Mustang Cobra IRS in an A-body

No sooner than the public got it's hands on Cobra IRS and discovered the shortcomings, the Mustang tuner shops started coming up with fixes for the handling. I'm not sure anyone ever found a real solution for axle breaking during drag race starts.

If you really like the looks of the Ford IRS, take a look at the MN12 (89 up T bird-Cougar and the Mark VIII Lincoln. The Super Coupe T bird and the Mk VIII also come with the same 8.8 (aluminum center section and all) 31 spline as the Cobra, and it's even possible the geometry might be better. Just be aware, with the possible exception of the Super Coupe, only the Mk VIII has the correct 5 on 4.5 bolt pattern from the factory.

It might be possible to weld the Ford subframe right into the A body and tie it to full length frame connectors making what is a full frame welded to the bottom of the A body. Narrowing the axles and moving the IRS cradle longitudinals in toward the centerline of the car to provide more wheel/tire room is very doable for someone not afraid to tackle this project in the first place. With all the various offsets used on different year Mustang wheels, you might find narrowing not necessary at all. Mating tubular axles to the Ford U-joints might be the answer the drag race axle breakage.

Another possible donor source for IRS is (and this might not set well in the stomach) is the premium lines from Datson and Toyota. I saw the bottom of a high end Lexis coupe in a junkyard with an IRS setup that looked like it had possibilities, differential and all.

I vaguely remember someone here, or on one of the other Mopar sites starting this very project (Ford IRS in an A body).