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Author
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Topic: 73 SUSPENSION
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rob73mach1
Journeyman Posts: 39
From: Howell, Mich. U.S.A.
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 01-07-2003 06:59 PM
   
Does anybody know what makes up a competion suspension? and can I put one on a 73 mach with 351c? whats the difference between the two.
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 34763
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 01-07-2003 07:51 PM
Heavy duty shocks, springs, larger sway bar in front, rear sway bar which non-comp suspension didn't have, variable ratio power steering, and 4 speed cars had staggered shocks in the rear.------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150 Please remember our sponsors,
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PONYMAN
Gearhead Posts: 269
From: Ardmore, Ok. USA
Registered: Jul 99
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posted 01-07-2003 08:48 PM
Steve, didn't all Q code cars have the staggered shocks. My 72 351C with the C-6 has the staggered rear shocks.
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cobravenom71
Gearhead Posts: 808
From: Kissimee, Fl USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 01-07-2003 08:50 PM
The competition suspension was standard equipment on Mach 1's, and a mandatory option(or included, depends on engine) on all 351-4V or larger engined Mustangs from 71-73.
The staggered rear shocks were part of the package, regardless of automatic or manual transmission.
That being said, I have seen several 71-73 Mach 1's that came with the 302-2V and did not have the competition suspension. If all Mach 1's came standard with the comp. susp., then there must have been a glitch between the Spec's and actual practice.
I suspect that the Mach's only came with it if it had a 351 or larger engine.
By the way, when I re-did the suspension on my 71 429 Mach, I really wanted top do something about the crappy handling offered by the stock set-up.
I had custom front springs made 1" shorter than stock. They were also made with a 620 lb. rating vs. the stock 580 lb. rating.
When I installed them, I put a 1" urethane spacer in the spring mount which gave me the stock ride-height.Actually, a fraction higher than stock, due to the fact that the springs do not deflect as much at rest as the stock ones would.
I also replaced the front sway bar bushings with some kind of new ultra-rubber bushings( I forget the exact name of the stuff) that are about as good as poly-urethane bushings but dont squeak and are black, so they look stock.
The factory 4-leaf rear springs were replaced with slightly firmer 5-leafs to help keep the ride height in synch with the front.
The rear 3/4" bar was replaced with a 7/8" bar and the corresponding bushings.
KYB shocks are installed,And the stock 15x7"(and very rusty!) Magnum 500's were replaced by new and shiny 15x8"s so I could run a little more aggresive tire. The car has 255/60/R/15's all around, and there is no problem with tire clearance, even when cornering hard at high speed.
When I ordered the Magnums, I had the rears made with the extra inch in width put all towards the outside of the rim which effectively widened the track in the rear by a total of 2 inches.
The fronts are equally backspaced, so the front track is a total of 1 inch wider. My main goal with this was to 'fill-up' the wheel wells without having to get too big of a tire. I always thought those giant wheel-wells looked kinda' empty with the stock-sized tires on 'em. I don't have any emperical data to prove it, but I think the widened track helps somewhat also.
Nobody advised me on any of this, and it was all a crap shoot, but I am extremely happy with the results. The difference between now and when it was stock is like night and day! It definately does not 'plow' like it used to, and it is now a good handler, as far as stock looking Mustangs go, that is. It isn't a 'G-Machine' though, but I don't care for the 17" wheels and 'in the weeds' look.
By the way, the front springs were actually cheaper to have made than to buy stock replacements! About $60-70, if I remember correctly.
This car handles far better than my 73 Mach 1 with a 351 4-V. The 73 was my late brothers car, and the suspension is all new about 5,000 miles ago. It was redone with all stock type components.
I can't say enough about how a good suspension set-up will really improve your enjoyment of the car.
The other big improvement (to me , anyway) that I made to my 71 was the insulation. When the interior was out, I filled every nook and cranny of the body with fiberglas insulation sealed in plastic bags. I got the idea from my 79 Lincoln MK-V when I had the interior of that car out. I was shocked at how much insulation was crammed into that car. So I did the same thing on the 71 Mach.
HUGE, GIGANTIC difference! Much, much quieter, and no squeaks or rattles! I heartily recommend it.
Some will say that it adds a considerable amount of extra weight, and I guess there's no denying that. It was basically one complete roll of the 'pink' stuff and about 40 small plastic bags. And under the carpets, I put that real thick rubbery insulation pad. Together, I figure about 75 extra lbs. To me the trade off is worth it a hundred times over.
This car is so comfortable to drive that I take it almost to almost every show I go to. I also have my late mothers 73 Grande,and that car is all stock with only about 50,000 miles.And it was well taken care of, but even so it is not nearly as 'luxurious' as the 71 Mach. Anyone familiar with these cars who rides in or drives the 71 is truly impressed with the level of quiet and handling it now has for a vintage big-block Mach. Good Luck! Kit.[This message has been edited by cobravenom71 (edited 01-07-2003).]
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Hemikiller
Gearhead Posts: 404
From: Clinton, CT
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-08-2003 12:15 PM
All Mach1's are supposed to have competition suspension. My 71 Mach1-302 has it. The variable ratio steering box, the heavier springs. Original shocks are long gone, and the front bar is still 3/4", which is a bummer. Anyway, CV's right. the addition of a bit of extra tire and some careful selection of springs and shocks, coupled with poly bushings and beefy bars will do wonders for your handling. I'll get together the #'s that I've used in the past on these cars to upgrade the springs.
