Suspension Recommendations

[73GrandStang]

I'm going to start working on getting my '73 back on the road soon and I'm slowly trying to piece together a parts list.

When I did the suspension on my '65 (creeping up on 20 years ago) I got a kit from Mustangs Plus after speaking with one of their techs who recommended certain springs (coils and leaf). Sadly, for the life of me, I can't remember what that set up was (4, 4.5, or 5 leaf, mid-eye, standard, or reverse eye, etc) and they're not around anymore.

The plan is to the have a slight rake to it, with the rear end at (or a bit lower than) stock height and the front dropped a bit.

I'm not planning on doing any racing, just some spirited driving, so I don't want/need anything too crazy. I think I'll be doing other upgrades (beefier sway bars, subframe connectors, and TCPs MC and export brace come to mind). The car will mostly be a city driver, and occasional canyon cruiser.

Any tips and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Stanglover]

IMO, use ONLY Eaton Detroit Springs springs. You can call them and actually talk to someone or use their website.
I had a very bad experience with so called springs that started to reverse bend after a short time, in other words, they were not made from the proper grade spring steel.

EDIT: added pic to show reverse bend in crap springs.

 

[rcadd1ct]

This amount of rake is stock front springs with the Shelby drop via global west negative roll upper a arm with 3 degrees of caster added and 5 leaf rear springs

Front has a bunch of Opentracker parts,but the Shelby drop lowers it.

 

[73GrandStang]

This amount of rake is stock front springs with the Shelby drop via global west negative roll upper a arm with 3 degrees of caster added and 5 leaf rear springs

Front has a bunch of Opentracker parts,but the Shelby drop lowers it.

I was under the impression the the "Shelby drop" wasn't a thing for '71-'73s. I know I did it on my '65, but I was under the impression that that had been addressed by Ford by '71...

 

[c9zx]

I was under the impression the the "Shelby drop" wasn't a thing for '71-'73s. I know I did it on my '65, but I was under the impression that that had been addressed by Ford by '71...

It was. Chuck

 

[rcadd1ct]

I was under the impression the the "Shelby drop" wasn't a thing for '71-'73s. I know I did it on my '65, but I was under the impression that that had been addressed by Ford by '71...

My thoughts to, but I chatted with global west and they said more was helpful for radial tires

 

[Paul M]

I'm going to start working on getting my '73 back on the road soon and I'm slowly trying to piece together a parts list.

When I did the suspension on my '65 (creeping up on 20 years ago) I got a kit from Mustangs Plus after speaking with one of their techs who recommended certain springs (coils and leaf). Sadly, for the life of me, I can't remember what that set up was (4, 4.5, or 5 leaf, mid-eye, standard, or reverse eye, etc) and they're not around anymore.

The plan is to the have a slight rake to it, with the rear end at (or a bit lower than) stock height and the front dropped a bit.

I'm not planning on doing any racing, just some spirited driving, so I don't want/need anything too crazy. I think I'll be doing other upgrades (beefier sway bars, subframe connectors, and TCPs MC and export brace come to mind). The car will mostly be a city driver, and occasional canyon cruiser.

Any tips and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

I ran through my suspension a year ago and wouldn't change a thing. I 1st added the 5-leaf rear with a std eye. It was nice till I added the 1" drop spring on the front giving it that "Rake" then the heavy rear leafs rode like an unloaded truck/or jacked up air shock car & it was only a 1" higher in the rear and 1" lower in the front. It was a "teetering" process, every time I changed something it effected the opposing side a bit. I ended up with 3/8" spacers in the front giving it 3/4" just below stock ride height. The stock front springs are .650 the 1" drop springs are .720 thicker and stiffer. Even though I went back up a little it's nice and rigid around the corners. When I brought the front back up, I needed 3/4" more on the rear, so I added 1 1/2" more than the stock shackle (ends up 3/4"). While I was adding the spacers on the front, I ditched the "new squeaky" saddles with saddles with grease inserts. I have 60 series 15's 245 on front (kind of wide) slight rub hard left down drive with dropped springs no spacers & 275s rear.