v8 suspension

[mayer5oh]

i was planning to swap in some old stuff from my 5.0 to make my 4 banger handle better. sway bars, springs, shocks... but i was wondering how much i should cut the front and rear springs... i want it to sit pretty low, im thinking with the ponies and the tires i have on there now, i want to lower the front 1 and a half inches and 2 in the back... could anybody give me any suggestions on how much to cut off of stock lx springs?

 

[Red_LX]

A coil and a half off the front springs should get them down about where you want them, if I remember correctly. As for the rear springs, well...I don't really know if you can cut them. They have the "pigtail" on top which you definitely can't cut, and on the bottom they taper down to form a flat base to sit down against the control arm. You could try cutting off the bottom, but no guarantees...you'd probably have a hard time getting the spring to sit against the control arm properly afterward. (I've never done it myself but this is just based on what I think from looking at the springs)

 

[My80Cobra]

You can cut the bottom off the back's they will sit just fine. I have done it to several. TC springs into the Mustang's, no more sagging rear for me they are much stiffer..

 

[mayer5oh]

so how much off the back, coil and a half or are the springs different and off the bottom?

 

[Asha'man]

I doubt your 5.0 springs will help handling on the 2.3, especially if you cut them. Swaybars will definitely help, shocks you can only use if you put the V8 brakes on.

Ash

 

[Red_LX]

5.0 springs helped out my handling I thought, in the front at least. They were stiffer.

 

[glorkar]

I always thought that the gt and lx suspensions were the same (cheaper for ford just to swap drivetrain.)

 

[My80Cobra]

Yeah, I don't think the Gt rear springs were any different than the 4cyl. Why would they be they are not heavier in the rear. Go get some T-bird rear springs and cut a coil at least and then you can carry passenger's again.

 

[mayer5oh]

theres no difference in gt and 5.0 lx suspension... but the 4cyl. definately have softer springs front AND rear, ive tested this... try sitting on the back of a v8 and then a 4banger

 

[My80Cobra]

That is not a very accurate test! Go ahead and swap the springs then. Let us know how it rides when your done.

 

[My80Cobra]

Schucks, Kragen or Checker whatever it is in your neighborhood will sell you the same rear spring for a V-8 or 4cyl.

 

[Asha'man]

Fronts are different, why else would the V8 guys want four-cylinder springs for weight transfer in the front? Rears could be the same, though.

Ash

 

[bhuff30]

almost every model got slightly differnt springs all the way around. Weight and weight distribution has a huge effect on ride height. I can see my back end drop about an inch when I fill the gas tank from empty!

 

[mayer5oh]

i would think the spindles or at least the mounting points for the front struts would be the same for all the cars, will i really have to switch the whole assembly just to put on these struts?

 

[Asha'man]

The 2.3 spindles are wider at the strut mounting point than the 5.0 ones, so you could run the 2.3 struts with shims if you put the 5.0 spindles on, but not vice versa.

Ash