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  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
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front springs

  • Thread starter Thread starter 65Rob
  • Start date Start date Jan 10, 2012

65Rob

Member
Nov 29, 1999
276
6
19
Victoria, BC, Canada
Jan 10, 2012
#1
  • Jan 10, 2012
  • #1
I'm getting closer to sorting out the new suspension for my 65. I'm wanting to go with 1" lowering springs in the front, mid eyes in the rear. Looking at the springs, there's 1" GT and 1" 560lb also progressive rate ones but I don't know if they are lower? This is all from Opentracker if that matters. Not sure what the difference is in all this, want a nice handling, nice stance car. I'm thinking the GT ones would suffice although I do like the idea of the progressive if they provide the 1" drop I want. Any thoughts on this would be appreciated.
 

JonK

Member
Jun 6, 2007
276
0
16
Nashville (Smyrna), TN
Jan 10, 2012
#2
  • Jan 10, 2012
  • #2
I would contact John at OTR and ask the difference in the two springs, he's a great guy and won't steer you wrong or sell you something you don't need. I put 1" drop 560's and mideye leafs on my '67 and it came out level fr/rear w/in 1/4". I also did the 1" shelby drop at the same time but it only brings the front down 1/4-1/2".
Jon
 

65Rob

Member
Nov 29, 1999
276
6
19
Victoria, BC, Canada
Jan 11, 2012
#3
  • Jan 11, 2012
  • #3
JonK said:
I would contact John at OTR and ask the difference in the two springs, he's a great guy and won't steer you wrong or sell you something you don't need. I put 1" drop 560's and mideye leafs on my '67 and it came out level fr/rear w/in 1/4". I also did the 1" shelby drop at the same time but it only brings the front down 1/4-1/2".
Jon
Click to expand...

Thanks Jon, I'll do that
 

kylehamilton79

Member
Feb 2, 2009
66
0
6
Lubbock, TX
Jan 16, 2012
#4
  • Jan 16, 2012
  • #4
I have 550# 1" drop springs on my front and they work really well and it sits nice and low with the Shelby drop too. The only thing I had problems with was figuring out what tire size to run with my 17s since my 245/45s rubbed a bit.
 

65Rob

Member
Nov 29, 1999
276
6
19
Victoria, BC, Canada
Jan 17, 2012
#5
  • Jan 17, 2012
  • #5
kylehamilton79 said:
I have 550# 1" drop springs on my front and they work really well and it sits nice and low with the Shelby drop too. The only thing I had problems with was figuring out what tire size to run with my 17s since my 245/45s rubbed a bit.
Click to expand...

I talked to John at OTR and for my purposes he recommended the GT 1" drop springs. Tire size will be an issue I need to deal with later on. What did you settle on? I was thinking 235/45 on the back and 225/45 on the front but I wouldn't mind bigger if they fit, are the 245/45's ok on the rear?
 

kylehamilton79

Member
Feb 2, 2009
66
0
6
Lubbock, TX
Jan 17, 2012
#6
  • Jan 17, 2012
  • #6
Yeah I think those are the springs he recommended to me too. They work really well. I've got 225/40s on the front and 245/45 on the back. The back tires scrape just a tad when I hit a low spot in the road but I'm going to try to roll the rear fenders hopefully. If I could do it again I'd probably run a 235/45 on the back just so I could drive a little harder. Some guys have been able to run 245/45 all around, but I have had some issues when I tried, so I bought new front tires and have 2 spares now for the rear.
 

65Rob

Member
Nov 29, 1999
276
6
19
Victoria, BC, Canada
Jan 17, 2012
#7
  • Jan 17, 2012
  • #7
kylehamilton79 said:
Yeah I think those are the springs he recommended to me too. They work really well. I've got 225/40s on the front and 245/45 on the back. The back tires scrape just a tad when I hit a low spot in the road but I'm going to try to roll the rear fenders hopefully. If I could do it again I'd probably run a 235/45 on the back just so I could drive a little harder. Some guys have been able to run 245/45 all around, but I have had some issues when I tried, so I bought new front tires and have 2 spares now for the rear.
Click to expand...


Thanks for the tire info, sounds like the 235 rear, 225 front is the best bet. I have a lowered truck that does the rub here and there if it's overloaded or hits a dip in the road. It bugs me plenty so I don't want to go there again.
 

kylehamilton79

Member
Feb 2, 2009
66
0
6
Lubbock, TX
Jan 21, 2012
#8
  • Jan 21, 2012
  • #8
Looking forward to seeing what your car looks like.
 

65Rob

Member
Nov 29, 1999
276
6
19
Victoria, BC, Canada
Jan 23, 2012
#9
  • Jan 23, 2012
  • #9
kylehamilton79 said:
Looking forward to seeing what your car looks like.
Click to expand...

Yeah me too but there's a long way to go. I'm about 3/4 done with the sheet metal repairs, still a lot of final bodywork after that and the car is totally gutted so lots of assembly as well.
 

Rusty67

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 3, 2002
3,749
37
109
LA, CA
Jan 24, 2012
#10
  • Jan 24, 2012
  • #10
Did you already do the Arning/Shelby drop on the upper control arm ? That will lower the car a bit and give you better geometry. Maybe talk to John about that and see if changes his spring recomendation.
 

65Rob

Member
Nov 29, 1999
276
6
19
Victoria, BC, Canada
Jan 25, 2012
#11
  • Jan 25, 2012
  • #11
Rusty67 said:
Did you already do the Arning/Shelby drop on the upper control arm ? That will lower the car a bit and give you better geometry. Maybe talk to John about that and see if changes his spring recomendation.
Click to expand...

I haven't done it yet but I ordered the template as well from John so it was taken into consideration. The car isn't going to be raced so the real goal is to make it handle better without giving up too much ride quality. Also to drop the stance a bit, so rear mid-eyes and 1" lower springs in front and a bunch of other goodies
 

Rusty67

20+ Year Stangneter
Dec 3, 2002
3,749
37
109
LA, CA
Jan 25, 2012
#12
  • Jan 25, 2012
  • #12
Thats why we like to send people to John. He is a 1 stop shop for awesome when it comes to classic mustang suspension.
 

65Rob

Member
Nov 29, 1999
276
6
19
Victoria, BC, Canada
Jan 25, 2012
#13
  • Jan 25, 2012
  • #13
Rusty67 said:
Thats why we like to send people to John. He is a 1 stop shop for awesome when it comes to classic mustang suspension.
Click to expand...

I heard many good things about him on this site and went to him because of that. I was very impressed with him too
 

kylehamilton79

Member
Feb 2, 2009
66
0
6
Lubbock, TX
Jan 26, 2012
#14
  • Jan 26, 2012
  • #14
Guess I should've remembered I had that template so I could've given it to you before you ordered it.
 

65Rob

Member
Nov 29, 1999
276
6
19
Victoria, BC, Canada
Jan 26, 2012
#15
  • Jan 26, 2012
  • #15
kylehamilton79 said:
Guess I should've remembered I had that template so I could've given it to you before you ordered it.
Click to expand...

No big deal, it was only $15 out of a $1000 order. But thanks for the thought
 
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