Svo Suspension Question.

[boss82gt]

Last year I bought my first SVO. It needs some tlc, but the 84 only had 79k on it so I couldn't pass it up. The handling sucks as of now. Granted the Konis are old and will be replaced this year, but they still have life in them. Looking it all over I didn't see anything really out of place or completely worn out under it. Nothing loose or rotted. Everything was tight. I did however notice it sits way lower than any stock fox gt. Is this right? I never had a lowered car or an SVO so I really don't know. Not many SVOs to compair it to neither. I have read with out certain parts you can get excessive bump steer with lowered cars. Well I got bump steer and a harsh ride to boot. Can anyone give me a referance point to messure from to see if mine is lower than spec? I just want it to ride nice and handle like it should.

[Evil86lx]

Sounds like some one installed a set of springs on the car.

All of ours have lowering springs so I cant help you there.

You may want to check www.svoca.com for all of your melvin SVO info.

Are you saying that it rides stiff? or that the car is squirely going down the road?

You may want to check the tie rods and get a good alignment on it.

kyle

[boss82gt]

I searched the forum already over at the SVOCA, but I didn't find answers. Being I'm not a member currently I can't even ask. :(

I wouldn't doubt the alignment is a tad off, but on a smooth road it is very pleasant. I put a couple thousand miles on it this last year. The tires didn't show any signs of scuffing like the alignment was hidious. Tie rods are tight. On a smooth road you can let go of the wheel and float on down the road in a straight line. Hit a bump and your fillings fall out of your teeth. Larger cracks and bumps also cause it to be shifty.

[boss82gt]

One thing I noticed is if you look under the car at the steering rack. the tie rods have to pitch up at an angle to a attach at the wheel. So it looks something like this.


tire\_____/tire
rack/

[mb84gt]

Well, I don't have an SVO, but when I bought my 82 capri it rode like what your describing. Everytime I hit a bump it would jar you real bad. It was because it had eibach sportline springs on it. It dropped the front end almost 2 inches. If you look under the car and see red springs, I bet that is the culprit. I swapped them out for some ford "b" springs and it rode much better.

[Evil86lx]

Well, I don't have an SVO, but when I bought my 82 capri it rode like what your describing. Everytime I hit a bump it would jar you real bad. It was because it had eibach sportline springs on it. It dropped the front end almost 2 inches. If you look under the car and see red springs, I bet that is the culprit. I swapped them out for some ford "b" springs and it rode much better.

This is what I'm thinking. sound slike someone installed some pretty stiff springs on the car.

Maybe you cold try adjusting the Konis to a softer setting and see if tha helps some.

kyle

[Gyrhead]

Could be that someone cut the coils too. That is not out of the realm of possiblities. I went with the C springs on one of my SVOs. I actually like the ride, but some like the B springs equally. I would freshen up the outer tie rod ends and the sway bar links and bushings too. Cheap and easy to do. As you may know by now, the SVO ball joints are not replaceable and therefore the LCA has to be chucked if the BJ is bad. Alternatives are the SN95 parts.

[gtluke]

One thing I noticed is if you look under the car at the steering rack. the tie rods have to pitch up at an angle to a attach at the wheel. So it looks something like this.


tire\_____/tire
rack/

its lowered then, thats what caused bumpsteer

[boss82gt]

So it seems to be the opinion that it is infact lowered. Do ya think you can get replacement stock springs at the parts house? Stock height is low enough for me. I don't want to be any lower.

[Gyrhead]

So it seems to be the opinion that it is infact lowered. Do ya think you can get replacement stock springs at the parts house? Stock height is low enough for me. I don't want to be any lower.

You can. I had a customer order a set of AC Delco stock height springs to replace a set of lowering aftermarket ones. Motorcraft doesn't make em' but Moog also has some. Very inexpensive as well.

[Travis T]

Granted the Konis are old and will be replaced this year, but they still have life in them.

You do know that you can rebuild Konis, right? Don't throw them away, it is worth the trouble.

[Evil86lx]

Granted the Konis are old and will be replaced this year, but they still have life in them.

You do know that you can rebuild Konis, right? Don't throw them away, it is worth the trouble.

