99 Saleen gets a complete IRS refresh & rear coilover setup

Putting the IRS back in the 99 Saleen for good with a lot of new parts along the way. This one took a long time to put together, tried to capture most of the process. Thanks for watching!
0:00 - 0:42 - Recap
0:43 - 3:09 - Intro / Components
3:10 - 7:53 - Diff Cover
7:54 - 8:47 - Fluids
8:48 - 15:13 - Control Arms
15:14 - 16:23 - IRS Cradle
16:24 - 18:09 - Installing Lower Control Arms
18-10 - 18:40 - Need to build a base
18:41 - 19:48 - Installing Upper Control Arms
19:49 - 22:43 - Installing Differential Housing & Setting Angle
22:44 - 26:50 - Installing Half Shafts/Spindles/Toe Links/Camber Bolts/End links
26:51 - 27:39 - IRS Fully Assembled
27:40 - 30:02 - IRS Goes In
30:03 - 31:14 - Rear Coilover Setup
31:15 - 33:56 - Assembling Coilovers
33:57 - 34:54 - Installing Coilovers
34:55 - 35:47 - More Parts
35:47 - 37:40 - Outro
37:40 - 38:46 - Down on the ground
Massive THANKS to White Bat Audio. Music by White Bat audio.

[@braho4998]

Perfection. My opinion, but this is going to be one of the sickest new edges I’ve ever come across.

[@straightlaced]

Thank you! 🙏🙏 I really appreciate that. There are some really nice ones out there that are tough to beat but we are holding our own 😂😅 Its taken a long time and been a lot of work but very happy with the results so far 🤘

[@absoluterage1993]

man I have been following this channel for a while and have tried to replicate some of the ideas I thought I could pull off, but the meticulous details of this channel are incredible. this is going to be a priceless car when done.

[@muradkaratepe8499]

YES! YES! YES!

[@straightlaced]

👋

[@robertperez4742]

thank you for documenting and posting I always look forward to your vids and your amazing attention to detail

[@straightlaced]

Thank you for watching, I appreciate that! More exciting things to come😊

[@DeeOrzz]

Hypeeee!!! I felt that happiness at 38:10. Super exciting man, way to get her rolling!

[@straightlaced]

Thanks man, haha definitely a happy moment. One to remember. Seeing it in one solid color recently was another 😮😊

[@motocracy4828]

I had to go back and look how many years it's been now since I started watching your videos on this project and I couldn't believe it has been 6+ years! Wow, time flies. I have really enjoyed following this project and it inspired me to look for a similar car. I ended up finding a 01 Cobra about 3 years ago and I have been wanting to do something similar but just haven't had the garage space or the time to start because I know how much of a commitment it will be. On the bright side, I got my car from the original owner and it was "low" mileage so at least I have been able to put a few thousand miles on it the last few years. I definitely want to do the FTBR upgrades that you are doing! Really look forward to the continued journey and can't wait to see the final result!

[@straightlaced]

Thats awesome! I appreciate that! Sounds like its in great shape, thats perfect!...And just to be able to get in and drive it whenever and enjoy it for what it is....there is nothing wrong with that my friend! Take your time and enjoy it 😉 Definitely good planning ahead on the mods...when you already have a great running and driving car why take it off the road longer than it needs to be. When you're ready to tackle it you'll be ready and prepared 👊

[@emericask822]

Impressive. Jealous of the progress. Love the attention to detail and the Saleen custom shock brace.

[@straightlaced]

Thanks man I appreciate it! Definitely taking a while but very happy with how it's all coming out. The unique touches always add so much time but when it's done, it's very satisfying. Always tried to stick to the vision with no compromises... No matter how long it takes. 👊

[@dalpoas83]

Sn95forums brought me here and I’m so glad they did. Great videos and car

[@straightlaced]

that's cool! thanks for stopping by🙂

[@BestUnderPressure]

I used the FTBR IRS kit in my 99 Cobra. I've been very happy with it. I use the car for autocross and it's a huge improvement.

[@AtlanticBuilt]

Maaaaaan 🎉 such a great job! With the car, and all the shots. Loving this!!

