The Big M is home.

Sounds about right to me as far as ratio goes. Can't beat the price! If you want a little more gear go to the SUV aisle and get an 8.8 from an Explorer. They are plentiful around here. Guess it's the same around you. Lots of them are 3.55 limited slips, most have disk brakes, all are 5 on 4.5 inch Ford bolt pattern, width should be close to your Merc. Because they are set up for leaf springs they don't have all the bosses on them for attaching trailing arms, etc.....

Truxter Fordly wrote:Because they are set up for leaf springs they don't have all the bosses on them for attaching trailing arms, etc.....

That would surely be a plus. Pain in the butt to smooth all those brackets out.

Thanks guys! I did look at the Explorers. It seems like around here they are all 4.10's or open differential. I loved the idea of the leaf spring set up but so far haven't found anything a close to what I think I want as this Lincoln.

I wonder where Lam-er is when we really need all that technical info. I'm sure he has a calculation for the CID to gear ratio + or - vehicle weight ratio compensated for the lunar gavitational pull to give a perfectly balanced conclusion to this conundrum.

Arieldouglas wrote:I wonder where Lam-er is when we really need all that technical info. I'm sure he has a calculation for the CID to gear ratio + or - vehicle weight ratio compensated for the lunar gavitational pull to give a perfectly balanced conclusion to this conundrum.

Yeah, but he's located in the southern hemisphere. That would throw all calculations out of whack for your application......

[quote="Truxter FordlyYeah, but he's located in the southern hemisphere. That would throw all calculations out of whack for your application...... [/quote]

Here's some real technical crap for ya. My Merc is a four door hardtop of the same year. The exact weight is that it's heavy as heck. I have a late 70's 302 CID with about no horse power or torque. It has a C-4 with a Maverick rear end with the stock 2:70 something gear ratio. It won't light the tires or run in the low 10's but on the highway it does fine. We have no trouble on the interstate because with the gear it isn't even breathing heavy at 70 MPH. It gets great gas mileage even though it's not shiney and it always has plenty of fuel left over to burn, literally. That big motor with a 3.25 or so gear would be a real treat to drive. Oh yeah, I have the Granada brakes on the front with Maverick drums on the rear w/o a proportioning valve and it stops that old pig pretty darn good. How's that for technical? Use whatever gear ya want, that big old 390 will pull it just fine. A 57 or 58 Ford wagon rear end would be grear. It's the narrowest 9" made which might get you into a better selection of ratios.
Your Friend
Falcon Eddie

FalconEddie1964 wrote: How's that for technical? Use whatever gear ya want, that big old 390 will pull it just fine.
Your Friend
Falcon Eddie

The perfect advice I would expect from you guys. I'm on my way to Pull-a-Part.

A local yard has a 58 Edsel wagon that the rear end was still in it the last time I looked at it.

junkyardjeff wrote:A local yard has a 58 Edsel wagon that the rear end was still in it the last time I looked at it.

That'd be a good one. It'd probably look old unless you sand it all down and either paint or chrome it.

Its also more period correct.

Lamar wrote:Dear FaclconEddie1964;
Why not weigh the car using some old bathroom scales, angle iron and some 2X8s? That way you'll know how much your ride weighs (within 100 lbs. + or -) on each corner my friend.
Your friend;
LAMAR

I thought you banned yourself.

Well I pulled the Lincoln rear end and brought it home. I did check out the Explorers. All but 2 had 4.10's or 3.73's. The two had 3.27's but were open differentials. Let me tell you, Ford must have built a LOT of Explorers. Even looked at a couple of Excursions. I have the welder, grinder and the time. I'm thinking that I can just make the spring mount taller and not mess with blocks to lower it. What would you think about something like 2 inches. I don't want to get too low because of some of the roads around here. FalconEddie, How does that pig roll through a curve? I kept the sway bar bolted to the rear end when I checked out and there was no extra charge so I was thinking why not put it to good use if it would be worth the effort.

RebStew wrote:

Lamar wrote:Dear FaclconEddie1964;
Why not weigh the car using some old bathroom scales, angle iron and some 2X8s? That way you'll know how much your ride weighs (within 100 lbs. + or -) on each corner my friend.
Your friend;
LAMAR

I thought you banned yourself.

Ever notice how some people just can't sit on thier hands?

junkyardjeff wrote:A local yard has a 58 Edsel wagon that the rear end was still in it the last time I looked at it.

When I drove in there was a shoebox on a trailer being sold in. It was a total rusted POS and the rear end didn't have disc brakes, so I passed.

No two barrel Strombergs. Couple of 1 barrel Carters that looked "old". But that's just "my" opinion.

How's Vegas?

junkyardjeff wrote:A local yard has a 58 Edsel wagon that the rear end was still in it the last time I looked at it.

Local is a relative term.

Arieldouglas wrote:

junkyardjeff wrote:A local yard has a 58 Edsel wagon that the rear end was still in it the last time I looked at it.

When I drove in there was a shoebox on a trailer being sold in. It was a total rusted POS and the rear end didn't have disc brakes, so I passed.

No two barrel Strombergs. Couple of 1 barrel Carters that looked "old". But that's just "my" opinion.

How's Vegas?

OOPS.........Again.

My old Merc sets sooo low that it sorta handles like a go-kart. I have Posey's lowered springs with 3" blocks in the back and lowering blocks, shorter springs and dropped spindles in the front. The old thing doesn't set high enough to have much body roll. It's probably way too low for what your after. I'd put the sway bar on if it'll work. Heck, it can't hurt. I don't think you can get them to handle too good. It just won't have the vintage (old) look with a fancy dancy sway bar under there. Are ya in Bad Bob's Merc club on the HAMB?

I'm in there. You seen where he picked his up off the ground some?

Yeah, when Jeff and I got it to go around the block the first time, all four tires rubbed. We had to take out the additional 2" blocks that were in the back and change the front blocks from 1" to 1/2". The old thing had the right attitude but the wrong altitude. I wished I would have had the dough to do a four link in the rear. That's the way to go when you want to get them down on the ground. My daughter wants me to put air ride on it but $$$. That old school crap isn't all it's cracked up to be.

When I was under that Lincoln I was thinking, "This link and bag system could be modified to fit the Merc". Then I came to my senses and remembered how much work I already have to do. I do want to drive it someday.

Arieldouglas wrote:When I was under that Lincoln I was thinking, "This link and bag system could be modified to fit the Merc". Then I came to my senses and remembered how much work I already have to do. I do want to drive it someday.

Nah, just park it, look at it, and talk about it!

That way you don't have to comit to anything.

[quote="FalconEddie1964Nah, just park it, look at it, and talk about it! [/quote]

I don't understand that concept. I was talking to this guy at the show and he told me this car was finished in 2001 and he had put less than 100 miles on it like he was proud of it. If you only drive it on and off a trailer; why bother?

This is the one I want to be like. This is my Father-in-Law's roadster. He bought it in 1941. Open wheel drag raced it for years until he had too many kids to keep the money flowing. But he saved all the metal and finally put it back together. 350 sbc, Power-Gluide and 3.20something 9-inch have powered that car from Racine, WI to Prudhoe Bay to Miami to Pheonix and Lord only knows where else. My Momma-in-Law there for every mile.

He has had some health issues the last couple of years so no more long distance trips. As soon as the salt threat is over come spring it will be on the road. He did go to a show in MI and IN this year and made several in WI and IL.