Classic Mustangs List Archive

This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Per H. Rosen (email redacted)

Hi All !!!

I have been following the threads on front suspensions, what to buy and
where to get it, and I am still a bit confused. I am about to redo my front
suspension, and I need some advice:

1) If I don't have $ 1,600 to spend on a Total Control kit, which "normal"
kit is the best one? (This is a daily driver)

2) Should I buy new springs, and since I would like the car to handle a
little better, should I buy the 620 lbs. springs? (What is the original
spring rating for a smallblock 1968 Mustang anyway?)

3) Should I get a thicker swaybar instead of the higher rated springs?
Polyurethane bushings perhaps...

4) Oh, is there a way to really know whether my a-arms are rebuildable or
not?

Thanks for your advice !!!

Per H. Rosen
Costa Mesa, CA
1968 Mustang "J" Coupe


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This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: John Groover (email redacted)

Hey Rosen, I am in the middle of this very same process on my 66 200. It
started as a front brake inspection and has now turned into a whole front
end restoration!

The best thing to do is buy a kit of some kind cause it is cheaper in the
long run. I started out buying individual parts, a big waste of time when
you are calling the parts store five times a week. And your fiance' is
wondering why in the hell you are inviting the UPS Man to your wedding!

I would buy the kit for the upper and lower arms then the rest of it you can
buy later when you get more money. You can rebuild the arms but you have to
cut off the old rivets that hold the ball joints on and clean the things up.
I got the kit for about 300 and Im going to rebuild my original Ford arms
and powder coat them later when this is done. The sway bar, springs, shocks
are easy to put on and can be done anytime.

As for the springs, I don't know what the originals were for your car but
people here on the list and the guy at the store said unless your racing the
car then the 600 springs would be to stiff. Since you are driving yours
daily would probably want a smooth and comfortable ride. I got new springs
rated around 475 that lower the car an inch with combination of KYB shocks.
Hopefully this will increase the performance and give me a nice ride. (Ill
see soon!)

I also got the 1 inch sway bar cause it didn't cost that much. And for the
Polyurethane bushings, I got them for the struts and sway arm. They don't
flex as much as rubber and last for a long time, but they are supposed to
squeak. Will see about that too.

I hope that helped a little, email me if you have any questions and Ill let
you know how all this experimenting goes when Im done.

Later,
John
66 200 Sprint

>From: "Per H. Rosen" <(email redacted)>
>Reply-To: (email redacted)
>To: (email redacted)
>Subject: [CM:21042] Suspension questions (and my location)
>Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 14:01:40 -0400
>
>Hi All !!!
>
>I have been following the threads on front suspensions, what to buy and
>where to get it, and I am still a bit confused. I am about to redo my front
>suspension, and I need some advice:
>
>1) If I don't have $ 1,600 to spend on a Total Control kit, which "normal"
>kit is the best one? (This is a daily driver)
>
>2) Should I buy new springs, and since I would like the car to handle a
>little better, should I buy the 620 lbs. springs? (What is the original
>spring rating for a smallblock 1968 Mustang anyway?)
>
>3) Should I get a thicker swaybar instead of the higher rated springs?
>Polyurethane bushings perhaps...
>
>4) Oh, is there a way to really know whether my a-arms are rebuildable or
>not?
>
>Thanks for your advice !!!
>
>Per H. Rosen
>Costa Mesa, CA
>1968 Mustang "J" Coupe
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
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This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: Ryan LeBlanc (email redacted)

I am doing my front end right now also. Just got my 65 Coupe, and the
Bushing on the Passenger side upper control arm was totally stripped. This
was letting the control arm slip forward and back. So, I decided to go
ahead and do the whole thing. It is all original, and quite "sorry"
looking. I got a $250 kit from California Mustang that includes the upper
and lower control arms, and shock mount. Lucky for me California Mustang is
about 5 Minutes down the road. I don't have to wait for the UPS guy ;o)

Since this is my first major work on my Mustang, I am very excited to
officially be starting on it ;o)

Ryan LeBlanc
65 Mustang Coupe, 289, C4 Auto, Pony Interior, Midnight Blue
97 Dodge Dakota, 318, 5 spd, 4x2, Black
Hacienda Heights, California, USA
ryanandjoellen.com

