1970 Ford Fairlane Project Car - Suspension in a Box

Custom Leaves for Launching
The easiest way to do the rear leaf springs is one side at a time. Support the weight of the differential with a pole jack, and unbolt the U-bolts attaching it to the axletube. Next, unbolt the rear of the leaf from the old shackle, remove the last bolt, and install the new spring. Our new leaves are designed specifically for our Fairlane, and have a 1-inch drop. We asked Jayme at Just Suspension how this helps with the launch: "Musclecars with leaf springs typically have very soft spring rates, making them susceptible to spring-wrap and wheelhop. Many people install traction bars to compensate, but they are ineffective in high-performance street cars because they create inconsistent launches and unsettled cornering. We have several techniques to modernize leaf springs and make them perform better. We use fewer leaves that are made out of steel alloys with higher spring rates and extra thickness-or leaves-in the front half of the spring. This reduces friction and wheelhop without creating a harsh ride."

The new shocks are installed...        read full caption The new shocks are installed through the top, and secured to the lower control arm. The Ford design makes swapping front shocks a painless operation. For an initial setting, adjust three clicks from full soft on both "rebound" and "compression." Each knob has 16 positions, so fine-tuning the shocks takes a little time. VariShock includes a tuning guide to get you in the ballpark.

Something we forgot to check...        read full caption Something we forgot to check when we installed the brakes, was the fitment of the 15x4 Summit drag wheels. Even with the four-piston SSBC brakes and new suspension parts, the wheel had no clearance issues.

Now it's time to tackle the...        read full caption Now it's time to tackle the parts on the rear, which is less complicated than the front but presents its own challenges. Just like the front, it's a good idea to hit all the old fasteners with WD-40 to make them easier to remove.

The new shackles are beefier...        read full caption The new shackles are beefier than the stockers we removed. The new poly bushings that slide through the frame are a tight fit, and take some work to install. Liberally apply the included lubricant, then slowly work them into the frame.

With the shackle installed,...        read full caption With the shackle installed, you can now put the new leaf spring into place and bolt it together. We found that a pair of clamps makes bolting the shock plate to the U-bolts much easier. When we ordered the kit from Just Suspension, we mentioned we would be running a Ford 9-inch rear, so they sent us U-bolts for that. The problem is that we don't have it in the car yet, so the new U-bolts won't work with our old rearend. No big deal: We just used the old hardware for now, and saved the new ones for when we install the Strange 9-inch.

We then installed the shiny...        read full caption We then installed the shiny new rear VariShocks. The cavernous trunk on the Fairlane means we don't have to pull the back seat to get to the top of the shocks, so installation is easy.

With the shocks handled, you're...        read full caption With the shocks handled, you're finished with the install-except for the rear sway bar. Since we're installing a new 9-inch rear soon, we decided to save that for later, as chances are its location will shift a bit.

Normally, this is where a...        read full caption Normally, this is where a mag puts the rubber to the road and tests the new parts; however, our test venue, California Speedway, was closed for NASCAR. Don't worry, we'll bring you before-and-after test data in the July issue.