Does anyone make oem 1973 front coil springs?

[jamminfogger]

I have tried a couple of different suppliers and they all drop the front. I am looking to have the original ride height, not lowered. Any ideas on where to look?

 

[302 coupe]

your local MOOG supplier, I know NAPA sells their stuff so you might want to check there first.

 

[jamminfogger]

No kidding? I will check it out right now. Thanks

 

[jamminfogger]

Well NAPA might work although the only springs available are 302 w/ AC. I have 5 leaf heavy duty in the rear and would like HD coils in the front to match the rear. I figured front coils for the 351C or W w/AC would be stiffer but they no longer make them according to NAPA. Any more idears

 

[302 coupe]

run the 302 springs but use a larger sway bar. Best of both worlds. I think there's only about 60 lbs weight difference between a 302 and a 351W, hardly enough to notice.

 

[jamminfogger]

Yeah sounds like the way I will be going. I do have a big addco sway bar with poly bushings on the front already so hopefully it will handle the way I like em to.

 

[D.Hearne]

Theres a hundred pound weight difference between a Cleveland and a 302. Try Advance Auto Part's website. Or Autozone. I've got a pair of HD Stang springs hanging arounds I'll let you have cheap if you want to try em. I don't know if they're the lowering set though. I got em with a parts car a few years back. They're painted blue like the 620 lb springs.

 

[jamminfogger]

I will try Advance's website. What year was the donor car? My understanding is in 1971 Ford raised the upper control arm a bit for better suspension geometry? So a pre 71 spring is shorter than I need.

 

[D.Hearne]

These were with a 66 Stang parts car, but not ON the car. You might also try for a set of 71 429 Stang springs.

 

[D.Hearne]

Advance lists these two springs for a 71 Stang with a 429: CS 8356 & FCS8318S. These should raise your front, both are listed as heavy duty springs.

 

[jamminfogger]

Hey D. Hearne could you measure the blue springs you have. Relaxed height is what I am curious about, inside diameter would be cool too.

I have a bad feeling that advanced auto has the same springs I already have. The TRW springs they list give dimensions and they are the same height as the springs I already have and they ride to low.

 

[D.Hearne]

The relaxed height should be the same. The spring rate is what makes the difference. These blue ones are 12" tall and have 7 coils. The diameter of the spring stock is 11/16ths.

 

[jamminfogger]

Actually that has been the problem for my Mustang. My 73 uses longer front coils than 15" 67-70.

When I took the stockers off I was suprised that they were so much longer than the replacements I got from NPD and the replacements that I got from American Pony and every other "one size fits 67-73".

It dont work partner, not if you want the stock ride height back. I think the springs you have are for 64-66 but I appreciate the offer!

 

[D.Hearne]

Yea, thats a pretty good difference in length, but the only true test is to put them in and let the car's weight settle them where they may. Relaxed height with worn out stock O.E. springs and settled height with the car's weight on new springs is a whole nother ballgame. The two don't relate to each other. Those 429 spec springs are a different part number than the ones spec'd for the 351. So they're not going to be the same, even if the two are the same length out of the car. I changed the springs in my 68 Merc Monterey both front and rear, and while I don't recall the front old vs new out of the car, on the rear, I at first put in new springs for my application, then I got a set of station wagon spec'd rears (which is what I wanted to start with) Out of the car both the 2 door & station wagon springs are the same height, but in the car, there's a 2-3 inch difference in ride height.

 

[jamminfogger]

Yeah I am now trying to decide between the 8356 and 8318. The photos look like the 8356 is thicker (higher spring rate) but who knows. It will take 10 days to get them in too. I wish they gave the spring rates for the McQuay's on Advance Auto's website!

 

[D.Hearne]

If the front is too high with the 429 springs, you can always cut them down.

 

[jamminfogger]

Wellllll... the crappy thing is they show both those part #'s for the 429 and 351. I may have to order both sets and see them with my own eyes then choose the heavier springs.