[@straightlaced]

Thanks man! Means a lot coming from you and all the cool ish you've built 😊 Like I said, when the time comes maybe I strap her down, load up the ol' cclb, head over your way and get a nice center exhaust piece done 😮 😁

[@jth1987leb]

It’s always a pleasure when I get a notification that you uploaded a video. Side note, interesting why you lace your converse

[@straightlaced]

Haha thank you for all the support. Funny thing about the laces, they were laced like that out of the box and I just kep them like that because they worked so well 😂 I have like 10 different pairs of converse so figured why not mix it up a bit 😂

[@mchristr]

Taking weight off the front with the tubular k-member/control arms, and adding some in the rear (IRS) should help the balance. Quality work as always. Your videos never disappoint.

[@straightlaced]

Thank you, Much appreciated! Yes it should help. Will definitely be interesting to see how the weight distribution works out in the end. I do have a few ideas on shifting more weight to the back but we'll see how it all weighs out after the first go at it🙂

[@mchristr]

@@straightlaced Scaling the car and doing the chassis setup would make a great episode. Don't think any of your other videos have gotten this much traction so fast. It could be the title, or maybe you've hit a sweet spot with the algorithm.

[@straightlaced]

@mchristr yea! The vids clearly dont get too many views but this one did really well relative to what they usually do. Sometimes it may take me a while to get them put together but 0 or 500,000 views I'll keep releasing them as long as I can. 🙂

[@mchristr]

@@straightlaced Hey Adrian (spelling?), any updates on the car? Last time you were headed for the paint shop.

[@absoluterage1993]

@straightlaced I continue to genuinely appreciate your craftsmanship and phenomenal videos. I hope you know your efforts have made a significant difference in the way I'm building my 87 notch. I'm not the expert you are, but I've done the bottom of the car as close to the way you did yours as possible. I appreciate your videos by themselves, but view them as hugely valuable from an instruction perspective. I don't approach a part of the build without consulting your videos and I can only say that about one other builder.

[@Jackt-3]

Amazing to more work getting done!!!

[@straightlaced]

Any progress is good around here! 😅

[@claytonstallings1514]

Im currently building 01-413 to similar specs but without the full restoration that you have put into yours. I was just able to get the FTBR stuff in and the rear reinstalled. Its been great watching through your videos while recovering from ankle surgery. Hopefully in a couple of weeks I will be able to get back to some smaller stuff on the car.

[@straightlaced]

Awesome man, good taste! hope the recovery is going well!

[@claytonstallings1514]

​@straightlaced just wanted to drop in here. Hoping to get my engine back from the machine shop in the next 2 weeks. Picked up a 2.3 whipple for it as well. I figured I would drop in to see if I had missed a video. Since there wasn't a new one I decided to leave some motivational support.

[@XyXInc]

Have a built solid in my cobra and i'm thinking of going back IRS....videos like this keep nudging me to the IRS side.

[@foxbodiesforever9234]

Glad you still working on this project. Very detailed as always.

[@nathanpinnix4149]

Also, thank you very much for your attention to detail in your vid. Eibach had been making a larger rear sway bar, but they have discontinued manufacturing it. Do you know of any other source?

[@straightlaced]

Thanks for checking it out! I appreciate it! Yea I'm not too sure how much of a difference there would be over the oem sway bar. Not many of the big guys like Griggs, MM, steeda, or kenny brown offer them (at least I dont think!) so I'm thinking the OEM one will be sufficient enough. I know the rear eibach one sometimes interferes with the MM coilovers but dont have any direct experience with them.

[@lee161a]

Love the attention to detail. Did you powder coat the subframe or just clean it up?

[@straightlaced]

thanks, yes I had it powder coated

[@nathanpinnix4149]

I completed nearly all of the same upgrades to my first '99 Cobra using goodies from Full Tilt Boogie & Kenny Brown Performance. Then a "ricer" in a 350Z wrecked my mistress in 2016- hit & run - totaled my sweetheart. I have a 2nd '99 Cobra (Red) with 36k miles on it. There's thousands of dollars in parts in my work shop that I yet to install. You have given me some ideas that I believe I will implement. I am VERY surprised, however, that you did not replace the factory Diff Brace with a heavier after-market unit. After I made the same changes to my 1st Cobra, there was absolutely NO wheel-hop. By the way, are the new rear half-shafts factory spec?

[@straightlaced]

sorry to hear about the original car but awesome news on the replacment! Yea with the IRS there were a couple things I left out or just held back on that I may do in the future. We'll see how it drives and then make some adjustments/additions. The halfshafts are just OEM 04 Cobra halfshafts. I encapsulated and coated them to keep them from flash rusting.