Well for wheels I have 235/60/14's and so I may be running low with the headers, but I think I have a taller sidewall than you do smallblockpony. I have the long tubed headers as well but I will just keep an eye on it when I get it all done.

I would like to see a picture MonsterBilly, even though the wheels are a different size it will help me to see what the difference, if any, between the front and rear will be. Also, what do you mean by how bad my steering can be? I already know it has a lot of slop. I am trying to avoid doing any work on it until I can afford to buy a Rack and Pinion set for my car.

With the non adjustable sway bar for the rear I am debating whether or not I will even put it on. I may drive it some without then install it to see the difference and whether I want it. What has been your guy's experience?

I will keep you updated, but some of the parts (leafs) are on back order and some are being made (control arms) so it could be a few weeks before I am done... I started taking things apart and boy am I glad I am doing this work. I have only gotten the passenger side spindle off and I had two ball joints (upper and lower control arm) shot, and one (outer tie rod) on its way out. The rubbers for the anti sway bar were toast and I haven't even gotten the spring or control arms off yet. Scares me a little to think I was driving on that...

 

Poly is OK in a couple of places the way it comes - the split bushings on the sta-bar endlinks and the bar bushings at the chassis brackets.

If you decide to go poly with the bar(s), don't tighten the endlink poly like you would rubber endlink bushings. That can make the endlink bolts themselves fail in fatigue. Snug plus a little is all you need (well, that and a little medium-strength Locktite).


Norm

 

Update: Its been what two months since I started?... Well partly because MustangPlus had poor service; I had to call them about 5 times and wait 6 weeks to get all of my parts. They had some on back order that I had to wait for but then they forgot to ship them once they got in, stuff like that. Anyway, enough complaining.

I will post some before and after pics once I get it aligned tomorrow, but I have one question. As I was assembling the parts, I had a really hard time getting the strut rod on the passenger side. I cranked all the way down on the bushings and still had to torque the lower control arm toward the rear of the car to get it on... That seems to be a potential problem for the alignment shop when they try to set the caster on that side... I was not the same with the drivers side, had to torque it down some but if fit fine with very little effort compared to the passenger side. Would that be an indication of a twisted frame by any chance?

Aside from that most everything bolted on without any problem. Something else I noticed when disassembling was that there were several shims on both upper control arms. Probably a half inch worth or more. What does that tell me? Worn out parts that they just kept putting shims in to band aid the problem instead of fix?... Anyway, I am excited to see how she rides now.

 

That's normal - the shims are how the alignment is adjusted. NOT having any shims on one or both control arms would be unusual enough when the car was brand new, never mind 40-odd years later.


Norm