I am doing the front suspension on my 65 fastback and wondering if I can get away with just using a 1 inch drop spring without doing the shelby drop also....???? What drop springs are the best for a street driven car... I do not want to slam the car... I just want to close the fender gap....
To close the fender gap, you're probably going to have to do quite a bit of a drop. The best way, IMO is to use drop springs & UCA relocation. On my 67 I used 620 drop springs, GW Neg Roll UCAs (relocated 1.25" lower than stock), and I still had to cut 1/2 coil off my springs....I may cut even a little bit more.
I would highly recommend doing the Shelby drop. You can drop it 1" without any problems with your suspension components. I did a 2" drop and shimmed the upper ball joints so they wouldn't bind. I want my car to be just a hair lower, but it's a really big improvement. I'm using the stock springs still. I just love the way my car handles now! It's terrific.
If you used the negative wedge kit that allows a 2 inch drop on 67- cars, plus 1" lowering springs, wouldnt the car be too low? Would a 3 inch drop not cause your wheels to rub?
I used the 620 1" drop spring and relocated my UCAs approx 1.25" lower for the Global West Neg. Roll kit. I'd say that these two items, which were supposed to deliver 1" of drop each, probably netted me 1" total drop from stock.
Then I cut 1/2 coil off my springs, and it dropped it almost another inch.
If you used the negative wedge kit that allows a 2 inch drop on 67- cars, plus 1" lowering springs, wouldnt the car be too low? Would a 3 inch drop not cause your wheels to rub?
I don't know. The 2" relocation of the UCA mounting points doesn't give you a 2" drop. It's maybe 1" or slightly more. The web site I posted above gives some info about this. I wish I had measured before doing it with my car.
On my '70, I have quite a bit of room after the 2" drop. My springs look pretty bad too, so I'd bet they're sagging. I drove around the other day with a couple other guys in the car, and no rubs on bumps or anything.
I'm running 195 70R14 tires still, so my tire diameter and width are still small.
I would recommend doing one thing at a time, then see where you are.
edit: My main point is that the Shelby drop actually improves your suspension geometry, from what I've read. Cutting springs helps handling by lowering the car, and looks good, but does nothing to improve the stock, oversteering, "grandma" suspension set up.