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Author
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Topic: 4" lift kit
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4065
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-07-2003 09:40 PM
   
I put a new set of springs on the car today. I used the variable rate in the back,while I put heavy duty springs in front. These were available on this car with sport suspension. Well,the car has a nose-up stance,and the bumper is 4" higher than before.  What do I do? The steering is a little darty. It does handle alot better,though. It used to always be on the bumpstops.Will these things settle down? In how long,32 years?  The ride is stiffer,about the way I like it. I don't want to cut the coils and make it ride like a dump truck,but I don't want the nose-up 4X4 look either. I really don't want to lift the rear either. Should I put some huge Sportsmans tires on the back? 
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BlueMule
Gearhead Posts: 1556
From: Kent Island, MD USA M&M # 2423
Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 05-08-2003 07:34 AM
I don't know my part numbers or spring rates but it almost sounds like they're the wrong springs. Like for a 429/460 wagon or something like that. Did FoMoCo use the same springs for the 351C and 385s? Nose-up on a 72+ Torino just doesn't get it and you know you'll get your chops busted for cutting the springs. The Sportsmans will get it up in the air a little but not that much and they will be real close to the wheel house. If you diagonally traverse a rut or a small hill they definitely will get sliced on the inner wheel opening. (Mine did.) What's a muther to do? ------------------
-Paul 70 Mach1 351C
79 Ranchero GT
97 Expedition XLT 5.4
00 SVT f150 Lightning 4149 of 4966 Born on: 06/26/2000 'life's tough... it's tougher if you're stupid.'
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4065
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-08-2003 02:31 PM
They were #8302,and they were listed with a 351 and competition suspension. It was the same number as a 400/429.
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TomP
Gearhead Posts: 6007
From: Delta BC Canada
Registered: Dec 99
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posted 05-08-2003 06:34 PM
Cut 'em... it's the only way. Even if it makes them stiffer it'll be a long ways from a firm as a newer car.
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BlueMule
Gearhead Posts: 1556
From: Kent Island, MD USA M&M # 2423
Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 05-08-2003 06:45 PM
Really shouldn't have to. There's something else different on this version Torino than any Sport version of the same vehicle. There's some other component that has to go with the springs that make it a Sport. I want to see this work the right way 'cuz it's the way I need to go with my 'Pt. Boat'.I wonder what the parts were on a PI Torino. Maryland State Police had a big ol' gob of them and they had to have some serious suspension parts because they would out and out scream. (I got to ride in one once.)
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-Paul 70 Mach1 351C
79 Ranchero GT
97 Expedition XLT 5.4
00 SVT f150 Lightning 4149 of 4966 Born on: 06/26/2000 'life's tough... it's tougher if you're stupid.' [This message has been edited by BlueMule (edited 05-08-2003).]
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4065
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-08-2003 09:28 PM
The book I was looking in,this number was listed for about half of the cars. It fit the sport with a 351 AC,400 AC,429 no AC,Comp. suspension,and PI/taxi. I doubt the lower control arms are different,and the top perch is the frame. Another thing that bothers me is the springs have a "curl" when installed. IIRC,the ones I took out were straight. There is no binding however,and the suspension cycles fully on both sides. Can anyone with a similar car tell me if I'm imagining things?I looked carefully,and they are in the pockets right. They can only go in one way. I am convinced the old springs are spent.What's ironic is the old springs were 2" taller. I do like how well it handles though. I did also add a 1-1/8" bar in place of a 7/8" bar with urethane endlinks. The car is flat in corners now. I plan to get a 7/8" bar for the back. MRE used the front one in the back. I just need some brackets. It's too bad it sits like a Lazyboy now. Sorta looks like those Impalas the use to jump the front ends with hydraulics.  Maybe the real problem is I have 235/60/14's on the front. The wheelwell looks like it will take a 31" tire now. [This message has been edited by MLariviere (edited 05-08-2003).]
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4065
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-08-2003 09:30 PM
quote:
Originally posted by TomP:
Cut 'em... it's the only way. Even if it makes them stiffer it'll be a long ways from a firm as a newer car.
There is very little rebound now.I used to be able to mash the fenders all the way to the bumpstops,and now I push down about 2". [This message has been edited by MLariviere (edited 05-08-2003).]
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 44935
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-09-2003 07:05 PM
Where did you get the spring? Is it a good quality spring?------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150 Please remember our sponsors,
Mustangs Plus, NPD, Osborn Reproductions, MyFordPerformance.com, and FordRamAir.com
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4065
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-09-2003 08:30 PM
Carquest,made by MOOG. I measured the frame today,and it's a total of 3-1/2" higher. The crossmember was at 4-1/2",and now it's a hair over 7. Maybe it's in my head? I'm not used to it this way,and it does seem to be better than when I first put them in. The 235/60/14's probably don't help either.
