65 Suspension Question

[OrlandoStang]

I am planning on getting new springs/shocks for my 65 coupe. The Street Bandit Kit from NPD (#5000-1A) looks good and in my price range, but it does not come with rear springs. The front springs are 1" lower and it comes with a 1" drop rear blocks, so my questions is which rear springs do I need to make it level. Do I get OEM rears (5560-43), or 1" lower rears (5560-60)? I would rather I be high in the back then sag, if that matters.

I also plan on running 245/45R17s on 17x8 Chrome 01 Cobra rims with the Late Model Adapter Kit (1106-1A), from what I have read, these should fit, if anyone thinks other wise please let me know.

Thanks.

 

[SoCalCruising]

You will want 4.75" backspacing to make those tires fit and you will need, I believe, to have relocated the upper control arms, a la Shelby. The "Shelby drop" will provide some neg. camber gain when you corner and keep the tires from rubbing up front, hopefully. The rears, IMHO, will be a crapshoot. They might work fine if you don't lower the car much. A 225 series tire is pretty much a sure thing for fit and larger is iffy, at best. I recently changed from a 245/50-16 because of tire rub on the rear when going over bumps or dips. By rearend is down 1.5-2" from stock and the springs are very stiff - and the tires still rubbed. A 225/55-16 tire is the same (very close) circumference and they rarely rub.

So, to answer your question, get springs that don't lower the rear - standard eye/not dearched, and try them with and without the spacer to see what works.

 

[dodgestang]

Since I run 245 40 17 on the front of my 65 mustang...I would recommend not running the 245 45. And if its a street car, I would not recommend running a 245, the 235 I used to run was more 'street' friendly in terms of low speed driving and more street alignment. You will get terrible mileage out of the tires because you need to run an aggressive alignment (which I do because its not a daily drive type of car)

 

[OrlandoStang]

Thanks for the replys.

I would like to run the 245/45R17s b/c I already have them left over from when I got new wheels on my 01 Cobra.

So would they fit better if I did no drop and just when with OEM size coils/leafs?

Thanks.

 

[dodgestang]

All things are possible. You need to do the shelby a arm drop. You will most likely need to roll the front and rear fender lips, and you will need a racing style alignment that puts a lot of tip on the tire.

On the plus side, it will corner great.

My car is lowered BTW

 

[1965-Mustang]

I run 235/45/17 on the front with 255/40/17 with all 4 wheels having 4.75" of backspacing on the back of my 65. The back has 4.5 leaf Maeir Racing Low Springs (1.25" drop) with KYB shocks and the front is all stock with no shelby mod.. yet. I did not roll any of the lips and I have not noticed any rubbing yet although I have not driven it much at all. I will probably roll the fronts and rears just in case as the fronts do come close.

I'm not sure what backspacing/offset those wheels have and what correction the adapter kit will make it at but this is just what I run if it helps at all.

 

[66Runt]

Why not mount up a pair of 235/45 for the front

and keep the extra pair of 245's for when you smoke the rears off?
Best of both worlds. A tire that fits correctly, and two sets of rears for having fun.
I'm running 235/45 on 17x8 w/4.75" B.S. On my '66 they "just" fit with a 1" UCA drop and 1.5" spring drop -0.5* camber and no lip roll up front.
The rear is a whole different story.

 

[jmenke]

you're in Orlando. Florida I assume.

I'm also in Orlando, but this is a big town. Keep your eyes open for a dark green '66 convertable with a tan top and an EFI engine. PM me and maybe we can get together, you can compare my stance etc. to get an idea of where you want to be.

I used to have my car lowered front and rear running 235 x 45 R17s.

Front upper arm was lowered 1 5/8" (pro motor sports kit) with 1" lowering Eibach coils. No rolled lips. You could bearly get your fingers between the tire and fender. It would rub when I pulled into my driveway and I was always afraid of manhole covers with the long tube headers. I finally came to my senses after I went to a show in a park, hit a horse shoe pit, and bent the passenger fender pretty good. I put the upper A-arms back into stock position.

The rear was lowered using mid-eye 4 1/4 leaf springs. For some reason, the passenger side would rub if I hit a bump too hard. I started running air shocks after I raised the front to get the stance right. I ended up pulling those springs/shocks and purchased, of all things, 5 leaf springs that are actually 1 inch lift over stock. The rear has almost 2" vertical clearance between the fender lip and the tire now, which is perfect for running on the pot-holed streets in O' town, and I like the way it looks. BTW, the passenger side has the same fender to tire horizontal clearance as the driver now. I'm not sure why it was off before. I thought it was due to the Lincoln Versailles rear not being right for the car.

Jim

 

[OrlandoStang]

Jim- I'm in Altamonte Springs. Do you ever go to the Casselberry Meet on the 2nd saturday of the month?


I'm thinking now of just getting OEM size replacement springs and new shocks, so I won't have to worry about rubbing too much. How does that sound?

 

[jmenke]

I've been there a few times, but I don't stay very long.
I'd rather be driving than sitting.
I'll try to get there this weekend.

Jim

 

[OrlandoStang]

Jim - Sounds good, I'm planning on being there, so look for my 65, it is Ivy Green w/Ivy and Gold Interior, and as of now it is complety stock.


Kyle