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 34763
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 01-08-2003 12:32 PM
My '70 Mach 351C 4V automatic doesn't have staggered shocks. ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150 Please remember our sponsors,
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cobravenom71
Gearhead Posts: 808
From: Kissimee, Fl USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 01-08-2003 03:07 PM
HEMIKILLER, even though the books say that all 71-73 Machs had the competition suspension, I know that they did not all have it. I had a 302-powered 72 Mach( VIN # 2F05F******) that did not have the rear sway bar or the staggerred rear shocks. It came from the factory that way.I don't have the car anymore (wrecked it), but I do still have the original build sheet which shows no rear sway bar installed. I have seen several that came this way, and several that came with the competition suspension.
Of course, I'm not sure about the spring and shock rates or the variable ratio power steering units as that is not so easy to 'eyeball' at a cruise-night.
To me, non-staggered shocks and no rear sway bar means'no competition suspension.'Stave, I think the staggered shocks did not become an automatic-transmission thing until 1971.
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rob73mach1
Journeyman Posts: 39
From: Howell, Mich. U.S.A.
Registered: Jan 2003
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posted 01-08-2003 10:34 PM
THANKS! for all the info. keep in coming. In about a month I will start the suspenion overhaul. I bought my car from the original onwer, it's about 95% factory. It runs and rides good. but the stuff is 30 years old. a couple things it has air shocks, and don't like that ride they give you. also it has 50's on the back and I don't know if I'll have enough clearence with a regular stock shock. can you get me the name of those black bushings, {I don't like squeaks} that will help. thanks a again.
HAVE FUN STANGING!
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cobravenom71
Gearhead Posts: 808
From: Kissimee, Fl USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 01-09-2003 08:11 AM
Yeah, I'll look up the exact name for the bushings and post it here. Air shocks in the back will definately make your car 'crash' over speed bumps and such. For some reason, a lot of people use air shocks as a means to adjust the height of thier rear suspension. That is not thier intended function. The springs are supposed to fully support the vehicle, and the shocks are to dampen the oscillattons. A car jacked up with air shocks can be a very dangerous car to drive, especially if you are driving aggresively. The rear suspension can lose almost all of its compliancy, and the car will tend to oversteer very badly. A well thought-out spring set-up is far superior.
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 34763
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 01-09-2003 09:18 AM
quote:
Originally posted by rob73mach1:
can you get me the name of those black bushings, {I don't like squeaks} that will help.
Midolyne. American Pony sells them. http://www.americanpony.com/store.mv?p=700450-56 ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150 Please remember our sponsors,
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 34763
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 01-09-2003 09:20 AM
quote:
Originally posted by cobravenom71:
Yeah, I'll look up the exact name for the bushings and post it here. Air shocks in the back will definately make your car 'crash' over speed bumps and such. For some reason, a lot of people use air shocks as a means to adjust the height of thier rear suspension. That is not thier intended function. The springs are supposed to fully support the vehicle, and the shocks are to dampen the oscillattons. A car jacked up with air shocks can be a very dangerous car to drive, especially if you are driving aggresively. The rear suspension can lose almost all of its compliancy, and the car will tend to oversteer very badly. A well thought-out spring set-up is far superior.
They also often make the upper shock mounts and adjoining areas crack. ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150 Please remember our sponsors,
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Hemikiller
Gearhead Posts: 404
From: Clinton, CT
Registered: Feb 2002
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posted 01-09-2003 12:51 PM
quote:
To me, non-staggered shocks and no rear sway bar means 'no competition suspension'.
That is fine, and that is your opinion. However, when dealing with the facts as we Mustang guys know them, just because the car has no rear bar, has nothing to do with it. ALL Mach 1's came with an improved suspension that Ford called "competition". Just how improved and whether it was worthy of "competition" is not what we are discussing here. Starting in '69, it comprised of higher rate springs, specific valved shocks, larger sway bars and depending on year/engine/trans, staggered shocks and a rear sway bar. IIRC, the only 69's to get a rear bar were the Boss 302 & 429. For the 71-3's, the competion suspension consisted of: - Specific rate front and rear springs
- Specially valved shocks f&r
- Variable ratio steering box (p/s only)
- rear sway bar (351-4v and up only)
- staggered rear shocks (351-4v and up only)
It also consisted of some sort of tire/rim size upgrade, but that is depending on body/engine combos.For a good stock upgrade with a 302/351, use the 429CJ rear springs, and 72 mach1 351 (no a/c!, that'll just lift the front up more) front springs. If the 302 has alot of aluminum parts, then 1/2 a coil may need to be removed. For shocks, Koni's are the ultimate in handling, ride and high price. KYB Gas-a-Justs are good and inexpensive, but may be a little stiff for some people. Don't make the mistake of using parts store cheapies, you WILL regret it. NEVER EVER use air shocks on any Mustang. The rear shock mounts are only sheetmetal, and will eventually crack and fail. NPD makes a real nice heavy duty set of rear spring shackles. Try urethane/midolyne bushings first, then if you desire more, get a f&r sway bar package. Don't just install some huge front bar, it will cause more understeer.
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cobravenom71
Gearhead Posts: 808
From: Kissimee, Fl USA
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 01-09-2003 01:46 PM
HEMIKILLER, after much reading of the Ford guides for 71-73(remember, this post was originally about 71-73's only, so I am not talking about what came on 69-70's), I came away with a new understanding of Ford's confusing verbiage in thier ordering guides.
As you stated, the 'competition suspension' came only with specific-rate springs and shocks unless ordered on a 351-4V or larger car. Then the package included the rear bar and the staggered shocks, regardless of the transmision.
That would explain why I have seen so many 302-powered Machs 'without' the package. The lack of rear bar and staggered shocks lead me to the erroneous conclusion that it did not come with the competition suspension. The spring and shock 'rates' are obviuosly not visible upon a quick glance.
At any rate, a rear bar and better shocks are always a 'Better Idea' when it comes to making these things handle.
You mentioned the bushings I could not think of: MIDOLYNE. I am very happy with the performance of these over the stock rubber-type bushings.
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