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4065
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-09-2003 09:21 PM
My car sits about like this one. Maybe and inch higher in front. Do you think airbags would level the car off,and are they worth it? I don't want air shocks. I have Monroe Gas Plus shocks all around.
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 44935
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-10-2003 09:24 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MLariviere:
My car sits about like this one. Maybe and inch higher in front. Do you think airbags would level the car off,and are they worth it? I don't want air shocks. I have Monroe Gas Plus shocks all around.
You must mean like this one:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2412214715 Yes, air bags would let you even your car out the way you'd like. They are much better than air shocks, too. They put the stress on a more appropriate place than air shocks. ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150 Please remember our sponsors,
Mustangs Plus, NPD, Osborn Reproductions, MyFordPerformance.com, and FordRamAir.com
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4065
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-11-2003 09:49 PM
OOPS!!!  I'll see what I can find. The rear seems softer. I don't like that. Once I get the suspension where I want it,I'll go for an alignment. It seems to pull a little to the right now. The caster must have changed. Do you think a rear stabilizer bar would affect the alignment if I install it after? [This message has been edited by MLariviere (edited 05-11-2003).]
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 44935
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-12-2003 07:02 PM
No, the rear sway bar should have no effect.------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150 Please remember our sponsors,
Mustangs Plus, NPD, Osborn Reproductions, MyFordPerformance.com, and FordRamAir.com
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 44935
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-16-2003 07:27 PM
Here's a pic of how it sits:  ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150 Please remember our sponsors,
Mustangs Plus, NPD, Osborn Reproductions, MyFordPerformance.com, and FordRamAir.com
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mustangs68
Moderator Posts: 24577
From: Buckroe Beach Va MCA#39406 M&M #12 Member Mustang Club of Tidewater
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-16-2003 08:42 PM
Sorry to go off subject..
BUT Mike thats damn good lookin'
sam
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4065
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-26-2003 08:56 PM
Thanks Sam! The car has airbags in the back now,with about 10 psi in them. It is firm,and seems level all around now. Any more air in the bags,and she is dead-x. At 10 psi,car is up 1",while at 35psi{limit} the car is up 2-1/2". There is just a small amount of float in the back now. I don't really want to go to urethane bushings,though. The lower bushings are new. Maybe some sort of track bar?
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SteveLaRiviere
Administrator Posts: 44935
From: Saco, Maine
Registered: May 99
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posted 05-26-2003 09:05 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MLariviere:
Maybe some sort of track bar?
All track/sway/stablizer bars do is transfer weight from one side to the other during cornering. They won't affect ride height at all. ------------------
'70 Mustang Mach 1 - '72 Mustang Sprint - '94 F-150 Please remember our sponsors,
Mustangs Plus, NPD, Osborn Reproductions, MyFordPerformance.com, and FordRamAir.com
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wunaberacer
Journeyman Posts: 4
From: la, ca, usa
Registered: Jun 2003
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posted 06-29-2003 03:03 AM
that looks fine they wil settle, but if you have a smallblock in there, you may break some parts, i had bb springs cut one off and put em in with a sb in my 66 and man oh man all my BRAND NEW parts started breaking and it rode like a stiff tank! so i got espo.com and was very satisfied, but they are still high up like in the pick for about 6 months they settle a few inches though, next up are progressive stock rate possibly cut one off. good luck
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4065
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 06-29-2003 08:34 PM
The car has settled some. I did put some airlift airbags in back. With 5 psi in them,the car is level,and the ride/handling is much improved. There is just a little wiggle in it in the back,but I think if I put a bar on it,it will be gone. At least I can take on ramps at 65 with confidence now. [This message has been edited by MLariviere (edited 06-29-2003).]
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roger
Gearhead Posts: 235
From: ontario, canada
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 07-08-2003 06:34 PM
I ran into the same problem with my Fairlane when i replaced all the suspension about 5 yrs. ago. The high front end drove me nuts and Moog was no help, I ended up ordering heavy duty front springs from Eaton Spring who walked me through all the measurements & options & she sits perfectly. the problem with the Moog front springs was they were spec'd for a big block car, not a 5.0 like i'm running
Roger
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MLariviere
Moderator Posts: 4065
From: Biddeford,Me.USA
Registered: May 99
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posted 07-08-2003 09:26 PM
Yes,the heavy duty small block and the big block springs were the same catalog number.
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