Front suspension conversion on 67 Fairlane.

[Jim Comet]

Here is what I did to remove the  shock towers on my Comet. I haven't yet driven it but I am hoping it puts the stresses in the same areas that the shock towers did. Jim

[preaction]

Are special upper and lower A arms needed after the boss tower install ?

[MeanMofakee]

Well I've looked at the majority of the options out there, from using factory lower arms with all the neat stuff (roller spring perches, adjustable strut rods) to fabricated lower and upper arms with all the goodies. Lost of options out there.

I haven't done it - considered it - and I'm with Jay, I'd look at one of the "real" chassis builders for a clip.  I worry that the glom on units using welded crossmembers put a different set of stresses on the front inner fenders that the original design.  Not a problem if the car is 10 point caged with runners out into the engine compartment over the upper strut/shock mounts.  But if you are going to bang on it any, I would consider a clip and full connectors in the floor to stiffen the chassis front to rear.  That way you have your ride height and all the technical stuff like anti-dive and such are done as a unit on a jig.  Also nothing wrong with a strut type setup, maybe something like the Total Control deal that uses some late model parts.  You should opt for tunable shock or strut because weight and chassis reaction are not going to be "off the shelf". 

As noted, it may cost you as much for headers and oil pan work as the chassis mods.  Lots of people don't seem to think about that, "the kit is only $1995!"  Then they get on their favorite web list and whine that nothing fits but the bare block.  This is hot rodding people!  You'll spend much time with dial indicators fussing over  .001 only to follow up with a 2 lb hammer, 1/2 drill and cutting torch.

I would personally like to mod the Falcon (same as your Fairlane) to take the motor from the dragster so I could play door car guy sometimes, but that big long oil pan pretty well shoots that deal I think.  I'd have to use a subframe kit of some sort because the rack would have to be forward of the engine.

I like the idea of what Total Control offers in a couple different front clips for the 67and up Mustang, but there again it doesn't seem to be available for the Fairlane. Have any of you built your own front clip before. The main frame and extensions that are under the body looks like it would be pretty simple to duplicate. You could incorporate your sub connectors into that also.  When you come to the A-arms, have seen some nice features on aftermarket stuff. How much work do you think it would be to go the next step and build the control arms also. I found a neat suspension simulator on the net, WWW.Vsusp.com. Can't get a link to work to be able to post it here but I think it is pretty neat. Check it out. You could take a known spindle with great geometry, plug in the numbers and come up with something that should work. With that said my poor tired mind isn't capable of making that happen, but it's an entertaining thought. Would be a challenge, but by some of the stuff I've seen some of you guys do on here it could be done.

[Heo]

I have built everything from A-arms to full chassis its not
like it some voodoo involved take your time and meassure
and double meassure and have something sturdy and level
to build on.
And remember there is no such thing as a perfect chassie
everything is a compromise. Handling versus straight line
performance versus comfort
I don't know but just an idea how would the Crown vic aluminium
front end they use on pickups fit a Fairlane or the Jaguar
front end

[preaction]

It seems like the boss 429 shock tower is the best  "factory" look if that is important to you I think when the boss 429's were made they came with special upper and lower A arms that aren't reproduced.

[bn69stang]

After a long time and plenty of reading , searching and study ng all i could find .. I rebuilt my 69 stang s suspension ,, first i did nt want to cut the shock tower s out , it s a Mach 1 ,, So i went with the Ride Tech front coil over , tubular control arm setup , i put the tower reinforcement plate on the tire side of the tower " a plate that st sits at 45 degree angle " old boss 302 road racing mod , it welds in .. The upper control arm has a 1 inch drop built in , no drilling of more holes required , the lower arm is all 1 piece , no front strut rod rubber bushing , its a solid bearing setup , both upper and lower are fully adjustable ,, they have R Q and H Q kits , ride quality and handling quality and ends up dropping the the front 2 inch s .. Very nice quality stuff . NEXT .. I used the Unisteer power rack kit , it replaces the bottm cross member , so it mount s behind a front sump pan , i already had FPA headers for ground clearance ,, the rack kit is very nice as well , i have good ground clearance between the suspension changes and , power rack setup .. NEXT ,, i put subframe connectors on the car , the rear 4 leaf rear spring was ditched , for 5 leaf mid eye spring , and a 3/4 inch lowering block , and put the shelby under rider trac bar , which is imo kinda like a 4 link , they locate the axle and minimize movement , control wheel hop , plant the rear .. NEXT .. I had new in the box Ford racing calipers for a 2003 cobra , bullitt , or mach 1 , and wanted to put them on the car , seached and found bracket kit s for front and rear , and installed on the car , with drilled and slotted rotors , had some brake lines made .. the front rotor is 13 inch s and the rear is 11.85 inch s , even the e brake cable fit ... I am very very pleased with this setup , the car drives , and handles like never before , steering is nice and responsive , car s stance is great , the car sits on vintage wheel works type 45 s , 17-8 front with 4.75 inches of back spacing , 17-9 with 5.5 inches of back spacing , running 245/45-17 s front and 255/50-17s in the rear ,,, the car stop s on dime and you some change ... I absolutely love how it drives and stops now ,, eventually will do the ride tech rear coil over kit , but the cars setup on the back now works .. Hope this helps with your suspension make over .. Bud

[Richard F]

I used Heidts for my Falcon.