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Groover" <(email redacted)>
To: <(email redacted)>
Sent: Monday, March 27, 2000 10:02 PM
Subject: Re: [CM:21083] Suspension questions (and my location)


> Hey Rosen, I am in the middle of this very same process on my 66 200. It
> started as a front brake inspection and has now turned into a whole front
> end restoration!
>
> The best thing to do is buy a kit of some kind cause it is cheaper in the
> long run. I started out buying individual parts, a big waste of time when
> you are calling the parts store five times a week. And your fiance' is
> wondering why in the hell you are inviting the UPS Man to your wedding!
>
> I would buy the kit for the upper and lower arms then the rest of it you
can
> buy later when you get more money. You can rebuild the arms but you have
to
> cut off the old rivets that hold the ball joints on and clean the things
up.
> I got the kit for about 300 and Im going to rebuild my original Ford
arms
> and powder coat them later when this is done. The sway bar, springs,
shocks
> are easy to put on and can be done anytime.
>
> As for the springs, I don't know what the originals were for your car but
> people here on the list and the guy at the store said unless your racing
the
> car then the 600 springs would be to stiff. Since you are driving yours
> daily would probably want a smooth and comfortable ride. I got new
springs
> rated around 475 that lower the car an inch with combination of KYB
shocks.
> Hopefully this will increase the performance and give me a nice ride. (Ill
> see soon!)
>
> I also got the 1 inch sway bar cause it didn't cost that much. And for
the
> Polyurethane bushings, I got them for the struts and sway arm. They don't
> flex as much as rubber and last for a long time, but they are supposed to
> squeak. Will see about that too.
>
> I hope that helped a little, email me if you have any questions and Ill
let
> you know how all this experimenting goes when Im done.
>
> Later,
> John
> 66 200 Sprint
>
> >From: "Per H. Rosen" <(email redacted)>
> >Reply-To: (email redacted)
> >To: (email redacted)
> >Subject: [CM:21042] Suspension questions (and my location)
> >Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 14:01:40 -0400
> >
> >Hi All !!!
> >
> >I have been following the threads on front suspensions, what to buy and
> >where to get it, and I am still a bit confused. I am about to redo my
front
> >suspension, and I need some advice:
> >
> >1) If I don't have $ 1,600 to spend on a Total Control kit, which
"normal"
> >kit is the best one? (This is a daily driver)
> >
> >2) Should I buy new springs, and since I would like the car to handle a
> >little better, should I buy the 620 lbs. springs? (What is the original
> >spring rating for a smallblock 1968 Mustang anyway?)
> >
> >3) Should I get a thicker swaybar instead of the higher rated springs?
> >Polyurethane bushings perhaps...
> >
> >4) Oh, is there a way to really know whether my a-arms are rebuildable or
> >not?
> >
> >Thanks for your advice !!!
> >
> >Per H. Rosen
> >Costa Mesa, CA
> >1968 Mustang "J" Coupe
> >
> >
> >------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >All the list info you'll ever want: antler.moose.to/~server/cm
>
> ______________________________________________________
> Get Your Private, Free Email at hotmail.com
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> All the list info you'll ever want: antler.moose.to/~server/cm
>


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This read-only message was archived from a public mail list.
Mail From: John Groover (email redacted)

I also got my suspension parts from California mustang (cause they were the
cheapest by 30 dollars, DUM. Everything seems good but I wouldnt buy from
there again. I found out later when I got the parts that the things were
made in Mexico and of course they dont tell you that unless you ask. And
even if you do they say the parts are made over seas. Mexico doesnt have the
best rep for building auto parts. Stick with the American made parts, much
better!

