We did about 2000 miles in the Torino this season, Carlisle and the show in NYC. Uncle Paul beat on my car twice, and it survived!  But in NYC he called it a "floatuh" - floater.

And he;s right.

I changed the front and rear shocks to 96 crown vic touring shocks from Monroe about 10 years ago. I added a factory rear sway bar off a cougar XR7.

Ball joints, tie rod ends, idler arm, have all been changed to new.  Steering box could use some improvement. I can turn from 11 oclock to 1 oclock with very little feeling.

Aside from that, it is what it is when I bought the car in 2000.  Springs could be original from 73. I don't know.

In any case, I'd like some RECOMMENDATIONS on what owners have done to beef up the handling of our cars.  Springs?  From what model/year?  Shocks? Which manufacturer and for what car. Steering box?  Addco sway bars?  Poly bushings?

I did see an interesting article about a cross member for lincolns, that bolted to the torque box, then to the center engine member, and then to the front rad support.

Let's try to keep this thread on topic and not go too far off the track.

thanks

You can reply to me off list 

va2ir at securenet dot net

 

The coil spring thread is overwhelming to many, but there is tons of good info there on what springs to use.  I'd suggest a more performance oriented shock, Brillstein's, Monroe Severe Duty shocks or KYB's.  Addco is the only aftermarket source for sway bars and they offer the biggest front and rear you can get for our cars (1 1/8" front, 7/8" rear).

 

If you have a lot of slop in your steering, check your front end first.  Make sure that you don't have any worn parts.  The stock steering boxes on these cars are slow and over boosted.  You can get a quick ratio Ford box from Lares. My preference is for a Saginaw quick ratio high effort box, but it is a little bit more work to swap if your car doesn't have a Saginaw box in it now.

 

Your car likely has a 15/16 sway bar, which was standard for most Torinos in 1974 with the base suspension.  The 460 engine option made no difference on the sway bar size.  If you car has heavy duty suspension, then it would have a 1" front bar and a 11/16" rear bar.  Bigger bars were available for police package Torinos.  The 1 1/8" bar was only used on the Elite in 1974. 

you guys that have boxed in your control arms, when you were welding on them, were they previously galvanized, or just painted from the factory?

http://forum.grantorinosport.org/boxing-rear-lower-control-arms_topic10527.html" rel="nofollow - http://forum.grantorinosport.org/boxing-rear-lower-control-arms_topic10527.html

GOOD LUCK

So I got all my parts together and started on the rear end left side. Got the lower arm off, after cutting the bolts, cleaned it up, boxed it in, pressed in new bushings, then the fun started on reinstalling. I installed the front bolt, but the axle end was off by an inch. So should I be raising the car from the frame first and then support the axle? Theoretically, if both the frame and axle are suspended, nothing should move.

Now working on the upper arm (dog bone). Have to keep the shells of the bushings. Again bolts seized tight. No room to get a cut off wheel in the frame pocket....so I hope the sawzall will cut the bolt.  ANy other ideas? I have no access to a torch nor plasma cutter.

Thanks

Ian R.

Have a good time in Carlisle for those that are going.

Sounds painful.