Did some searching on here, not finding the info I want.

1953 F100 truck

For those of you with a MII front end, and tubular a-arms with coil-over springs, and a smallblock 289/302 with c4 tranny combo, what length and spring rate coil overs are you using?

The frame I picked up had the MII front end already welded in, but the springs I got with it appear to be WAY to short at about 8" spring length, and about 4" total shock travel.

Im guessing something more in the 11" spring length? and about 350 to 400lb spring rate is more the correct setup?

I know suspension is a black art, just trying to get some average numbers to start working with.

 

You are right on the money with your estimate.

Most of the companies that sell these "new" Mustang II kits sell them with what they are calling "truck springs" they are the 325# springs. But if you ask the same folks on a different day about their car set ups they are calling the 325 springs the car springs. There have been discussions about this here and I have a link to that thread. I'm sure you will find the info you need there. Be sure to look at teh links that are embeded in those as well. Coincidentially, I also bought a MII front end for my 51. I have a 390 and C6 so I am carrying a bit more weight than you.

After researching the kit I found out that it will drop your front end about 10 inches total once installed - 5-6 just by design, 2 to 3 for the 325# springs, 1 because you will probably be using 15 inch wheels after installation. God forbid you don't know that and buy 2 inch drop spindles also.

If I were you I would go with the 400s and maybe even 425s.

As it was I decided against the MII and sold it. Am as as of an hour ago rebuilding my stock single beam axel, kingpins, and springs. And I am VERY happy with the results so far.

Here is the spring link (or two):

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ng-enough.html

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/6...front-end.html

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...g-spacers.html

 

stock spindles on it as best I can tell right now.

At this point, Im just trying to get a-arm geometry correct. With no motor sitting in the frame, but with the cab and interior on the frame, the a-arms are about correct geometry wise. straight out, with just a 1 or 2 degree droop to give me say a 60% compression, 40% rebound for travel.

Sit the motor in the frame, set back as far as I can without actually hitting the firewall, and the a-arms go to full travel upward. No compression left. Dont know if the previous frame owner didnt think about engine weight, or just bought parts until it looked good as a bare frame, and 8" long springs did the trick.

I live pretty close to Art Morrison, and stopped in to talk to them about their front ends, and they wouldnt even give me estimates, or the length of spring they use in their kits.

Will check out those links in a little bit. Thanks.

 

Let me bump this back up for you too before this falls off the earth. There's lots of guys with good input on this type of thing.