Ture.

but I called Koni a few months back and they wanted 150 + shipping (both ways) to rebuild them and they told me it would be at least 6 weeks from the time that they recieve them. I was how ever told that they have new ones in stock ready to ship for 180 + shipping.

It ends up being a wash unless you are the original owner and then the rebuild is free.

kyle

[boss82gt]

Granted the Konis are old and will be replaced this year, but they still have life in them.

You do know that you can rebuild Konis, right? Don't throw them away, it is worth the trouble.

Ture.

but I called Koni a few months back and they wanted 150 + shipping (both ways) to rebuild them and they told me it would be at least 6 weeks from the time that they recieve them. I was how ever told that they have new ones in stock ready to ship for 180 + shipping.

It ends up being a wash unless you are the original owner and then the rebuild is free.

kyle

Kyle what does the $180 price include? Normally I see the front struts for $370ish and the rear shocks in the $200 range for the correct Koni's for the '84.

Travis T yes I knew they could be rebuild, but as Kyle stated they take sometime for the turn around. I may have the struts rebuild in the future for originality sake, but it doesn't really matter seeing that the previous owner replaced the rears with something other than Koni's.

[Ken P]

Also know that if the car is lowered and it blows out your new Konis they will NOT honor the warranty. The ride height on my bone stock 85.5 is a consistent 26.5" at all four corners at the fender lip. If you ever have any other questions about stock stuff send me a PM.

[dawaki]

maybe its the roads in wisconsin...mine doesn't seem to be the best either..but I just got it a couple months ago and haven't looked into it yet...I have 3 project cars..
boss82gt are you going to the show in blanchardville on the 9th...I will be there with my svo..was going to take the exp but isn't running right so I am taking the svo...even if I dont have the new headliner in it...

[RichV]

The SVOs ARE lower than stock GT/LX of the same era. My SVO with stock springs was much lower when parked side-by-side to my 79 Indy. It really got dumped with the Eibach Pros. Currently, you can get 1 finger between the fender lip and top of the tire. Maybe 1.5 on the rear. It has a bit of a raked look, but looks good. I don't have any digital pics of before, but here is the way the car sits currently. I have never had any bumpsteer or the need to different front bushings because I lowered it.

http://www.coloradostangs.com/gallery/data/500/445Picture_160-med.jpg

Here it is next to my Saleen. The Saleen has the stock racecraft springs.
http://www.coloradostangs.com/gallery/data/500/58calendar2-med.jpg

I just replaced the Konis on my SVO. I found a set on ebay which were new factory ford units. Got em for $125 + shipping for the pair. Other than the front end walkin after a bump, the SVO still handeled way better than any stock stang. I had the monroe cartridges in my front Koni housings and they were not too bad. For the $$ you spend on Koni vs the cartridges anyway. But the Konis I put in are definitely better in terms of adjustability.

[dawaki]

you own a svo and a saleen....man that would be cool...nice cars

[Hooptie]

Stock SVOs tended to have the bigfoot stance....OH, and from what I understand, you can get the Konis rebuilt for a pretty good price still.

My car was lowered, was a fantastic handling car...but ooooh the ride. Enough to make ya sterile....
http://f10.putfile.com/7/18408331161.jpg

p.s. Thats MY Capri now Matt.

[RichV]

you own a svo and a saleen....man that would be cool...nice cars

Thanks! I used to have a SVO/86 GT combo. When I found this Saleen I had to sell the GT to get it. I wish I could have had both, but I can hardly justify having these 2. I had already done a bunch of mods to the GT when the Saleen came up for sale so I had to remove all the goodies and re-install in the Saleen. It needs a good resto, but it will be a year or so before I attack that. I'm on the lookout for a goor road-race warrior and keep going back and forth about selling one of these.

The Konis can be rebuilt but you must be a original owner of the SVO to get the good deal, FWIK. I think Kyle called about getting his Konis rebuilt and the quote was a few bucks less than a new pair. In that case, you may as well pay the few bucks and get all new parts.

Rich.

[93-331-29PSI]

I had this same problem with my 86 after the 5 lug conversion. It sounds to me like you need to either put a bumpsteer kit on or some offset rack bushings and of course a good alignment. Caster Camber plates will help out in this department as well but aren't required.