70 suspension drop??

70mustanguy · Oct 11, 2010

Im a little curious in the restoration of my 70 coupe. The previous owner i have learned has drop the front suspension by 2inches. I have heard the shelby mustangs drop the front suspension by just 1inch which help give it a bit crisper handling. But again the previous owner has dropped by 2inches. Can i expect the same improvments in handling like the shelby? Or could there be any problems im unaware about?

Sorry for any spelling or punctuation errors.

2+2GT · Oct 11, 2010

How was the suspension lowered? Klaus Arning (and later Shelby American) re-drilled the upper control arms 1" lower, which lowers the car about 5/8". This is not why you do this. The real benefit is the change in suspension geometry, and a startling improvement in handling at very little cost.

Arning/Shelby Suspension Drop

70mustanguy · Oct 11, 2010

2+2GT said:
How was the suspension lowered? Klaus Arning (and later Shelby American) re-drilled the upper control arms 1" lower, which lowers the car about 5/8". This is not why you do this. The real benefit is the change in suspension geometry, and a startling improvement in handling at very little cost.

http://site.cobranda.com/tech/aarms.pdf

Prevous owner pretty much lowerd as mentioned. Re-drilled the upper control arms. But instead of 1inch lower he did two. So i more curious with "whats the deal with 2" and wondering if lowering the control arms 2"lower have the same effect or better then 1". Or can i expect any problems droping them that low.

2+2GT · Oct 11, 2010

Hmmm… 2" would give you bump steer, wheel tramp, and binding of the upper ball joint, a trifecta of bad suspension modification. I'd change it to 1", which is what Shelby used. Anything more than that is strictly for track racing.

EP429 · Oct 11, 2010

Since you're already 2in down I'd whip out the drill & put a negative wedge kit in. Just me though

70mustanguy · Oct 12, 2010

Well i just wondering why the previous owner did 2" instead of 1" Because i dont know any advantages doing that. There has to be some thinking on why he went that way? He obivous drove it like this before he parked it but i'll probaly will change it back to 1" anyways. Just wanna know what kind of thinking went on ( though it could be possible that there was none) when he did this.

gregski · Oct 12, 2010

what size rims and tires are you running, may have something to do with it?

horseballz · Oct 12, 2010

Possible/probable that previous owner was an idiot and assumed that he was actually lowering the car by 2"!
Just my $.02,
Gene

rusty428cj · Oct 12, 2010

He could have done the Shelby drop and also cut the springs to lower the front end.

2+2GT · Oct 13, 2010

70mustanguy said:
Well i just wondering why the previous owner did 2" instead of 1" Because i dont know any advantages doing that. There has to be some thinking on why he went that way?

There aren't any advantages. Maybe he wanted a lowrider.

69gmachine · Oct 14, 2010

Did he lower the car 2 inches or the upper control arm? As mentioned, he could have lowered the car using shorter springs, which is the most common method. Lowering the UCA 2 inches is pretty extreme and would require other changes to keep the BJ from tearing itself apart.

Edit: I re-read the thread and it looks like you answered my question, UCA is 2 inches lower. Yep, you need to fix it.

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