Raising Front after car is built.

[JimLev]

I need to raise the ride height from the factory specs as the running boards have less than 4" ground clearance.
The rears coilover adjustments are accessible so that's not going to be a problem.
The fronts look to be a problem as the adjustment ring is on the bottom.
My low profile floor jack won't slide far enough under to get to the frame.
Has anyone been able to raise the front without removing the grille/radiator assembly?

123730

[Kamp]

I have the same issue so what I do is first jack under the lower A arm and raise the tire enough to get 2 2x6 short boards under the tire, this done on both sides gives me enough clearance to get my floor jack under.

But I just received 2 new front springs with a higher spring rate, 450# in this case to get more lift since I am about 1.5" from the spring seat to the end of the adjusting ring.

[Furrman]

I have the same issue. I have to remove the shocks to adjust them. With the spring all the way up, ground clearance is better, but super stiff. I'm thinking of buying longer shocks with dual rate springs.

[Kamp]

The spec on the shock spring calls for them to be 8" long but I wonder if you could use 10" long springs, there appears to be room.

[NAZ]

Here what I did that works for me:
I run my front QA1 Proma Star DA (Summit part #QA1-DD403) coil overs inverted so that the damping adjustment knobs and pre-load adjusters are accessible. The pre-load adjusters can be accessed with the short spanners designed to be used with a 3/8” drive ratchet and these are great for getting into tight places.


Also, I run 2.5”x10” high travel springs on the front in 225lb/in spring rate. To run the coil overs inverted requires running extended spring caps (Summit part #QA1-9018-113) to get the clearance at the lower end. The 225ln/in spring rate allows me to add more pre-load while maintaining a much smoother ride AND improved weight transfer at launch.

123740

EDIT:

My bad, the fronts are 2.5"x8" 250lb/in. I use the same shock front and rear.

[shmelty]

Here what I did that works for me:
I run my front QA1 Proma Star DA (Summit part #QA1-DD403) coil overs inverted so that the damping adjustment knobs and pre-load adjusters are accessible. The pre-load adjusters can be accessed with the short spanners designed to be used with a 3/8” drive ratchet and these are great for getting into tight places.


Also, I run 2.5”x10” high travel springs on the front in 225lb/in spring rate. To run the coil overs inverted requires running extended spring caps (Summit part #QA1-9018-113) to get the clearance at the lower end. The 225ln/in spring rate allows me to add more pre-load while maintaining a much smoother ride AND improved weight transfer at launch.

123740

Hi Naz,

What are shock/springs are you running in the back? Waiting for my kit and was thinking of deleting the Konis and going straigt to QA1s.

[NAZ]

shmelty, I run the same coil over shocks front and rear. The rear springs are 2.5"x10" 150lb/in but I have a much different motion ratio than what FFR uses so I need to run a softer spring. I designed and fabricated my own rear suspension which is way different than the Mustang design FFR uses.

[65 Cobra Dude]

Funny, I was just talking to Mike Everson about this same subject. I was delivering a 33 today but held back because the nose cone is 3 inches from the floor. This car is going to PA and would wipe out the nose quickly. My front springs from FFR are 450 lbs and only 6 inches long. I have the adjusters all the way up to the point where I would have to take them off and compress the springs which would roughen the ride. I am in the upper hole on the upper control arms per FFR's instructions. I'm thinking of moving down to the lower hole (35 pickup holes) which would give me another inch or so. I have the longer shocks on the back and the springs back there are 6 inches tall as well. I have the measurements and will be calling FFR next week to discuss. I spoke with the owner and he is amenable to getting this right...

Thx,

Henry

[JimLev]

Thanks for the info guys. The 2x6 would get it up enough to roll the floor jack under it. Still need to raise the front so I not scraping.
NAZ, I like your 3/8" ratchet idea. I'll weld an extension to my spanner, then I just need to keep the threaded part on the shock tube from turning while I do some cranking.

