i was thinking about installing 4 cylinder springs on my 90 lx.i currently have ford racing lowering springs i was wondering if the 4 cylinder springs will make the front sit lower or will it raise it up.if it raises it up a little bit that is fine i just do not want it any lower.im putting them on for more lift im currently installing a 3000 stall and a couple of guys said that they would work just as good as drag srings for less money because im on a tight budgit
info on 4 cylinder springs
- Thread starter horsepower302
- Start date
im not entirely certain, but i am suspicious that my car has 4 cylinder springs. My car is an original LX 5.0 (i have checked the VIN). It just sits a little lower than most other bone-stock 5.0 mustangs. hell, it sits lower than most other stock V8 mustangs in general (my dads 2000 is like a 4x4). Regardless, my advice on this subject is to just save up the money and get proper springs. Mach 1 and Bullitt springs are not that expensive at all. Theyre not junkyard-cheap, but straight from the ford dealer than can be had for under $200 or something (just going off memory, dont quote me). Those springs (though not identical, but similar / close) are a very popular swap for fox bodies because theyre ford pieces. Theyll give you the best compromise of street ride, ground clearance, and tractibility. Those are what i would recommend. Again, i am not certain, but i am suspicious that my car (which has been in an accident. salvage title) was built by an owner who was too cheap to do it right, and it rides pretty low. When i really cut corners the body roll is pretty huge. It rides ok though. In your situation, i would just do the mach1 springs. Properly spec'd for a V8 car thats going to see WOT often, not too expensive, and wont break your back when you have to get from A to B.
stang&2Birds
Founding Member
You only use 4 cyl springs if you have a quarter mile *only* car They are used to help with the weight transfer to the rear during take-off.
As always, I have to ask why do you want to lower your car?
o Handling?
o A little better handling and a slightly more aggressive a lower look?
o Looks *only*?
o Quarter Mile *only* car?
o and so on.
I help people that are *honestly* looking for better handling. For the first two cases, as mentioned, the Bullitt/Mach1 Springs are often your best bet, especially if you're on a budget.
If you want the (IMHO, ricer) lower look, then you can do it cheaply, as many people have done. Or, you can spend a lot more money. Regardless, either way, you would still have a car that in real-life handles worse and has many suspension geometry problems compared to the cheapest base stock Mustang. But, if you're interested in *only* looks (often slammed), then handling is not the concern.
As I said, it all depends on why you want to lower your car.
For a qtr mile car, yes, people go with the 4 cyl springs to get better weight transfer on take off. But, otherwise, it's honestly a very foolish mod for a mainly street car.
And, yes, I put my money where my mouth is.
When I re-did my suspension, I did it from an engineering point of view.
http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/misc/Mustang1986_with_Mach1_springs/
As always, I have to ask why do you want to lower your car?
o Handling?
o A little better handling and a slightly more aggressive a lower look?
o Looks *only*?
o Quarter Mile *only* car?
o and so on.
I help people that are *honestly* looking for better handling. For the first two cases, as mentioned, the Bullitt/Mach1 Springs are often your best bet, especially if you're on a budget.
If you want the (IMHO, ricer) lower look, then you can do it cheaply, as many people have done. Or, you can spend a lot more money. Regardless, either way, you would still have a car that in real-life handles worse and has many suspension geometry problems compared to the cheapest base stock Mustang. But, if you're interested in *only* looks (often slammed), then handling is not the concern.
As I said, it all depends on why you want to lower your car.
For a qtr mile car, yes, people go with the 4 cyl springs to get better weight transfer on take off. But, otherwise, it's honestly a very foolish mod for a mainly street car.
And, yes, I put my money where my mouth is.
When I re-did my suspension, I did it from an engineering point of view. http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/misc/Mustang1986_with_Mach1_springs/
Leave your car the way it is.
4cyl springs work great for drag racing, but are fairly dangerous on the street, especially if you are used to driving a car more set up for handling.
And to get the ride height correct with 4 bangers, you may need to istall them, see where it sits, and then remove and start by cutting 1/2 coil at a time.
I tried them for a couple of weeks, hated street drving with them. Car feels like it's going to push through every turn.
You want to launch better, get a set of adjustable shocks and struts.
4cyl springs work great for drag racing, but are fairly dangerous on the street, especially if you are used to driving a car more set up for handling.
And to get the ride height correct with 4 bangers, you may need to istall them, see where it sits, and then remove and start by cutting 1/2 coil at a time.
I tried them for a couple of weeks, hated street drving with them. Car feels like it's going to push through every turn.
You want to launch better, get a set of adjustable shocks and struts.
thanks for all the info so will it sit my car lower than it is with the lowering springs because if it will i will not stick them on but if it will stay the same i will consider trying it my car sits the same way 2000xp8 car sits right now if i put 4 cylinder springs on will it sit lower than that i do not want it to sit lower i want it to stay the same as it is right now the only reason i want to stick the 4 banger springs on is for lift and i can get a brand new set for 40 dollors through my job i love the lowering springs i love the way it makes the car look and i do spend alot of time at the drag strip
Ride height depends alot on whats done to the car, and what has been removed or added. If you are using isolators will make a difference too.
It's going to be trial and error to match them up with lowering springs in the back. More than likely not as easy as tossing them in, and going.
$40 is not a great deal. I paid $15 at the junkyard.
You probably don't even want new, likely they will sit higher for quite some time, before the car settles.
Not sure what you mean by "lift". If what you mean by that is you want the nose to pop up when you step on it.
Trust me, get a good adjustable shock setup, one of the best things i've done.
I can make my front lowering springs behave similar (not quite the same though) as drag springs.
I use koni red adjustables in the front, and i was told that setting is equivalent to a 70/30 drag strut on the soft setting.
If you are looking for budget minded traction, put the battery in the hatch, very effective.
It's going to be trial and error to match them up with lowering springs in the back. More than likely not as easy as tossing them in, and going.
$40 is not a great deal. I paid $15 at the junkyard.
You probably don't even want new, likely they will sit higher for quite some time, before the car settles.
Not sure what you mean by "lift". If what you mean by that is you want the nose to pop up when you step on it.
Trust me, get a good adjustable shock setup, one of the best things i've done.
I can make my front lowering springs behave similar (not quite the same though) as drag springs.
I use koni red adjustables in the front, and i was told that setting is equivalent to a 70/30 drag strut on the soft setting.
If you are looking for budget minded traction, put the battery in the hatch, very effective.
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