B body k frame

[phrogs4ever]

I have a1968 Roadrunner 383/727. I have been looking into boosting my B body's performance on the track. I have plenty of power but fall way short in the handling department. In order to fix this problem i am looking in to swapping in a 2003 to 2005 Crown vic K frame in and ditching all the dated parts. I would like to get input from anyone willing to give it.
What are the odds of this working, what could be some of the possible hang ups, how much should I pay for a good Crown Vic K frame? I would be very grateful for any helpful comments. Please don't comment if all you have to give is criticism for swapping a Ford part into my Roadrunner.

Thank you
Trigger

 

[iraqivet01]

Yeah... I would sleep on this one a little bit more before you do something like that. Too many vendor out there make parts to improve your handling without bring the value of your car down to dirt. No Mopar guy or any other for that fact is going to want to buy a 68 Road Runner that has been converted.

 

[Relax360]

I would consider sending your K frame to firm feel before making a major modification like that. It will probably hurt the value of the car like others have said. An Alterkation frame from RMS would also be much easier. I have one in my A body Barracuda.

 

[Hemi Rebel]

I have never heard of such a thing. Where in the world did you get the notion to put a crown vic subframe in a road runner.

 

[fatecaptured]

Now that's grass roots hot rodding. Good luck. Not really the route most will take. But its your ride. This isn't that far out there guys. Anyone seen the 68-69 RR with a big old diesel engine? It's been done...

 

[kb67mopar]

I dont know about the crown vic frame but if you want modern handling and not to ruin your re-sale value I say use a late model charger/challenger front and rear suspension. You will find lots of info on doing things like this if you start looking for "pro-touring" threads around the internet. It won't be for the faint of heart. It will require changing your steering column or modifying it, making your own motor mounts, modifying EVERYTHING from inner fenders to you name it. If you want to do this cheaply there is no such way.

You have to realize your shock locations change, how it mounts changes, where the steering shaft goes changes, headers probably won't fit, steering rack may not work with your steering pump, oil pan may need to be custom, etc...not to mention a crown vic handles like a boat too.

My advice is just go with an Alterktion if you want upgraded front suspension or do a complete overhaul and put upgraded stuff in the rear too. It will be cheaper in the long run to use bolt ons and probably live up to your expectations.

 

[roadrunnerman]

There are several companies out there that have products to improve handling for any car and suspension upgrades. It would probably be easy to install those than swapping k-member and all the goodies.

 

[5.7 hemi]

If it were me, I'd get 11/16 tie rods, solid sleeves, fast ratio pitman arm/idler arm, tubular upper arms, box the lower control arms, bigger torsion bars, bilstein shocks all around, poly bushings, firm feel stage 2 steering box also talk to them about rear springs, bigger sway bar in the front, sway bar in the rear, wider front tires and be happy like a xmas turkey.

 

[Cranky]

Got the idea from the Gas Monkey Garage from that old Dodge pickup build? If so, I'd say forget it and do what some of the others suggested. Crown Vics handle ok but I bet you I can make that car handle damn near if not better than the CV setup using stock parts! Do your research before digging into a swap like that. That said, how well do you want to handle and how much money do you want to spend? Yeah, our cars are getting pretty old but Chrysler had a pretty decent design in these cars and it's by no means obsolete. If you want to see obsolete, look at the 50's Mopars! Also, getting rid of weight off the front end will make the car handle much better even with stock parts that even gets better if you install sway bars. If you don't want to go with a potent small block, at least install all the aluminum parts that you can on that 383 but a small block will always end up being lighter when doing the same. I like what KD67 about using late model Challenger underpinnings but man, how bout doing a major modification to a 68 Belvedere instead of cutting up a real roadrunner? Like I said, how good do you want to handle or what kind of numbers do you need to pull on a skip pad?

 

[Budnicks]

I have never heard of such a thing. Where in the world did you get the notion to put a crown vic subframe in a road runner.

Gas Monkey Garage probably...

- - - Updated - - -

I have a1968 Roadrunner 383/727. I have been looking into boosting my B body's performance on the track. I have plenty of power but fall way short in the handling department. In order to fix this problem i am looking in to swapping in a 2003 to 2005 Crown vic K frame in and ditching all the dated parts. I would like to get input from anyone willing to give it.
What are the odds of this working, what could be some of the possible hang ups, how much should I pay for a good Crown Vic K frame? I would be very grateful for any helpful comments. Please don't comment if all you have to give is criticism for swapping a Ford part into my Roadrunner.

Thank you
Trigger

Don't butcher the 68 RR with that Crown Vic cheap *** Ford fleet suspension crap, there are plenty of things you can do to vastly improve the 68 RR's handling without going to that much extreme, many companies like PST, Magnum Force Racing, XV Motorsports, Reilly Motorsports, QA1, Mopar performance, Mancini Racing, Hotchkiss or even an Air Ride or Ride Tech {front & rear suspension}, Among others, that will help your handling 10 fold & not butcher or devalue the car... Even a strut front suspension would be a smarter or better idea... It's not cheap to do suspension stuff on Mopars, but IMHFO it's a far better option to try any of these 1st, Sub frame connector welded or bolt in will help, Tubular adj. suspension like adj. upper & lower control arms, coil overs or better larger dia. torsion bars even, adj. strut rods, tubular K members, oversize sway bars front & rear, rack-in-pinion or flaming river quicker manual box, correct the bump steer, or just beef up your originals suspension components, tighten up all the tolerances, lower the car for lower center of gravity, sticky wider tires & lightweight racing rims, add larger diameter torsion bars, weld plates to box all the control arms, add poly bushings, O/S strut rod w/poly bushings & add gas shocks & good O/S adj. sway bars.... Any of these suggestions are "Night & day differences", over the stock stuff

 

[Hemirunner]

Use the hotchkiss stuff and it'll out handle a crown vic and you wont have to reinvent the wheel.

 

[Funship32]

I would consider sending your K frame to firm feel before making a major modification like that.

X2

 

[krowbar]

IHMO the blue / bold comment (my emphasis) is over the top and completely uncalled for Gregory C

AGREED. Check his profile-MARINE. probably got called to duty. Lets try to be friendly to everyone who is asking for help. Even though it seems like an odd project, I like how he's thinking outside the box.

 

[wedge69]

Its always good to think Outside the box now and then . It makes you reallize how nice it is Inside the box also.Hell I keep tipping My box over !!LOL!!

 

[tallhair]

Its always good to think Outside the box now and then . It makes you reallize how nice it is Inside the box also.Hell I keep tipping My box over !!LOL!!

I try to get inside the box as much as possible

 

[krowbar]

I try to get inside the box as much as possible

THINK...THINK outside the box. Lol. A quick one you are, no doubt.

 

[bigaadams]

the crown vic has been a donor to a many street rod for years where you really can make a performance difference in the swap...like others here...am thinking that while different for the runner...it may be a negative on value to such a degree it would kill return of the dollar if for some reason baby had to get a new home..

I also figure a bit of time under the cars measuring may be needed and if it is anything like my bud called and discussed with me the problems with the crown vic he has...would probably think it a step backwards...a quick call to a local for common parts that get replaced and the cost of said may enlighten you also...