http://mustangsdaily.com/blog/2013/1...lid-rear-axle/

Soon your aftermarket will take care of you.

 

Good news for old folks. I just hope Ford didn't compromise the IRS design to accommodate this like they did with the Cobra. Finger crossed.

 

Given that the platform change was meant for IRS and it would be the aftermarket doing a retrofit, I think it is safe to say they did not do that. In the AutoWeek article, the Mustang Chief Engineer mentioned about "working with partners" to develop a way to fit this.

While perhaps they protected some hardpoints, this car is being mass produced with IRS first and foremost.

 

Agreed. I think if there is any danger, it would be that a live axle would have to be compromised to fit a chassis designed for an IRS, unless some thought was given to designing the S550 platform to accommodate either suspension without undue compromise to either.

 

Three things make me think that a bolt in live axle is bunk. It might be bolt in as far as being a sub-frame assembly with location points dictated by (what I guess Ford will be using) the IRS sub-frame but Ford was able to lower the rear belt line, increase useable interior space and increase trunk space.


You don't do that without chopping out the space formerly reserved for the live axle.


My guess is that properly to get the live axle to fit with the proper range of motion the rear floor pan would have to be modified.


We'll see though, I just wouldn't get any hopes up about buying this live axle assembly and popping it in place like the Terminator IRS.

 

I suspect bob is right about modifications to the bottom of the chassis. 9 inch Ford rear ends can be built in various configurations to fit under various chassis. In the past, drag racers have converted front wheel drive cars to rear drive by using 9 inch Ford rear ends. Ford is just going to save the hot rodder all the cutting and welding by offering a body in white ready for a 9 inch rear end. Since Ford said there will be a 2015 Cobra Jet Mustang, I think most drag racers figured Ford would put a 9 inch rear end under it. Ford has been offering body in white Mustangs for conversion to Cobra Jet Mustangs because Ford only produces 50 race ready Cobra jets a year. However, Ford makes the parts available through Ford Motorsports so anyone can build there own drag race Cobra jet Mustang. GM and Mopar have similar programs for their drag race programs.

 

my guess would be they could just radically limit the suspension travel for a dedicated drag racer. I could see alot of the space ford needed in the frame/body for the log axle in the S197 was so it could have proper geometry and suspension travel to be capable of compliant ride and handling as a road car. a drag race special wouldn't need any of that.

 

Definitely interested, as I can't stand axle hop from IRS. Will these "body in white" cars have VIN's and be street legal?

 

Probably not...they are used for building race cars.

 

Kinda what I figured...Wow! Can't really think of any solid axle cars left...

 

The body in white cars do not have vin # and are not street legal. You can still buy a brand new 2014 Mustang with a SRA. Time to get one before all the new ones are gone.

 

Depending on where you live, sometimes you can build a car and jump through some hoops to make it street legal.

I read a thread a few years back where someone took a SN95 new edge body in white and built a cobra R replica (in theme at least, 5.4, IRS, but more mods) and eventually got it registered for street use (and was gettin upwards of 28mpg!). It was definitely a southern state, but I can't remember which, or what forum the thread was on.

 

All kinda what I was thinking, if a lively axle is offered, it'll have about two inches of suspension travel which would suck massively for all but hard core draggers. Thus, probably just a body in white or maybe performance catalog offering.