A good protouring car doesnt have to cost a lot. You can stay with the stock front suspension and make a few mods. Think of what the old timers were doing before all the new guys with their front aftermarket subframes and tubular bits of this and that. Some easy mods for the front suspension are to go to a stiffer lowering spring from an early mustang, can box the lower control arms, stiffer sway bar. 7/8" fonr sway is common. (Anything larger will have to be custom.) And then, last but not least, do a Shelby upper control arm drop.
Subframe connectors are a must!
The rear suspension can use stiffer de-arched leafs and a sway bar. If you choose to go with lowering blocks you may consider a locating device like a panhard bar or watts link.
The stance on my car took a lot to achieve. The wheel arches had to be radiused for the wider, lower stance.
My car now has a TCP Coil-Over conversion kit and an RRS power Rack & Pinion with a 7/8" sway bar. The rear has been replaced with a TCI Torque Arm system for a Mustang. If you go this route, do the work yourself or find a friend who works for beer. Keeping the price down, as many will tell you, is largely determined by how much you can do yourself.
Good luck. Feel free to hit me up for specifics.
Also, if you havent found it yet, check out this msg board. ITs nothing but Mavericks. (and comets but they dont count. LOL)
just a few questions to you.
can you still do the shelby mod if you have the reinforced plates in the way?
do you still use subframe connectors with the torque arm suspension you have?
and would you ever be willing to mod another up for other mav guys :-D
whats youre 9in narrowed to...flange to flange? 51.5?
72 buick skylark
twin-turbo fuel injected buick 350..perhaps stroked to 370 in the works!