TRX Handling Package Question

[HBWaterfowler]

Negative. The TR package had a standard list of parts. You did not get to pick and choose which parts of the package that you did or did not want or wanted to substitute. Only the load rating of the springs and the valving of the struts and shocks changed, and that was due to different weights of TR package-equipped cars, i.e. different bodies, engines, transmissions, and options, it was not do to customer choice of what TR-package parts they wanted.

Well can you confirm if the TRX and TR package are the same or different?
Everywhere I read about it, it says "TRX" not TR. Maybe we aren't talking about the same thing?
I got that information out of: The Official Ford Mustang 5.0: Technical Reference & Performance Handbook, 1979-1993.
I'll check it out later and see if I'm mistaken.
But I remember reading it in the book.

Ford ESP has nothing to do with suspension packages so I don't understand what you're asking.

What is Ford ESP?
So you're saying that after the CHP ordered the SSP car, they modified the suspension themselves?

What I was saying was, the TRX package was the predecessor of the GT package. The GT package was a standard list of items, all GTs were the same. The SSP (from what I remember reading) was a special order car. I'm not saying the SSP had special options, I'm saying that it was ordered special with all the options available. Which may not included the same options as a mustang sitting at a Ford dealership at the time.

I'd like to look up what I'm referring to, no point on going off of my memory. I can quote out of the book, and we can deceiver its meaning.

That is not a factory setup but I guess you already know that.

Well I'm thinking it is stock. That's why I'm posing this question.
This is not eBay, no one makes parts for the 79-86 range.
This was put on by A) Ford, or B) CHP in 1983/4 when they purchased the SSP.
This car seems to be super original, nothing has been changed.
Things that were damaged have been replaced, IE: Dash top, Seats. That could have been changed by the dept, considering every mustang has the dash top cracked by the sun, and the seats were known to wear out.

There's no reason for me to think some kid installed the rear coilover thing.
If you go search the internet, you wont find any coilover kit that looks like this. IE: one off, or maybe the last year of the TRX package they had a coilover option.

Since we have some conflicting information here, I'll do my homework again and get back to you.

Thanks for taking time to respond.

[93chipper]

upr also makes them and it doesnt have to be between 79-86 that suspension setup lasted till 2004 thus some parts on the suspension ie coil overs can be used on other years too my upper and lower bbk control arms can go on a 79-98 my springs can be used on any 79-04 mustang v8 hardtop shocks and sruts are a little different you can get ones that work on 84-04 or some that work 79-04

[HBWaterfowler]

Originally Posted by 93chipper

upr also makes them and it doesnt have to be between 79-86 that suspension setup lasted till 2004 thus some parts on the suspension ie coil overs can be used on other years too my upper and lower bbk control arms can go on a 79-98 my springs can be used on any 79-04 mustang v8 hardtop shocks and sruts are a little different you can get ones that work on 84-04 or some that work 79-04

With slight modification.

[HBWaterfowler]

Introduction for 1979, Ford's TRX option involved a select combination of suspension equipment, specific wheels, and unique Michelin tires. It also involved special spring and shock rates and specific stabilizer bar sizes (all for increased roll stiffness), engineered to complement the exclusive TRX tire-and-wheel combination.

Pre-1985 Mustangs were offered with three levels of suspension equipment: base, Handling, and TRX. The non-V8 models came with a retivility light-duty standard (base) suspension system. The heavier-duty Handling suspension option and performance-orientend TRX wheels/tires/suspension package were optional at extra cost.
The 1982-1984 Mustang GT and V8 LX's were also offered with the TRX wheel-tire-suspension option. Both these extra-duty suspension packages added stiffer springs, a larger diameter front stabilizer bar, specific shock and strut valving, firmer suspension bushings, and a read stabilizer bar.
Although some crossover (quad-shock) components came through on some late 1984 Mustangs, Handling suspension and TRX suspension compoents were seperate and distinct and were not ordered on or normally fitted to the same vehicle.
When the TRX option was dropped after 1984, "Special Handling suspension" came to refer to the standard GT suspension and steering gear.

This was the last year that the TRX suspension, wheel, and tire equipment was offered. It was also the only model year that TRX and Quadra-Shock equipement could both be factory fitted to the Mustang.

