Lowering a McPherson strut car?

Namely my '63 Ford Capri. It has insert cartrdges. Do I simply chop the springs? What about camber issues?
The rear end has parallel leaves, it's easy.
I don't need to have it slammed just a couple of inches to get some respect.

Thanks for your help.

 

Cut the springs, you can adjust the camber etc by elongating the mounting holes at the top if the inner wing (sorry....fender)

Here's a Hi-Tech version....



But you can do it as I described above.

 

Also, does the strut bolt to the spindle? Some of 'em will be slotted there as well for camber adjustment....

 

Thanks Dave, how many coils you reckon I should take out for a two inch drop?
I'm probably gonna have to fabricate a camber adjustment kit for my application or do you suppose they have them for old Cortinas which is essentially what my car's underpinnings are?

I'll try Dave Bean engineering.

 

Last time I did one I just adapted an adjustable coilover kit for those little autocross cars. I think mine was for a first generation rx7. I didn't get a new insert, but I had like 6 inches of travel left. You'll probably have to make some camber plates for your car. I cut out two 1/4 inch plates like so



and they went together like this



Now you should have plenty of adjustment to your camber. If you take the time to mark off the degrees on the plate, then you can adjust camber any time you need to.

 

Dammit. you guys got to it first. I spent like 20 minutes in paint...

 

Capri...Cortina...this post will suck in all the masochists, weirdos, and cranks who like old English tin...
So I need to ask the assembled multitude of three or whatever, is there a good organized source of restoration and repair parts, new and used, for Fiestas, the early boxy ones circa 1980? Here, English, European? Fiestas have become scarcer than Stanley steamers, even in junkyards, around here.

 

You used to be able to buy lowered, uprated coils for em over the counter back home.

There's several places over here that will make em to order too...

I'd go a little at a time...Cut one coil & see how it sits.

 

HEY...

Well OK... When you are right, you are right...

I get most of my parts out of England.
Even with the shipping they are cheaper most of the time.

Chains like Checker, etc, still have parts in stock for the '70s Furrin Fords ( I got Brake parts there, a Steering Rack, and some other stuff )

 

Your struts are probably closest to the 105 Anglia.

( the Race/Rally Trick was to use the Classic Capri Struts in those to get the Disc Brakes...)

 

Chop out one coil, that should be close to the amount you need, camber will be reasonable at that, like A32 says you can elongate the mounting holes if you're really bothered. A little negative camber will make that old Capri take the bends better.........if you can find any in Orlando

 

Thank you all very much for your help. The fenders are off, I'm getting deeper into the repaint than I wanted but there was no way I could fix some of the rust without doing it, plus it'll look so much nicer with painted jambs.
It'll be easier to hack away with all that room, I got my strut inserts in today.

Wish me luck.

 

On my Cortina the spring perches are brazed on to the strut tube. I removed the perches and welded them lower on the strut tube. This will lower the car without reducing the spring travel.

 

This is how I lowered mine...

 

have you made the call yet?

 

Thats another way to do it....bit more involved tho!

Where in San Jose are you? I used to own a Mk1 1500 Super back in the UK...

 

Er, no, I gotta talk to my boys tomorrow, this is a lot of pressure.

 

Where in San Jose are you? I used to own a Mk1 1500 Super back in the UK...[/quote]

A32Flathead,

I'm between Los Gatos and Almaden.

 

Cool, we live off Bascom, right by 85!

 

pretty sure i can get you bag struts for that if ya wanna go REALY low.

 

That doesn´t get them any lower (I have it on very good authority). The bags take up just as much (or more) space as a lowered spring.