>From: "Ryan LeBlanc" <(email redacted)>
>Reply-To: (email redacted)
>To: (email redacted)
>Subject: Re: [CM:21086] Suspension questions (and my location)
>Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2000 02:20:20 -0400
>
>I am doing my front end right now also. Just got my 65 Coupe, and the
>Bushing on the Passenger side upper control arm was totally stripped. This
>was letting the control arm slip forward and back. So, I decided to go
>ahead and do the whole thing. It is all original, and quite "sorry"
>looking. I got a $250 kit from California Mustang that includes the upper
>and lower control arms, and shock mount. Lucky for me California Mustang
>is
>about 5 Minutes down the road. I don't have to wait for the UPS guy ;o)
>
>Since this is my first major work on my Mustang, I am very excited to
>officially be starting on it ;o)
>
>Ryan LeBlanc
>65 Mustang Coupe, 289, C4 Auto, Pony Interior, Midnight Blue
>97 Dodge Dakota, 318, 5 spd, 4x2, Black
>Hacienda Heights, California, USA
>ryanandjoellen.com
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "John Groover" <(email redacted)>
>To: <(email redacted)>
>Sent: Monday, March 27, 2000 10:02 PM
>Subject: Re: [CM:21083] Suspension questions (and my location)
>
>
> > Hey Rosen, I am in the middle of this very same process on my 66 200.
>It
> > started as a front brake inspection and has now turned into a whole
>front
> > end restoration!
> >
> > The best thing to do is buy a kit of some kind cause it is cheaper in
>the
> > long run. I started out buying individual parts, a big waste of time
>when
> > you are calling the parts store five times a week. And your fiance' is
> > wondering why in the hell you are inviting the UPS Man to your wedding!
> >
> > I would buy the kit for the upper and lower arms then the rest of it you
>can
> > buy later when you get more money. You can rebuild the arms but you have
>to
> > cut off the old rivets that hold the ball joints on and clean the things
>up.
> > I got the kit for about 300 and Im going to rebuild my original Ford
>arms
> > and powder coat them later when this is done. The sway bar, springs,
>shocks
> > are easy to put on and can be done anytime.
> >
> > As for the springs, I don't know what the originals were for your car
>but
> > people here on the list and the guy at the store said unless your racing
>the
> > car then the 600 springs would be to stiff. Since you are driving yours
> > daily would probably want a smooth and comfortable ride. I got new
>springs
> > rated around 475 that lower the car an inch with combination of KYB
>shocks.
> > Hopefully this will increase the performance and give me a nice ride.
>(Ill
> > see soon!)
> >
> > I also got the 1 inch sway bar cause it didn't cost that much. And for
>the
> > Polyurethane bushings, I got them for the struts and sway arm. They
>don't
> > flex as much as rubber and last for a long time, but they are supposed
>to
> > squeak. Will see about that too.
> >
> > I hope that helped a little, email me if you have any questions and Ill
>let
> > you know how all this experimenting goes when Im done.
> >
> > Later,
> > John
> > 66 200 Sprint
> >
> > >From: "Per H. Rosen" <(email redacted)>
> > >Reply-To: (email redacted)
> > >To: (email redacted)
> > >Subject: [CM:21042] Suspension questions (and my location)
> > >Date: Mon, 27 Mar 2000 14:01:40 -0400
> > >
> > >Hi All !!!
> > >
> > >I have been following the threads on front suspensions, what to buy and
> > >where to get it, and I am still a bit confused. I am about to redo my
>front
> > >suspension, and I need some advice:
> > >
> > >1) If I don't have $ 1,600 to spend on a Total Control kit, which
>"normal"
> > >kit is the best one? (This is a daily driver)
> > >
> > >2) Should I buy new springs, and since I would like the car to handle a
> > >little better, should I buy the 620 lbs. springs? (What is the original
> > >spring rating for a smallblock 1968 Mustang anyway?)
> > >
> > >3) Should I get a thicker swaybar instead of the higher rated springs?
> > >Polyurethane bushings perhaps...
> > >
> > >4) Oh, is there a way to really know whether my a-arms are rebuildable
>or
> > >not?
> > >
> > >Thanks for your advice !!!
> > >
> > >Per H. Rosen
> > >Costa Mesa, CA
> > >1968 Mustang "J" Coupe
> > >
> > >
> >
> >------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > >All the list info you'll ever want: antler.moose.to/~server/cm
> >
> > ______________________________________________________
> > Get Your Private, Free Email at hotmail.com
> >
> >
> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > All the list info you'll ever want: antler.moose.to/~server/cm
> >
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------------
>All the list info you'll ever want: antler.moose.to/~server/cm

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