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Author
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Topic: The Pros/Cons of the Shelby Drop on a '66 convert
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66drop
Gearhead Posts: 192
From: Roseville Ca
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 06-04-2005 05:55 PM
 
I am considering doing the Shelby A-arm relocation upgrade/option, but I do want my decision to be a well informed one. I am curious to hear peoples opinions of the Pros and Cons of doing this conversion to see if I think it would be worth it for me.
I have heard comments from:after doing the conversion your car wears tires much faster than when stock, to some mustang owners claiming that they cannot find compotent alignment tech's with the proper knowledge and understanding of our old-school cars to properly align their cars so they are stuck with classic cars that don't handle well.
Have any of you guys done this conversion? Please share  ------------------
'66 drop, 289, 3-speed, w/procars.
14in grant wheel w/removable wheel kit.
Granada disk break swap.
15x7&15x8 steel styles w/225-60-15's.
Front & rear sways.
5-leaf rear leaf sprrings.
The white KYB's
and Magnaflows [This message has been edited by 66drop (edited 06-04-2005).]
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SkinnyMan
Gearhead Posts: 916
From: Tupelo, MS - USA (CA temporarily)
Registered: Jan 2005
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posted 06-04-2005 11:56 PM
quote:
Originally posted by 66drop:
Have any of you guys done this conversion? Please share
You may want to do a search on the site for "Shelby drop" and get the comments.------------------
SkinnyMan
Tupelo, MS Thank you, Thank you very much!
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68 Coop
Gearhead Posts: 5847
From: Mesquite, NV. 89027
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 06-05-2005 12:20 AM
Been awhile 66. Anyway, are you looking to lower the car, because the drop don't actually do this, if I read the search right. They are some posts in the search, but you just got to pick the one that comes closest to your situation.------------------
William
68 Coupe
"Restomod in Progress"
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66drop
Gearhead Posts: 192
From: Roseville Ca
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 06-05-2005 12:21 AM
Skinny Man, you are exactly right that would be the savvy thing to do. I havn't posted in a while, i've got to get back into the swing of things 
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66drop
Gearhead Posts: 192
From: Roseville Ca
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 06-05-2005 12:26 AM
Wow coop, this is a trip! As you can read, I just mentioned my nice long vacation to Skinny Man and when I returned there you were with the same point  I'm about to do that search.
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68 Coop
Gearhead Posts: 5847
From: Mesquite, NV. 89027
Registered: Oct 2004
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posted 06-05-2005 12:30 AM
 Good to see you're back and doing OK.------------------
William
68 Coupe
"Restomod in Progress"
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Moneymaker
Administrator Posts: 29200
From: Lyons, IL, USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 06-05-2005 12:31 AM
Unless you are planing on some serious road racing there are ZERO pro's.------------------
Alex Denysenko
Co-Administrator and Moderator NHRA/IHRA/SRA member and licensed Superstock driver
NHRA and IHRA SS/LA & SS/MA National Record Holder '00,'01,'02,'03,'04 &'05
First NHRA & IHRA 289 automatic Superstock Mustang in the TENS 06-99
First SS/MA in the TENS 04-03
IHRA division 5 Superstock Champion
Fleet of FoMoCo products including 88 ASC McLaren Mustang #28 The Barry of BarrysGrrl Quote #1: "I never met a magazine mechanic I liked."
Quote #2: "Make sure brain is in gear before engaging mouth!"
Quote #3: "If you can't run with the big dogs, stay on the porch!"
www.moneymakerracing.com
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66drop
Gearhead Posts: 192
From: Roseville Ca
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 06-05-2005 01:15 AM
There was some really cool info on Shelby A-arm relocation and negative wedge kits. Thanks again for that reminder Skinny Man.
If anyone else has info or cool links chime in  ------------------
'66 drop, 289, 3speed, w/procars.
14in grant wheel w/removable wheel kit.
Granada disk break swap.
15x7&15x8 steel styles w/225-60-15's.
Front & rear sways.
5-leaf rear leaf sprrings.
