Suspension Route

[FoxGT87]

alright as with my AFR 165 head thread, im making my wish list for the mods i want to do to my 1987 GT.

I am not very good with suspension, they always seem like more math then its worth. i am pretty sure that with a street/strip application we want to take away from the articulation of the rear end. ( i used to be into 4x4/trail riding, so then i was trying to get my stuff to bend and twist with out breaking. thinking now i need it to stay rigid with out breaking) so i don't think i want anything too radical. my power goal right now is 300 to the wheels. i would like to keep all of that to the ground and make it hook up, however i don't want to put parts on my car that are for a 450+ hp application. with that said i feel that i am still on more of the lower end of suspension parts.

what can i keep on my car? what should i spend more money on? and what is okay to put the lower end of aftermarket suspension on my car? im pretty sure im going to need new caster/camber plates as my steering is way loose.

 

[Tanus]

whichever set-up you choose you'll want upgraded rear lower & upper control arms and subframe connectors
1. drag suspension- will hook, but handle like sh-it. drag springs front & rear. also drag struts & shocks
2. handling suspension- handle good, but hook sh-ity. stiff springs, stiff struts & shocks
3. adjustable coilovers- can set them stiff for handling and loose for drag. (I dont have any experience with this, so cant say how good it is)

 

[FoxGT87]

i have been reading 1991notchbackLX's progress thread, and i think im adding this Eibach suspension kit to my list Eibach Pro-System Plus Kit

i found these UCA/LCA from his build thread as well posted by SVT32VDOHC Mustang 79-98 Control Arm Kit, Boxed, Rear, Upper & Lower, Black at LRS - Same Day Shipping!

going to try and find a good sub-frame connector and if im missing anything that would be a good help let me know. otherwise im printing a poster-sized printout of my car and the parts i want and thumb tacking it to a wall in my room as a daily reminder.

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

I bought a 139 dollar rear LCA kit for my current project. I've had them on cars before and I've had 239 dollar HPM Mega-Bite Jr's. Honestly, saw no difference. So save that $100 bucks!!!

Id keep your stock uppers, but I'd replace the bushings in the axle housing. They always rot out. UCA's from the factory are pretty good. You can weld a peice of steel under them to reinforce them. That's all the Steeda HD upper are. There are a lot of tricks you can do to save money.

I would also get Strange front and rear struts and shocks. They are like 119 each for the front and 68 each out back. They are 10-way adjustable. Tokico stuff is almost double the money.

The only thing IMO, that is NOT okay to go low end on is ball joints and tie rod ends. I would buy nothing but MOOG. That's what I got for Hack Job and my current project.

For springs, I'd go with some Steeda or Eiabach drag launch springs. They are taller than stock, so they are a PITA to get in and out of the car, but they transfer all the weight to the rear. If you don't want drag racing springs, just get the Steeda Sport Springs. They are low and handle well.

I've always used stock caster camber plates as I have never needed aftermarket ones. Look into an aftermarket MM steering shaft before you go cc plates.

 

[FoxGT87]

ugh, this suspension stuff is giving me a head ache lol.

im pretty sure these are the bushings in the axle housing you were refering to, same as in 1991notch's thread. http://www.latemodelrestoration.com...ustang-Hard-Compound-Rear-Upper-Axle-Bushings

i keep looking at it and im reading whats all in the Eibach kit, looks like its got springs that will be about 1-1 1/2 inch lower then stock and have their pro-damper shocks and struts and also feature an anti-roll sway bar. but as i keep re-reading what your saying, i see that your steering me towards something that i can adjust for an optimal street/strip car.

so i found some LCA's for the rear J&M Mustang Rear Lower Control Arms (79-98) at AmericanMuscle.com - Free Shipping! $160

These shocks and struts front/back Strange Externally Adjustable Mustang Shocks - SummitRacing.com $380

as far as springs go, if i go to a drag spring that transfers all the weight to the rear what will that do in a situation such as a power over-steer around a corner. will that make it to where the rear end gets more out of control or will i be less likely to have that Bo Duke.

Found this subframe connector for $100. http://www.americanmuscle.com/subframe-connectors-7904.html

[Q]The only thing IMO, that is NOT okay to go low end on is ball joints and tie rod ends. I would buy nothing but MOOG. That's what I got for Hack Job and my current project.[/Q]

can someone explain what the purpose of these parts actually are so i have a bit more of an idea of why i need to buy them. just not sure on the function they perform.

and what about the swaybar the kit offers, should i be looking into purchasing that aswell or is stock fine?

 

[SVT32VDOHC]

Damn, I am right on with those prices for the strange stuff!!! haha. Yeah, get that stuff for best weight transfer and you'll notice even more weight transfer with the springs tho.

If you do with polyurethane axle housing bushings you better keep the stock rubber UCA bushings. You want some give back there. You don't want it too stiff because things will bind up. Plus, it will be a ROYAL PITA to install the UCA and LCA's with the poly axle bushings as well.

Don't pull your hair out over it. For some things, parts are parts. I don't read all the description on stuff because that's all marketing to get you money.

 

[FoxGT87]

i can't decide on springs at all, i would like to do drag springs but i am really unsure of how comfortable they will be on the street. i how ever kind of like the idea of increasing the ride height a little bit which it seems drag springs will do to mine cause my car is currently pretty low.

im tossing around the idea of Steeda Mustang Competition Springs (79-04) at AmericanMuscle.com - Free Shipping!

or Eibach Drag-Launch Springs (79-04 V8 Coupe) at AmericanMuscle.com - Free Shipping!

the steeda springs will keep it low and prove to have more handling but will that be a decent spring to lay some rubber down at the track on occasion?