I'd like to lower the front end of my 68 fb and the choices I'm considering are to use shorter but stiffer springs or the Shelby modification lowering the upper control arm. I have two questions: Do both options improve cornering or just the Shelby one? Does the front end need realignment for both options or just the Shelby one?
Thanks

 

Both will improve and both require realignment.
The shelby mod is based on suspension geometry improvements.
Lowering springs is based on physics.

 

Just a footnote.

The shelby upper a-arm mod (aka Shelby drop) lowers the upper arms down an 1inch. The primary purpose of this modification is to affect steering geometry allowing for improved contact patch on cornering. Additionally, the top of the tire will now tip in instead of tip out after the alignment process has been completed during cornering. The side effect of this modification is a lower front end but it is not a 1 to 1 relationship. When you perform the shelby drop to a car you will see a min of a 1/4 to a max of 1/2 drop in front end ride height.

Adding lowering 'drop' springs to the front of the car is a great way to lower the car. However many many many people who do this end up completely unsatisfied and start many many many posts about it on many many many forums. The reason....simple...the look at their car with its 10, 20, 30, 40 yr old springs and think..."gee, I would like to lower it about an inch more". So they purchase one inch drop springs and expereince something they consider illogical. They car sits about the same, 1/2 inch higher, 1 inch higher, sometimes more. Why you may ask, because they replaced worn out sagging springs with new springs that drop the car 1 inch from the stock ride height when they were already below the stock ride hieght by some factor. Some of these people then do something desperate and pull out the coils and start haphazzardly cutting to make the car lower. Cutting the coils is fine and if it comes to that, just make sure you do it 1/4 coil at a time measuring so you do both sides equally and that you fully reassemble the car and drive it around the block to settle each time before re-assessing ride height.

This is just an FYI and not meant to talk you out anything. I run 620 1 inch drop springs on my 65 and I also performed the shelby mod and I am quite happy with my final stance.

 

Good finer points...also keep in mind tire/wheel fitment.

 

I put new springs on the back of my 66 and it jacked it up. I had to put lowering blocks on them. Maybe it had something to do with the 9" readend I out under there at the same time.

 

What do you guys think of the mustang 2 suspension?

 

Weekend cruising, parade duty...its fine.

I don't consider the MII a real performance setup (my opinion but it is shared by more than a few) so it really depends on what you plan to do with the car.

 

Of course it jacks it up. That's what you want. 40 year old leaf springs sag, so the butt is lower than the front. Putting new leafs on the rear levels her out.

 

Good, sound technical suggestions. Thanks for everyones input.

 

dodgestang, I'm new at this so bare with me. What would you consider a "real performance setup" and why? I'm looking more at a Road Racing setup than say a drag.
Thanks