.  One of the best cars i've ever owned.  Comes with 4 wheel disc brakes. power rack and pinion, even power buckets and sun roof, plus computers , wiring,console etc. even stainless exhaust, even 16" wheels and tires.  Looking for advice.  Thanks.

[Ford Blue blood]

Those Birds were unibody, no front clip.  The rear assembly will drop out it is way too wide for the 57s.  Even the Cobra rears are too wide.

[redshoes57]

Theirs a company in Florida coco beach called Team321. They offer narrowed CV cross members tha are about 4 1/2 in narrower. Uses 2003 and newer. Its worth looking into