Wheel base length questions

[joemac]

My '94 thunderbird has a 113" wheel base. Would I see noticeable gains from a shorter wheelbase. There was a shop that produced a couple of tbirds with an 8" shorter wheelbase.

I know the uber popular 1st gen camaros have a 108" wheel base and my car is only 5" longer than that.

How does wheelbase influence handling? Is it worth it to shorten it, it would require major surgery to cut out 8" or more in the middle of the car. Then the next question would be, would you cut the doors and under the front seats or just behind that where the 1/4 glass would be? When I start the project the car will be stripped and is having major surgery anyway, this won't be too much extra cutting for what I have planned.

[Randy67]

It can depend on what you are doing with the car. I have autocrossed a 101" WB Mustang, 115" El Camino and 131" Dakota club cab. The wheelbase difference really didn't affect me. On a road course or mountain roads, it probably wouldn't be noticeable to most people. The cost and work involved in shortening the wheelbase wouldn't be worth it, IMHO.

[joemac]

It can depend on what you are doing with the car. I have autocrossed a 101" WB Mustang, 115" El Camino and 131" Dakota club cab. The wheelbase difference really didn't affect me. On a road course or mountain roads, it probably wouldn't be noticeable to most people. The cost and work involved in shortening the wheelbase wouldn't be worth it, IMHO.

This is what i'm thinking too. Just wanted to get some ideas though.

The car will be a mostly street driven weekend event car. Autox, maybe some mild drag racing, probably some track days. Just an all around type of car I can have some fun with. These cars are notoriously heavy though. In stock trim they come in at around 3800 maybe a tick more. I should be able to get it down to around 3200 or so with what I plan but could probably shave another couple hundred off it the car were smaller.

[Jim Nilsen]

Indy cars are 108" and many super cars are around the 95-97" area. Stability at high speed is better with a longer wheelbase and agility is better at low speeds when shorter.

The time and effort would be better put in building better suspension geometry and lightening everything up and making it stiff.

I don't really think the car would look that good shortened either.

Interesting debate no matter how or what you want to do with any car.

[MonzaRacer]

This is what i'm thinking too. Just wanted to get some ideas though.

The car will be a mostly street driven weekend event car. Autox, maybe some mild drag racing, probably some track days. Just an all around type of car I can have some fun with. These cars are notoriously heavy though. In stock trim they come in at around 3800 maybe a tick more. I should be able to get it down to around 3200 or so with what I plan but could probably shave another couple hundred off it the car were smaller.

first of all the cars weight comes fro ma lot of deadener from the factory, gut the interior and redo it with second skin stuff, if your running 3.8 supercharging if not all ready there is great thing to add, if you have the 4.6 anything from Mustang crowd will help, depending on your trans current you can possibly update to newer 5 or 6 speed ford trans or swap in a one of the new TKO trannys that can be up and down shifted with no clutch.
As for suspension you should definitely think Air Ride. I had thought many years ago in narrowing a tbirb/cougar rear irs and install it in my 86 Ranger.
The neat thing is that the IRS is definitely updateable with other 8.8 parts. one big issue is updating the 5 x 4.25 bolt pattern to a more useable 5x4.5 ford or even 5x4.75 bolt pattern. Oh and for the design they have an awesome adjustment arangement for an IRS.
I always wanted to fix up one of the same platform Cougars after working in a dealership and working on old elementary teachers 88 Cougar, it needed new door detent roller. it had the optional stero package with factory eq and aftermarket speakers she had swapped in and it rocked out.
And it was dark red too so it looked good.
Just figure out better struts and sway bars and like I said, up grade to AIr Ride and your gonna have one tight handling Tbird and just about any mod fix up is a direct bolt on. Some guys are saying the cheap hop up is the newer 3 valve triton truck engines with cam change,,and proper removal of the spark plugs that stick(tip one antiseize helps very much in not sticking).
Good Luck and hope it turns out good for ya.
Lee Abel
AFTERMARKET PERFORMANCE

[joemac]

first of all the cars weight comes fro ma lot of deadener from the factory, gut the interior and redo it with second skin stuff, if your running 3.8 supercharging if not all ready there is great thing to add, if you have the 4.6 anything from Mustang crowd will help, depending on your trans current you can possibly update to newer 5 or 6 speed ford trans or swap in a one of the new TKO trannys that can be up and down shifted with no clutch.
As for suspension you should definitely think Air Ride. I had thought many years ago in narrowing a tbirb/cougar rear irs and install it in my 86 Ranger.
The neat thing is that the IRS is definitely updateable with other 8.8 parts. one big issue is updating the 5 x 4.25 bolt pattern to a more useable 5x4.5 ford or even 5x4.75 bolt pattern. Oh and for the design they have an awesome adjustment arangement for an IRS.
I always wanted to fix up one of the same platform Cougars after working in a dealership and working on old elementary teachers 88 Cougar, it needed new door detent roller. it had the optional stero package with factory eq and aftermarket speakers she had swapped in and it rocked out.
And it was dark red too so it looked good.
Just figure out better struts and sway bars and like I said, up grade to AIr Ride and your gonna have one tight handling Tbird and just about any mod fix up is a direct bolt on. Some guys are saying the cheap hop up is the newer 3 valve triton truck engines with cam change,,and proper removal of the spark plugs that stick(tip one antiseize helps very much in not sticking).
Good Luck and hope it turns out good for ya.
Lee Abel
AFTERMARKET PERFORMANCE

Probably going with an all aluminum stroker 9.5" deck small block and a T56. I had considered air ride and am torn between air and coil overs. Planning on the mustang hub swap to ditch the 4.25 lug pattern. Already planning on some custom suspension pieces.

I'm fairly certain I am staying away from the modulars.