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I put T-Bird springs on the front of my 59 which lowered in about 2.5".

My KYB shocks are now out of their range and I've got some serious bounce.

What recommendations for lowered shocks have you found to work?

I just did mine I used the AC DELCO version  OF THE AEROSTSR SPRINGS.  With the KYBs people say to use here. No bounciness I have not launched it into the he freeway yet.
Search Kyb in the search box for the number. 

No luck with the KYB search. Maybe I'm doing it wrong?

I poked in "KYB shock absorbers".....found this
https://57fordsforever.com/smf/index.php?topic=6444.msg53127#msg53127

I put Moog Aerostar springs on my car and the bump stops were about 1/2" from bottoming out. I suspect that may be the source of the "bounce". If the shocks bottom out that is a hard stop that might break something. In my case I added a 1/2" spacer between the spring and the lower a-arm.

I have decided to go with dropped spindles at some point in the future to regain suspension travel...

Quote from: Fabulous50s on 2022-07-18 20:48I put T-Bird springs on the front of my 59 which lowered in about 2.5".

My KYB shocks are now out of their range and I've got some serious bounce.

What recommendations for lowered shocks have you found to work?

You have to measure suspension travel to determine correct shock travel length.

 There is no shortcut other than someone having previously done what you are doing with the same car and he shares his build info.

Read through the below URL's and it will give you an idea of how to go about it -

https://help.summitracing.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4779/~/what-length-shocks-do-i-need%3F

https://secure.chassisshop.com/common/support/SolutionDetail.aspx?SolutionID=34

https://www.shockwarehouse.com/news/monroe_measurements.cfm

If the MONROE CHART is usable, you would then cross-reference their PN to whatever brand you plan on using. You also have to consider how the car is going to be used for stiffness.

What year BIRD coils and why did you choose them?

quote:"no shortcut other than someone having previously done what you are doing"...........that's the thing here, and reason for the minimal responses. This is the first I remember hearing of "T-Bird springs".....so likely no one has any direct info.

Yeah, I am curious too about "T-BIRD SPRINGS"

I would like to know the source.

Eaton makes springs for TBirds but I don't know the specs.

There are several things to know before altering your front springs. Best to find someone who has changed springs and is satisfied with their results before you start. Stock 57 springs are rated between 2025 and 2325 lbs depending on model and equipment. Most are 2225. Probably best to get a recommendation from a known supplier/vendor.  (Try to find an old guy who has been around a while.)

Good luck,

Ron.

I am running the stock Ranchero springs with 1 & 1/2 turns cut off.  They ride just right, not harsh and no bounce.  Only a 1/2 inch spacer on the rear springs.  Think the stance came out OK.

Now just a darn minute here!

I didn't realize you could increase photo size here ...

(https://57fordsforever.com/smf/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=72266;image)

I though looking at the smaller photo that is was a '58 hood but you had to go whole hog and go BIRD ...

Is the scoop grafted from a SQUAREBIRD or later? It looks nice ...  :006:

That is a great look isn't it! Gary/Gasman did the same. I think they are actually using the complete hood skin, not just the scoop, but I'll let them fill in the details.

Back to the spring discussion, if I remember correctly, Ford used 9 different front coil springs to keep ride height consistent regardless of model/options. Eaton detroit replicates 3 of those. Any front half changes at all from OEM are going to get each individual car into it's own personal modifications to get the ride height where you want it.
My front coils are the lightest (6 cyl) that Eaton makes, and made my car look like a gasser when installed. It took 1 1/4" (inches, not coils) iirc,removed from the height of the springs to get it where I wanted. As massive as my dohc engine is, the block, heads, intake, are all aluminum, as is my tranny and radiator. Way lighter than the OEM 6 cyl.  Whatever inches are  removed from the (non-variable rate) springs is essentially doubled in the resulting drop

QuoteThat is a great look isn't it! Gary/Gasdman did the same. I think they are actually using the complete hood skin, not just the scoop, but I'll let them fill in the details.

It is a great look. I have seen a few examples before (photos) and this looks more period correct (to me anyways) say than a BABY BIRD scoop. Much cleaner than a '58 hood.

PIC: full '65 Thunderbird skinDSC02695.JPG

Mine is a full 63 Bird skin.  Actually three hoods.  The 57 inner structure,the rear portion of a totally rusted out at the front 57 hood and the skin off the Bird.  Just happen to notice the curve of the two was almost exactly the same.

Quote from: SkylinerRon on 2022-08-20 23:47There are several things to know before altering your front springs. Best to find someone who has changed springs and is satisfied with their results before you start. Stock 57 springs are rated between 2025 and 2325 lbs depending on model and equipment. Most are 2225. Probably best to get a recommendation from a known supplier/vendor.  (Try to find an old guy who has been around a while.)

Good luck,

Ron.

Ron I thought the spring rates were expressed in lbs/in and the spring rates are somewhere around 400 (give or take) lbs per inch of compression for stock springs. Are you thinking of the maximum load per corner?

The Aerostar springs are 600 lbs per inch but they are way shorter.

When you cut springs the spring rate goes up. Besides dropped spindles the best solution is the same spring (bar length and diameter) rate with a shorter wound height.

Remember springs are just a torsion bar wound up.  Cutting them shortens them increasing "spring rate". 

Example, when racing the Boss 302 the Ford suspension modification guild called out using 69 - 70 Torino station wagon springs with two turns cut off to give 650 lbs/in spring rate and a two inch drop with moving the upper control arm inner mount location down one inch.