I want to get rid of my fuel cell and go back to stock. Only thing stopping it is the diag link. Wouldn't pan-hard work just as well? Years ago I saw a third gen with ladder bars with the fuel tank in place.

 

Diagonal link, panhard bar, watts link, wishbone, etc all do the same thing. They keep the diff centered as it moves up and down through it's suspension travel. Back when I had ladder bars, I was using an aftermarket panhard bar and it worked fine.

When I switched to a 4-link system, I used a diagonal link and hated it. I switched to a wishbone and still use it.

 

You can see the location of the diagonal link on my mustang.



Maybe I don't understand, but how would something like this keep you from using your stock gas tank? My diagonal link goes from one ladderbar bracket on the rearend to the frame bracket on the opposite side.

 

Sorry. I am using the wrong terminology. I have a bar that is "diagonal" that mounts to the top of the rear end housing and goes to the chassis. Track locater would be the right term I think. That bar and the fact I have a lateral for coil overs in the tank location is why I have to run the fuel cell. I probably could get by with stock suspension setup but I already have the back half done so might as well use it or sell car as is and start fresh.