[rapidray]

I inverted my front shocks after talking to someone at FFR. I was told that the build school now suggests you install them this way just for this reason. I am running the 32 nose and have 5" of clearance. I run the upper holes on both control arms. I think you could probably move the upper arm to the lower hole but I think you would still have to bolt the radiator headlight bracket to the upper hole for body fitment issues (and you probably wouldn't gain anything if you didn't) . By the way I moved my horn location for lower radiator hose clearance. I have driven the car with no clearance or ride issues.

[65 Cobra Dude]

Ray,

Could you measure the length of your front springs please? Mike are 6 inches and the guys above have taller ones. I have full fenders on this one with the 33 nose. Headlights are mounted to the fenders.

Thx,

Henry

[rapidray]

Henry, I will be happy to measure them. The car is at my shop so it will be next week before I am able to reply. I am not familiar with the full fender car, does the radiator grille mount to the upper control arm bolt? If so it seems to me that moving both would raise the car but lower the grille. By the way adjusting the spring all the way down does not affect ride quality as the springs are non-progressive does not matter how much you compress them the spring rate remains the same. Sethmark took me to school over the effects of spring compression. There are several You-Tube videos on the subject. Ray

[65 Cobra Dude]

Thx Ray, the headlights don’t mount to the radiator support, they mount to the fender. Yes, the grill mounts to the upper control arm bolt.

Henry

[rapidray]

Henry, read my last post as after thinking about this (hey its early) I edited it! Cheers Ray

[JimLev]

I run the upper holes on both control arms. I think you could probably move the upper arm to the lower hole

Ray, is that the Gen 2 chassis you have?
Us Gen 1 guys can't do that, only one set of holes.

[rapidray]

Yes sir it is. Sorry if I wasted your time. See my comment on spring compression however as it still applies.

[Kamp]

Ok, I got out the flash light and tape measure, on my 33 the 8" long unloaded springs are about 6" long when the car weight is on them. I have a 4" nose to ground height.

Since you have to build the coil overs up I don't think a 10" long spring will work with the FFR supplied shocks as I thought.

On my Gen I turning the shock up side down presented an interference with the mounting tab and the upper collar. I suppose this could be ground out a bit to work and will relook at that when I install the 450# springs.

[HVACMAN]

I purchased the QA1 front and rear set of spring and shocks from Dan Ruth. I'm running the fronts inverted for the obvious reasons with 6 inches ground clearance front and 6 7/8 in the rear. After reading all the earlier posts on ride quality I was pleasantly surprised by the ride during go kart.

[JimLev]

I just measured my loaded springs, 6". The adjustment has about 3" I can go. I raised the rear up almost an inch.
Haven't done the front yet.
The bottom of the grille is 6" from the floor but the junction of the front fender to the running board is only 3 1/2".

123798

[shmelty]

I purchased the QA1 front and rear set of spring and shocks from Dan Ruth. I'm running the fronts inverted for the obvious reasons with 6 inches ground clearance front and 6 7/8 in the rear. After reading all the earlier posts on ride quality I was pleasantly surprised by the ride during go kart.

Is Dan still selling the package? The website hasn't been updated in a long time.

[65 Cobra Dude]

Thanks guys for helping me figure this out and thanks JimLev for the original post. I'm just finishing up a Gen II and the unsprung springs are 6 inches. Here is a pic of it on the ground.

123806

I will turn them around so the adjusters are easier to get to and call FFR with my measurements. I'm traveling this week but will stay on this because I want to get this car delivered and the owner is itching as well.

Henry

[HVACMAN]

Is Dan still selling the package? The website hasn't been updated in a long time.

As far as I know he is. I have ordered from him in the last six months.

[rapidray]

Measured mine this week and I have exactly what Kemp has 8" to 6" but I am running the 32 nose so my clearance may be different. Ray

[Kamp]

I finished up the 450# spring install, setting the spring seat at the same height as before and after measuring now have 5 1/2" at the nose. My 33 is probably heavier than most at the front with the engine and SC I have.