[jrendell]

I purchased a 1979 turbo cobra 4 cylinder last year and currently in the process of restoring the car. Its all original except paint and has very little rust. I am more familar with the big block 1968 Mustang having owned one for 27 years, so this is all new to me. I am leaving the car stock, with the exception of lowering the car (still retaining the original wheel/tire combo) and getting maximum HP out of the 4 cylinder. Have a few questions: How much can you lower the suspension without other modifications? How much and what looks best and sorta looks stock? What are my options for spring shock/strut combination for a street driven car? Going to Florida Wednesday for the Daytona 500 - are there any shops close to Daytona or central Florida where I can purchase spring/shock/strut cominations?

[b_chandler]

This may require some homework. I'm not familiar enough with the 79's to give 100% factual information. I know that Eibach and a couple of other vendors sell lowering springs for the 4cyl. Fox. I also know that the upper strut mount was different between the early Fox Mustangs and the later models. You probably won't be dealing with the old strut mount anyway since you'll need a set of caster/camber plates so you can align the front end once the new springs are installed. They'll replace the factory upper strut mount. Depending on how low you go, you'll need either offset rack mount bushings or a bumpsteer kit to get the steering geometry back in line.

Something I found when looking for aftermarket springs was that the part numbers were the same for the 4 cyl. 79-93 Mustangs and the 94-04 V6 Mustangs were the same when both applications were listed. I don't know for fact that it carries from brand to brand, but I did see it more than once. It's certainly worth inquiring. I never did buy a set of springs when I was looking.