SCfastback

I was able to find a nice 9" rear end out of a 1970 Cougar for my 1968 fastback. From the research I found, it should be a simple bolt-in installation since the flange to flange and spring pad dimensions are exactly the same as 9" rears that were available for the Mustang.

I do have a question though. In the standard Mustang installation, the rear end is set on the leaf spring pins, a couple of u-bolts are put over the axle and attached to the spring plate..............simple.

The Cougar rear end came with the spring plates, a pair of heavy u-shaped brackets, four heavy rubber insulators and a pair of thick metal wedges. One of the rubber insulators goes between the spring plate and the bottom of the leaf spring. The other fits inside the u-shaped bracket and fits on top of the leaf spring. The angle wedge sits on top of the bracket and then the rear end spring pads fits on top of the wedge. A pair of u-bolts holds everything together.

Should I use all of the Cougar mounting brackets, insulators and wedges to mount the rear end in my 68 Mustang or can I just go with the simple stock Mustang installation? I assume that the insulators provided a smoother ride and the wedge set the pinion angle on the rear end for the Cougar.

Many thanks for your help.

67mustang302

I'd use the wedges, replace the u-bolts with new ones (preferably larger) and ditch the rubber isolators. The rest of the stuff, use it if you need it to bolt it up, otherwise most setups are just the shock mounting plate under the spring, axle housing over the spring, and the u bolts.

boogerschnot

If you use the spacers and the spring pads it will lower the car by about 2 inches. I had the same thing on my grande, which is just the cushy suspension to make it ride nice in the rear end. I tried using the old plates with the rubber and I was sitting like 1/4 inch from the tire.

SCfastback

Thanks guys!

I will just install the rear end using the u-bolts and spring plate and leave out the insulators and the top u-bracket. Once everything is together, I can check the pinion angle and see if the wedges are needed.

I appreciate your feedback.