Suspension question for the experts

Discussion in 'Other Automotive Tech & Talk' started by ford84stepside, Sep 4, 2011.

  1. ford84stepside

    ford84stepside Lone Wolf

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2004
    Messages:
    4,038
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    132
    Location:
    Berry Alabama
    Vehicle:
    1947 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe
    I have a question maybe somebody can tell me if my thinking is right. I have a suspension sorta like a Maverick or Mustang II, upper and lower control arms, with strut rods off the front of the lower control arms to brackets bolted to the frame. It is a torsion bar setup now, I will be doing away with the bars and using coil overs from the bottom control arm to the top shock bracket, reinforcing the bracket as necessary. I believe the strut rods will be required to keep the LCA from moving on braking . Question is, can I reverse the strut rods, mounting them behind the front end like a Mustang II, instead of in front like a Maverick? I think that they would work the same way, just the force excerpted on them would be the opposite to the way they are now, push when they pull now, pull when they push now. They have rubber bushings on both sides of the bracket. This would be done to clean up the lines of the front end when looking from the front. It is an exposed suspension [no fenders], and I don't think the brackets sticking down under the frame beside the grill shell would look so good. The strut rods bolt onto the LCA with two bolts, and look to be reversible. I will mod the front brackets as needed to bolt to the back side of the frame, behind the tire. Does this sound feasible? Or am I stuck having to put the ugly things up front?
     
  2. Bryant

    Bryant forgot more than learned

    Joined:
    Aug 7, 2007
    Messages:
    6,538
    Likes Received:
    153
    Trophy Points:
    203
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    San Diego
    Vehicle:
    71 Maverick
    yes you can move it to the rear. you just have to get the location right
     
  3. rthomas771

    rthomas771 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 22, 2008
    Messages:
    8,010
    Likes Received:
    913
    Trophy Points:
    498
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    GA
    Vehicle:
    '74 Maverick 250 5-Speed.'60 Falcon V8. '63.5 Falcon HT
    Here's a suspension answer...but not from an expert.

    Jimmy’s racecar front suspension was replaced with a Torsion Bar Suspension from a '71 Plymouth Duster with a Pinto rack & pinion steering. Mopar's have rear mounted strut rod looking things mounted around where the transmission mount is located
     
  4. ford84stepside

    ford84stepside Lone Wolf

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2004
    Messages:
    4,038
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    132
    Location:
    Berry Alabama
    Vehicle:
    1947 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe

    That's what I wanted to hear!:thumbs2: Since the frame is the same width, location should be easy.
    Forgot to say what this is on, the Toyota PU frame on my street rod.
     
  5. ford84stepside

    ford84stepside Lone Wolf

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2004
    Messages:
    4,038
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    132
    Location:
    Berry Alabama
    Vehicle:
    1947 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe
    Anybody that knows more than I do can be an expert, Jeff!:D
    Just trying to get some good info from someone who knows suspensions better than I do.
     
  6. 65 comet

    65 comet Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2010
    Messages:
    246
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    65 Comet Caliente Hrdtp, 65 2+2 Mustang Fastback 4 spd 53 F100 project 67 Ford 1 ton 4x4 project
    When I saw your question I scratched this out for you as an Idea you might like, or maybe not. After you reverse the strut rods you can dress them up a little to help blend them in.
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Sep 4, 2011
  7. Mavman72

    Mavman72 Gone backwards but lookin' forward

    Joined:
    Apr 24, 2007
    Messages:
    6,759
    Likes Received:
    272
    Trophy Points:
    273
    Location:
    Buffalo N.Y.
    Vehicle:
    1972 Maverick 2 door.Original V-8 3 spd std shift.Also a 72 one owner Sprint sporting a 351 Windsor
    Hair pins!!! Cool. that would look cool and be adjustable...
     
  8. ford84stepside

    ford84stepside Lone Wolf

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2004
    Messages:
    4,038
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    132
    Location:
    Berry Alabama
    Vehicle:
    1947 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe
    Yeah, I was thinking about that idea, too. Not sure how I'd connect them in the front and still make them look right. A single strut rod with heim ends, attached to the outside of the frame might work, too. Would look like a split wishbone. Trying to get as traditional a look on the front end as possible without going to a straight axle. Now that I know that I can reverse them, I have a lot of ideas. As the weather cools down, maybe I can get the front end together before it gets too cold to work outside....
     
  9. 65 comet

    65 comet Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2010
    Messages:
    246
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    65 Comet Caliente Hrdtp, 65 2+2 Mustang Fastback 4 spd 53 F100 project 67 Ford 1 ton 4x4 project
    With this idea you use the original strut rods and weld the upper and lower tubes on and put some plates inbetween if you should desire them. I added another pic since the pdf file wasn't very clear. Good luck. :tiphat:
     
  10. mav1970

    mav1970 Bob Hatcher

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2002
    Messages:
    10,633
    Likes Received:
    322
    Trophy Points:
    398
    Location:
    Mountain Top Pa
    Vehicle:
    69.5 Maverick 393 Cleveland Stroker
    Now you know one should not deviate from stock there Mr. Sherman - you know I sure wouldn't :rofl2:
     
  11. 65 comet

    65 comet Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2010
    Messages:
    246
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    65 Comet Caliente Hrdtp, 65 2+2 Mustang Fastback 4 spd 53 F100 project 67 Ford 1 ton 4x4 project
    Mr. Hatcher, I have heard that you are one of them purist type guys and that is why you spend so much time in the garage making all those "ORIGINAL" parts fit so well. :biglaugh: :rofl2: :thumbs2:
     
  12. mav1970

    mav1970 Bob Hatcher

    Joined:
    Mar 9, 2002
    Messages:
    10,633
    Likes Received:
    322
    Trophy Points:
    398
    Location:
    Mountain Top Pa
    Vehicle:
    69.5 Maverick 393 Cleveland Stroker
    Hey, I'm sure they were "original" to something at one time :huh:
     
  13. cyclonewill

    cyclonewill Member

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2005
    Messages:
    703
    Likes Received:
    37
    Trophy Points:
    102
    Location:
    SandSprings, Oklahoma
    Vehicle:
    69.5 Maverick - (2)72 Maverick- 64 comet cyclone- 69 mustang 70 cougar -69 Ranchero - 73 Pinto
    I have the same yota frame on the 31. I cut off the first 6" or so oth the frame & have heim joints & tube connecting to the back hole of the LCA, and a plate welded under the frame 6" behind the round, bolt-in crossmember.

    I'm trying to post pics, but my phone won't let me.

    When I first looked at flipping my strut rods, there seemed to be a problem with frame interferance, and it looked like it would bind.
     
  14. ford84stepside

    ford84stepside Lone Wolf

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2004
    Messages:
    4,038
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    132
    Location:
    Berry Alabama
    Vehicle:
    1947 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe

    That's good to know. I'll get around to mocking it up in the next few weeks and then I'll see if I need to go with a custom heim jointed rod or not.
     
  15. ford84stepside

    ford84stepside Lone Wolf

    Joined:
    Nov 25, 2004
    Messages:
    4,038
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    132
    Location:
    Berry Alabama
    Vehicle:
    1947 Lincoln Zephyr Coupe
    They reversed just fine. I took the brackets off of the spare frame clip I have. Just need to cut them down to frame width and add a gusset or two.
     

Share This Page