Re: Starting to rebuld my frontend, (66 coupe)got loads of questions......
Posted by Fred on 8/22/2009, 8:49 pm, in reply to "Starting to rebuld my frontend, (66 coupe)got loads of questions......"
65.249.53.217
Well 6Sal6: Welcome to the ancient Ford front end club.
Concerning the front end drop question - get a pencil and paper and do some drawing. You'quicly see how the front lowers. Better than us'n trying to explain.
Moog builds great Mustang replacement parts. Top of the line and one of the best.
If the lower ball joints have been well lubed and don't have a sloppy wobble they will probably be fine.
I don't trust alignment shops too much unless they have a old school employee. Just go buy a inespensive level that will fit into the outer rim of your wheel. Good hardware stores sell them. Once you have your stuff back together just use the level in a verticle position to get the bubble centered. If you have a good alignment shop where people can chew gum and walk then the answer to your question is use the same shims until you can get the alignment done.
As for the Arning drop: That, I definately have a problem with. The 1 inch drop is fine. The 1/8 inch backset is insufficient. It needs to be 1 3/16" With modern radial tires you need more positive caster and the old Shelby drop was fine for bias tires, but insufficent for the newer low profiles. You need a minimun of 2 1/2 degrees of caster and the ability to good to about 3 1/2 degrees. Even with the Arning drop that requires too many shims.
I'll probably catch some flack for that, but I know this for a fact.
A simple thing I have done is had my strut rods turned down and threaded back anoter two inches and lock nuts. It gives the advantage of doing caster adjustments - somewhat, to ensure both front wheels are exactly the same. Also you can achieve about one degree of more positive caster just with the bars as in the 67 and 68 Stangs.
Once you have finished with the front end rebuild and the car is on the ground and level use a tape and check the measurement from the center of the rear wheel and the front wheel. Each side should be exactly the same. If it is then your ready for alignment. If not - better come back with more questions.
I apoligize for the detail and length. Steve can take away a gold star and since I don't have any he can demote me.
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