68 Mustang Rally Suspension

1144 Views 6 Replies 6 Participants Last post by paul289, Oct 19, 2021

Ingeniero39

Discussion Starter · Oct 8, 2021

Hi guy, just some quick background. I recently purchased my friend’s 68 Mustang California Special. It needs some work specially in the suspension area. My question is: what type of suspension would be closers to a rally suspension? Would something like King or Fox shocks work? The reason I ask is that I do know that this model shares parts with the old F100. Please don’t make fun of me as I come from a truck background

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Cobrajet67

· #2 · Oct 8, 2021

I have a 1969 F100. What shared parts are you referring to?
Idk if a rally suspension is a good idea as the Mustang was never really used in that capacity even back in the day as far as I know anyway. The suspension was largely based off the Falcon chassis after all. Also, a California Special is rare and worth more than a standard coupe is. It might not be the best decision to do that to it imo.

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Grimbrand

· #3 · Oct 8, 2021

Without just taking pot shots at the idea of a rally Mustang, I have to say, this is pretty far from the direction of the cars I work on!

About the only part they both share would be the rear axle, and even it is different widths.

Here are some things I would do if it were my car:

Mustang's body is floppy. You're going to have to put in a Monte Carlo bar and export brace, add chassis reinforcements (subframe connectors at a minimum), weld in shock tower reinforcement plates, a gusseted crossmember up front, a roll cage, and a shock mount reinforcement plate in the rear. (otherwise the rear shocks will wind up flopping in your trunk)

You'd have to find taller than stock front and rear springs - maybe a coilover kit for the rear, with some kind of Panhard setup? Maybe get in touch with Shaun at Streetortrack.com

Lastly, you're going to want some serious motorvation. Because you're going to want copious amounts of torque to spin the bigger tires you'll need for this, not to mention enough power to be competitive, I'd go with a 351W with an Edelbrock RPM Air Gap and 205CC AFR heads stroked to 408, full tube headers, a TKX transmission, aluminum (not carbon fiber for rally) driveshaft, 9" rear end with 4.10 gears.

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rickyracer1983

· #4 · Oct 9, 2021

Ingeniero39 said:
Hi guy, just some quick background. I recently purchased my friend’s 68 Mustang California Special. It needs some work specially in the suspension area. My question is: what type of suspension would be closers to a rally suspension? Would something like King or Fox shocks work? The reason I ask is that I do know that this model shares parts with the old F100. Please don’t make fun of me as I come from a truck background

Beef up stock parts to start with. Engine cross members and 1" front and 5/8" rear sway bars. Braided steel brake lines.

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07redstang

· #5 · Oct 11, 2021

Look into the Shelby control arm relocation kits.

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rickyracer1983

· #6 · Oct 12, 2021

07redstang said:
Look into the Shelby control arm relocation kits.

Do some resreach on "sprung and unsprung" weight. Also just the wheel offset can have a big influence on handling. Rim size to tire size and tire speed and compo ratings.

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paul289

· #7 · Oct 19, 2021

First, the chassis is gonna need lots of reinforcement. Look into a full cage. Then, or at the same time, you're gonna need tubular control arms, and for that, I'd go Total Control, but skip their usual shock package. Just get the control arms that allow the coilover to mount to the lower arm. Then you'll have to decide how much travel you'll need. King and Fox both make good coilovers, but I imagine that Fox is more likely to have one that fits. For the rear, add at least a torque arm and Panhard bar. I'd go further and use a Griggs rear system, potentially with a Watts link. You may need coilovers that go through the floor, but really, the 7" Konis that come with the Griggs kit might be sufficient for most rally racing.

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