65 Mustang Fastback pro-touring build

[65fstbkNFB]

Originally Posted by DBasher

GW do you know your rear spring rate? 165lb is one of the lowest advertised rates out there. Mike sells these and the 200lb., most seem to be 175-185lb. I'm not sure 10-15lbs difference I would even notice, maybe. Mike said that the 220lb he's ran are too stiff for everyday use.

I don't think you're ripping on me, its all good conversation and like you said, food for thought. Besides, I don't have many feelings left and I left my two chits in the van!

So far I really like the 165 springs. I got those instead of the 200's for that very reason, and that being because they would be too stiff for everyday use. These 165's are even a little stiff, but I like them like that. Not sloppy and bouncy. They just compress, then return and that's it. And paired with the bilstein's that mike likes to put in the rear, it just gives the car a much more updated feel!

Nik

[DBasher]

Can't go wrong with what he sells, he's been around for a bit and tends to know what he's doing! Im just back and forth on what I'm reading and trying to understand it all.

I've just installed his coil over front kit and couldn't be happier, worth every penny. How was the install on the rear set up, looks pretty straight forward.
Looking forward to seeing what you've done with the front end and steering.


Dan

[65fstbkNFB]

Originally Posted by DBasher

Can't go wrong with what he sells, he's been around for a bit and tends to know what he's doing! Im just back and forth on what I'm reading and trying to understand it all.

I've just installed his coil over front kit and couldn't be happier, worth every penny. How was the install on the rear set up, looks pretty straight forward.
Looking forward to seeing what you've done with the front end and steering.


Dan

Dan I've got nothing but good things to say about Mike and his products. The rear suspension install was pretty straight forward. Just make sure the panhard bracket is in the correct place when you weld it in and base everything off that. Then it's all bolt in!

Hopefully tonight I'll add the update about the front suspension, and I'm thinking his coilover kit will be my next thing too. Reassuring to hear that you like it! I'd like to know how it performs on your car!

Nik

[DBasher]

Originally Posted by 65fstbkNFB

Reassuring to hear that you like it! I'd like to know how it performs on your car!

Nik

Haha! The kit performs, the rest of the car...not so much! I'm starting with a beater and I'm still running the six. The plan is to upgrade the suspension and chassis and than do the V8 over the winter. I've learned my lesson of pulling a running car off the road!

I pulled the original equipment off one night after work and wire wheeled and undercoated the next. Started the drivers side Friday after work and finished the passenger side and had it off the jack stands Sarurday morning. Mike and I texted back and forth the first night and he ended up calling a few days later to see how everything went. I would suggest once you have the kit and are looking at it to either give him a call or PM me and I can tell you a few things that will make it easier.

The best part about it, the more the wife drives it the more she gets why I did it. Like you said about the rear, it just absorbs every little thing on the road. The front end is firm without being jarring what so ever. Maier knows how to set these cars up and I'm glad i decided to spend a lil more to get this set up.

Now let's see some more pictures! Are you still running the daisy mags?


Dan

[65fstbkNFB]

Originally Posted by DBasher

The best part about it, the more the wife drives it the more she gets why I did it. Like you said about the rear, it just absorbs every little thing on the road. The front end is firm without being jarring what so ever. Maier knows how to set these cars up and I'm glad i decided to spend a lil more to get this set up.

Now let's see some more pictures! Are you still running the daisy mags?


Dan

Right on! And ya I've pulled this thing off the road and torn it down in running condition quite a few times haha. I've talked with mike a lot about set ups and the way his suspensions are suppose to work. Must say I really enjoy bouncing ideas off him and just shooting the breeze. But I will definitely talk to you more about the coilover kit when I get around to it.

As for the daisy mags, I junked them cause the chrome was soooo beat on them, one wheel was bent, they had oblong stud holes in them to fit multiple lug patterns and they were just cheap knockoffs of the American Racing 200 S wheels. I got a free set of Crown Vic 16x7 rims and I had a bunch of tires laying around for that size so I thought why not run them for free!

I'll get more pics up tomorrow to get this thread up too current date!

Nik

[rustomatic]

You're not wrong about the Unisteer's performance. I have a manual Uni-rack on my Falcon, and I found that the following minor changes were necessary to make it tolerable (and pretty good):

1. A 1.5:1 ratio quickener (this makes the rack too hard to steer; see #2)

2. The Unisteer Electro-Steer (check spelling) setup: This is awesome, and is the best power steering I've ever experienced on an old car. It's pretty much the same as my 2012 Honda's steering, actually. It can also allow for me to use a 2:1 quickener, if I like.

3. Thanks to the above, my car is now way safer (I have no actual steering column, as all parts can collapse at a number of points), and way more fun to drive. I don't have to take my hands off the wheel for most turns, and I can react to crap way more quickly and effectively.

I should have just used a Flaming River box, but I still would have wanted to quicken up the 16:1 they come with, which would make the steering super-hard. That's car crap for you--it never ends, but you're young...

[67XR7]

Originally Posted by 65fstbkNFB

The rack and pinion was an entire fiasco by itself. It was a kit from unisteer that went in very easily and had no clearance problems but the performance aspect of the rack was just not even close. It was nice to just cruise down the road with, but if you wanted to start taking corners.....good luck. Very unresponsive, sluggish and I lost a LOT of my turning radius. Not sure if I just had a bad ratio set up or what but I had a couple of car buddies drive it and they all did not like it one bit. Now I'm not here to say rack and pinions are bad or to rip on unisteer because this is kind of one of those things that you have to try to see whether or not it is for you. But what did make me a little ticked and that is why I'm sharing this, but when we were at SEMA 2013, I just thought I'd ask one of their guys about some of the problems I was having and his only answer was, "well you must have installed it wrong"........there's only one way to do the install. So I decided to get my responsive steering back (which I am currently doing and I will update soon) and better yet make the car safe to go around corners with cause let we tell you it sure was sketchy! So that's it in a nutshell. Sorry to have it so long and hope that answered some questions!

Just sold the power unisteer rack i had on my car, was def not for me either!LOL. sounds like you had a lot less issues then I did.

Great to see another for on the board, looks they are popping up daily around here. let me rephrase, nice to see another Local ford here!

[MSTSFabbed]

Glad to hear yalls input on the Uni-Steer! I was heading quickly in that direction. I'll re evaluate now. Thanks!

[67XR7]

Originally Posted by MSTSFabbed

Glad to hear yalls input on the Uni-Steer! I was heading quickly in that direction. I'll re evaluate now. Thanks!

dont want to thread jack but if you have any questions feel free to pm me. In my opinion the best bet if you arent looking to spend tons of money on lets say a TCP rack is to look into the power assist boxes. Boxes now offered have some fairly quick ratios available and install is easy and the price is easy on the wallet compared to other power steering options. I only caution you if using super comp headers with an aftermarket box.

[65fstbkNFB]

Originally Posted by 67XR7

Just sold the power unisteer rack i had on my car, was def not for me either!LOL. sounds like you had a lot less issues then I did.

Great to see another for on the board, looks they are popping up daily around here. let me rephrase, nice to see another Local ford here!

Definitely good to see some Ford guys on here! Nothing wrong with Chevys or Mopars whatsoever! In fact I'll probably do a camaro or a challenger next! But yes us Ford guys are few and far between I am seeing.