Hi all, I know that this has been discussed lately, but I have a couple questions about it, and i would like your opinion. I have a 73 Mav, and I changed the front bumpers to the 72 style, so this took off quite a bit of weight. The engine is out of a late model Mustang, and it is lighter than my original 302 (it had cast iron manifolds (intake and exhaust), huge a/c compressor). I also put power disc brakes on it, and ever since doing that, the front suspension has been way too high. Maybe it needs to settle, but it has been together, rolling, and sitting on the suspension for quite some time now, and the front has not gone down much or at all since the beginning. What are some tips for getting the front end down. Even if I can get it to stock height in the front, I think I want it about an inch lower for the squaty, nasty, mean machine affect. Would 620 Mustang springs get the desired effect, or do the coils need to be chopped? I need to get the facts straight, because after the headliner and glass is put in next week, the alignment will get done, and I want it sitting properly. Has anyone had the problem I am having? Thanks for any suggestions. -Corbin
I ordered a set of front V8 springs and put them in several weeks ago. The car looked like it was a 4X4 in the front - all jacked up. There is no way they were going to settle. I cut one coil off the spring with a dremel and it looks perfect ... Dan
is this what you're trying to achieve? http://www.geocities.com/mavman687/bym.htm we cut 1 1/2 coils off of the original springs (250 inline 6). If I had to do it over again, I'd only cut 1 full coil as with the turbo, the downpipe it hits the bigger bumps in the road occasionally. Handles great (for a maverick), and rides better than a factory setup. A bit firmer, but nowhere near stiff.
The spring clamps sold in J.C. Whitney work pretty well, can drop the front end by close to 2 inches. Cheap too, only about $10 if I remember correctly.
Mavman, Your Mav looks good, but I think you are right, and I would only take 1 full coil off, because I want it a little higher than that in the front, but now you guys get the idea. I guess the concensus is that my springs need to lose a coil to sit back a little less than normally. DO the spring clamps work well? I don't know about using these, but I think the better setup would be to cut the springs. Correct me if I am wrong. Thanks, and it won't go in for a week or two, so any more suggestions are welcome! Thanks again. -Corbin
I know that a hot rod company has 1 inch drop spindles for the Granada, which is essentially the same as the Maverick disc brake spindles. I can't remember what the company was called, but I found out about them on this web site. Maybe if you search for it in this site, you can find it. -Corbin
I've got the clamps on my '72 from J.C. Whitney. I really had no problem putting them on and they've held up fine for the last 6 years or so. I get a little nervous about cutting springs, kinda hard to fix if you cut too much Clamps can always be taken off or adjusted to suit your tastes. Just a suggestion.
That's true about the clamps. I guess now I just have to make a decision. What are everyone's opinion? Clamps or Cut? -Corbin
A cut is final..... Clamps can be adj. until you have the height and ride YOU want... Jusy my 2 cents worth.
cut them.... clamps are not a great way of doing it. as my father would say " its mickey mouse" yes clamps do work cuz i had them back in the day but i wouldn't do it again. By doing this the spring isn't doing its full job.. but then again by cutting them the spring isn't doing its full job either. Now the right way is the get the spindels but thats an arm and a leg. Cutting them is the time and labor, and yes you may have to pull them out and cut them again if its not low enough. But my vote is for aftermarket springs and cut them. Good luck in what ever you do.
I'd say drive the car first. They have a tendancy to settle a lot after about a mile or so of driving. The tires have so much width change with suspension drop that they stay bound-up after you let the thing back down. It's probably going to still be too high for your tastes, but you'll get a better idea of what you need to do. And I don't like Mickey Mouse fixes either, but I see cutting the springs being just as much of a 'hack' as clamps are. Neither is the 'right' way (you've gotta do what you've gotta do though!).
i haven't seen anyone mention changing to the 6 cylinder springs. how much will they drop the car and will they work. i don't like cutting the springs either but i want to drop the front on my 71 grabber a couple of inches too.
I used a set of 6 cyl springs a long time ago and they gave me the height I wanted. However since the restoration, with all the aluminum components on my motor, and the fact they sat unloaded for almost a year, they are now higher than I like. I'm hoping they drop as time goes on but I will probably have to eventually cut them to get the front back down.
