'61 galaxie setup questions

[sumfoo1]

I was wondering if anyone has seen a pro touring galaxie. I know they are e
Heavy cars but I've brought the weight down in mine with an aluminum Robert pond 427 and a t-6060 transmission.
So, I've lightened the front up some, thinking of going with Fatman a-arms and tying the suspension hard points into my cage. What setup should I run out back is a triangulated 4link the best we got or how hard is it to set up a rear end. Like the current mustang 3 link?

Our should I just say acre it and put a track bar or watts link and caltracs along with some good low/high speed adjustable compression & rebound adjustable remote reservoir shocks

[oestek]

Were you thinking Mustang II front end? I don't think I'd go that route.

Ridetech sells a 4-link for the rear that, if I'm not mistaken, can be either air or coil sprung.

Sounds like a killer car, do you have any pics?

[marolf101x]

We do offer a number of options for that vehicle, including a bolt-in 4-link that can take a Shockwave or a coil-over:
http://www.ridetech.com/store/musclecars/?subcats=Y&features_hash=V310.V328

[Josh@Ridetech]

Hey, we do have a bolt in 4-link for the rear of that car. It can be used with air suspension or coilover's! If you are going to be spending some time on the track, we have single and triple adjustable shocks that will work very well for you! And they have a 1,000,001 mile warranty! If you have any questions, feel free to call me at 812-481-4734. Thanks!

[exwestracer]

A former neighbor had a few old Galaxies, and I seem to remember they had a fairly weak lower control arm mount design and HORRENDOUS bump steer. The tie rods aren't even in the same zip code as the control arm mounts... There is a DIY rack and pinion conversion on the Net that could help out with that. We did one at the school a few years ago, and it seemed pretty straightforward.

I'm not "throw it away and start over" type of guy, but IMO this would be a good candidate if you REALLY want it to handle well. Are you thinking along the lines of modern spindles and brakes? If so, I think I'd build some solid, double shear control arm mounts and use stock car type lower control arms with outboard coil overs. You'd be surprised how economical some of the generic racing suspension stuff is.

The Ridetech rear setup is as good as you will find for that car.

Keep us posted.

[sumfoo1]

Ok
1 is the ride tech rear any better if welded on instead of bolted? Or is it just fine as a bolt on solution?

2 steering is going to a rack setup no doubt.

3 already has drop spindles and big willwoods on it.

4 this is the first I've heard of the weak Lowe mounts every time I talk front suspension every one say the "strong enough for nascar" line so ill have to dig into it some more.

Also back to the ride tech people what y'all recommend for sway bars with your coil over systems ?

I'm not really looking to win any races just mess around at an auto x or two. I just want the old gal to not flop around like a whale, and actually be enjoyable on mountain rides.

As far as pics go , she is in paint now and I am in breckenridge on vacation and don't know how to post them from the mobile app yet. Pretty much just the before shots as the engine trans and spindles are sitting next to it awaiting paint

[Josh@Ridetech]

1 is the ride tech rear any better if welded on instead of bolted? Or is it just fine as a bolt on solution?

These kits work great as a bolt in kit, there really is no need to weld it in.


Also back to the ride tech people what y'all recommend for sway bars with your coil over systems ?


I'm not really looking to win any races just mess around at an auto x or two. I just want the old gal to not flop around like a whale, and actually be enjoyable on mountain rides.


We've never really built one for the track, so we really don't have a recommendation of a certain brand.

[oestek]

Flaming River has a nice rack setup for these cars now. Borgeson also now sells a good steering box conversion. There was nothing for a long time. I've got a Quickor front sway bar, tubular arms from the now defunct Gearheads Cruiser Products, and a Gearheads rear bar. The car corners nice and flat.

[sumfoo1]

71237

71238

she's going black as we speak and everything polished or re-chromed.

[sumfoo1]

Any intel on sway bars with the ride tech setup ?

[521stroker57]

I would highly suggest not the fat man control arms. I bought a set for my dads 60 starliner and the fit is terrible. Plus its a huge pain to get the shocks bolted up through them.

[sumfoo1]

Good to know looking into stock arms with ride tech setup.