The white KYB's
and Magnaflows
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66drop
Gearhead Posts: 192
From: Roseville Ca
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 06-05-2005 01:22 AM
Moneymaker, i've seen your pics catching much air 
Have you done this mod Moneymaker? The search I just did on our site said that the new zero camber that the vehicle acheives is better on turns and tire life. Has that been your experience?
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cobrajeff
Journeyman Posts: 38
From: White Lake, MI, USA
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted 06-12-2005 09:27 AM
I have done the "Shelby drop" on nearly every early Mustang that I've owned, and I highly recommend it. In the old days, I even did it to my "daily driver" Mustangs (back in the 70's, when I had my BOSS 351 and two '66 GT350's, my daily driver was a rusty '65 A-code FB with Shelby hood & qtr windows, and a fresh 289 HiPo - it also had a 1" sway bar and Shelby quick-steering kit).Doing the A-arm hole relocation WILL NOT cause additional tire wear - the alignment specs you follow COULD cause more tire wear. You should choose the alignment specs based upon your intended use - more negative camber for track use, less for street driving. I felt the modification was useful in ANY early Mustang that I might drive in a spirited manner. There are no CONS, as far as I am concerned, only the PROS of better handling. regards, cobrajeff
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FoMoGo
Gearhead Posts: 153
From: Motor City USA
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 06-12-2005 12:43 PM
What are the alignment spec's for the Shelby drop for street driving? If it is so great why didn't FORD build them that way?
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Robert K
Gearhead Posts: 706
From: Nashville, TN
Registered: Apr 2000
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posted 06-12-2005 01:10 PM
If it is so bad, why did Shelby build them that way ?
Seiously, just because it didn't come that way from the factory or because FORD didn't think of it doesn't mean that there are no benefits to this mod. I'm sure if there weren't any advantages, Shelby wouldn't have gone to the trouble to do it. [This message has been edited by Robert K (edited 06-12-2005).]
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FoMoGo
Gearhead Posts: 153
From: Motor City USA
Registered: Feb 2003
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posted 06-12-2005 02:57 PM
The so called "Shelby Drop" was a modifacation Ford engineering provided to Shelby to help improve handling for road racing. Apparently Ford engineering did not see a great benefit for street use. If you plan on using your car for road racing go ahead & make the modifacation.
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66drop
Gearhead Posts: 192
From: Roseville Ca
Registered: Jul 2004
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posted 06-13-2005 04:34 PM
Thanks for the recent hits fellas, i'm sorry that i've been M.I.A. I've been moving. I have just relocated to the Sacaramento area, so if there is any one in my area who has done the A-arm mod. and wouldn't mind taking me for a nice little test drive let me know
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sigtauenus
Gearhead Posts: 3969
From: Va Beach
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted 06-14-2005 08:23 AM
quote:
Originally posted by FoMoGo:
What are the alignment spec's for the Shelby drop for street driving? If it is so great why didn't FORD build them that way?
Interesting point... if it was really a good mod for street cars, then presumably 67 and on up would have come from the factory that way stock. I put the shorter springs up front and KYB gas-a-justs on mine about 8 years ago. Wow, what a difference in the handling. I loved driving it through corners. Unfortunately, the ride is so rough I am going to go back to the stock springs and KYB GR-2's for a more comfortable ride. I realize that as infrequently as I drive the 68 anymore, when I do drive it, I will enjoy it more if it is comfortable more so than mean street machine.
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indyphil
Gearhead Posts: 3394
From: Senoia, G.A. USA
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 06-14-2005 12:00 PM
The factory was probably worried about ball joints binding up. Not something shelby would have been so concerned about.------------------
'68 coupe, '66 289 C code
engine, edel 600cfm carb, performer intake, dual exhaust, flowtech headers </b>http://www.geocities.com/ottouk_77/68mustang.htm
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66 coupe
Gearhead Posts: 235
From: Orlando, FL
Registered: Nov 99
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posted 06-17-2005 10:28 PM
The factory geometry was designed deliberatly to promote understeer with bias ply tires in the little Falcon. They did not want more responsive steering on their street cars. Driving dynamics were not evaluated the same then as today. ------------------
Jack Collins
'66 coupe
250 EFI Crossflow / T-5
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