Independent front suspension

[porschercr]

Looking for decent Independent front suspension parts..suggestions?

Trevor

[espo]

Any particular year make or model vehicle ? 

[porschercr]

2 hours ago, espo said:

Any particular year make or model vehicle ? 

Well, it's a kitbash project, so not really.  '67 Shelby GT 350 is what I eventually will be building.

[espo]

That has a shock absorber mounted above the control arms. The front suspension from one of the late model Mustang kits with the McPherson Strut suspension might be a good option and also would give you a newer engine to work with. Besides the cost one of the reasons Ford used that style of front suspension was the lack of space. With the way the inner fenders are designed this might be the easiest way to upgrade the front suspension. The change to unequal length upper and lower control arms with a coil spring and a shock absorber  in-between you start running out of room quickly.   

[Force]

Or even better, a suspension setup with coil over shocks and tubular A-arms, this setup take up less room than McPherson struts.
With this kit for 1964-70 Mustangs you get rid of the space taking spring towers and you don't need the export brace and Monte Carlo bar to stiffen up the suspension, and get a lot more room for larger engines and exhaust headers.

You might be able to use the front suspension from the Revell 1941 Willys Street Rod, or maybe this one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Resin-Dropped-Front-Suspension-Control-A-Arms-Spindle-Custom-Slammed-1-24-25/392725886164?hash=item5b704974d4:g:zLcAAOSwov5ebAXz

Edited May 16, 2020 by Force

[porschercr]

5 hours ago, espo said:

That has a shock absorber mounted above the control arms. The front suspension from one of the late model Mustang kits with the McPherson Strut suspension might be a good option and also would give you a newer engine to work with. Besides the cost one of the reasons Ford used that style of front suspension was the lack of space. With the way the inner fenders are designed this might be the easiest way to upgrade the front suspension. The change to unequal length upper and lower control arms with a coil spring and a shock absorber  in-between you start running out of room quickly.   

Thank you.

2 hours ago, Force said:

Or even better, a suspension setup with coil over shocks and tubular A-arms, this setup take up less room than McPherson struts.
With this kit for 1964-70 Mustangs you get rid of the space taking spring towers and you don't need the export brace and Monte Carlo bar to stiffen up the suspension, and get a lot more room for larger engines and exhaust headers.

You might be able to use the front suspension from the Revell 1941 Willys Street Rod, or maybe this one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Resin-Dropped-Front-Suspension-Control-A-Arms-Spindle-Custom-Slammed-1-24-25/392725886164?hash=item5b704974d4:g:zLcAAOSwov5ebAXz

Håkan,

I like that set up, wasn't planning on removing the shock towers, but I guess it's needed.  That and I plan on a header type exhaust.

Trevor

[Force]

The shock towers on these Fords are allways in the way and the original front suspension is not that great, I used to own a 1964 Fairlane up to a few years ago so I know.
Even on the A/FX Mustangs and Falcons they removed the towers and springs and had short leaf springs in place of the original strut rods going from the front of the car near the radiator towards the lower control arm, that way they made room for the 427 SOHC.

[TarheelRick]

This is an interesting suspension change.  However I have one question.  Doesn't the steering wheel shaft attach to the that small rod protruding from the rack and pinion system?  It appears this will require a bunch of engineering to get around the engine block and exhaust system.  Or am I missing something?

[Ace-Garageguy]

3 minutes ago, TarheelRick said:

This is an interesting suspension change.  However I have one question.  Doesn't the steering wheel shaft attach to the that small rod protruding from the rack and pinion system?  It appears this will require a bunch of engineering to get around the engine block and exhaust system.  Or am I missing something?

On a real car, all it usually takes is a couple of universal joints and a mid-shaft support bearing...but it can be a real nightmare, particularly if the car builder didn't take it into consideration early in the setup.

[TarheelRick]

Thanks for the info.  I guess a couple of Craftsman 1/2 drive universals would not work. ?

[Ace-Garageguy]

20 hours ago, porschercr said:

Looking for decent Independent front suspension parts..suggestions?

One of the easiest units to work with comes from the AMT Phantom Vickie.  

It assembles on its own crossmember, which can be fairly easily adapted to just about any chassis...

[Ace-Garageguy]

3 minutes ago, TarheelRick said:

Thanks for the info.  I guess a couple of Craftsman 1/2 drive universals would not work. ?

I've seen those used on older builds, but big fat Borgesons are what I usually run these days.

I'm doing a real '66 big block Chevelle at the moment, and had to relocate and rotate the steering rack, completely redesign the steering shaft and UJ locations, put an eyeball in the firewall, and rebuild the headers on the driver's side...because the original builder didn't get any of it right.