The TRX suspension/wheels/tire option was retained for the 1980 Mustang models. In the second year in production, the option included revalved shock absorbers and front and read stabilizer bars whose sizes again depended on the engine ordered.

The TRX handling system was also offered, including special suspension components, wheels, and tires.

The first Saleen Mustang model was produced when three prototype 1984s were assembled.

1984 1/2
A special 20th Anniversity edition was introduced by Ford in March 1984. Although a planned "improved-performance 5-liter" package was partially delayed until 1985 model year, most of the suspension upgrades involved entered service late in the 1984 model run. This was the first year of gas-pressurized struts and shocks, variable-rate springs, and rear Quadra-Shocks were used on production Mustang V8 models.

Dealer order Special Service vehicles by way of a DSO, which stands for Dealer Special Order."DSO" actually descripes the method by whitch a dealer obtains all nonstandard, specially equiped cars and trucks from the factory.

Standard equipemnt:
-relocated remote decklid decklid release button
-engine oil cooler
-external automatic transmission fluid cooler
-aircraft hose clamps
-heater hose restriction sleeve
-single-key locking system
-specially reinforced reclining front bucket seats
-floorpan reinforcements
-deleted underhood sound absorber pad
-cert. calibration 0-160 mph speedometer
-P215/65R15 Goodyear Eagle GT +4 all season performance tires
-black painted aluminum wheels
-conventional spare tire and full-size aluminum wheel
Optional:
-silicone-rubber coolant hoses
-deleted paint stripes
-VASCAR two-peice speedometer cable
-spare-tire cover board
-radio noise-suppression package($60)
-130 amp alternator
-inoperative courtesy lamp switches
-delete door moldings

Just some stuff I was looking at reguarding this.

[Mustang Kid]

Thing is, CHP would never tamper with the mechanical/suspension side of the cars. They would not put disk brakes, or upgrade suspension, or swap motors, or ...
They modify the car, they are open to lawsuits of something happened. That's one of the reasons they don't put strobes in their cars, it's against the vehicle code and tampers with DOT safety standards.

[28HopUp]

Originally Posted by HBWaterfowler

There's no reason for me to think some kid installed the rear coilover thing. If you go search the internet, you wont find any coilover kit that looks like this. IE: one off, or maybe the last year of the TRX package they had a coilover option.

Many parts (OEM and aftermarket) have been discontinued since these cars were new. The coilovers on your car now are most likely aftermarket performance parts that are no longer available.

[93chipper]

the only thing chp may do was subframe connectors on some cars but not all cars had it from chp

[HBWaterfowler]

I've seen a few articles where the department did their own upgrades.
They were having problems keeping up with cars equipped with aftermarket parts. So they added some performance parts, and safety equipment. They featured it in some Mustang magazines.

I'm sure you are most likely right, aftermarket.
But it seems like a possibility that it could have been used in service like this.

The subframe connectors look old, and were welded on (similar to the wields for the c pillar and rear fender antenna from decommission).

I did a car fax on the car, and it had no DMV record until 1994.

From what I remember about the cars history from the man I bought it from.
The car was owned by a young dumb kid, and he didn’t know how to work on it. So he took it to a local automotive shop, they did repairs to the car. The bill was never pair, and the car was sold to another mechanic as a lean sale. It sat for a while and then I bought it in early 2011.

The subframe connector, rear coil over and 4 barrel eddlebrock carb is the only thing changed on the car when I got it.

I was hoping someone else might of had someone setup like this, but I guess not.

[FoxChassis]

TR and TRX is the same thing. Mercury called it "TR" after '81(?), that's where I got it from.

What you quoted above about the TRX and Handling/GT suspension is exactly what I said. There's nothing in there about being able to pick and choose parts within those packages. And if you ordered a V8 or a turbo 2.3L, the Handling/GT suspension was not optional. It was mandatory. The TRX suspension was optional on everything (except the models I listed on page 1), even the V8s and turbo 2.3, but the TRX parts replaced the Handling/GT suspension parts in those cases.

Nothing in the list of SSP-only parts shows anything about the suspension. SSP got the standard Handling/GT suspension. No changes. No extra duty control arms or bushings. No coil-over shocks. No larger (that Handling/GT) stabilizer bars. All standard stuff that every other V8 got.

[ImEvil1]

Originally Posted by 93chipper

the only thing chp may do was subframe connectors on some cars but not all cars had it from chp

Where did this information come from?