1964 Ford Fairlane 500, Nissan 240sx Coilover Suspension Swap!

[@Random_Bot_69]

hell yeah man, love seeing the old cars getting loved on!

[@young11984]

Basically you made a true coil over strut suspension for a few hundred dollars with small modifications to it vs a coil around shock, coil over shock or some wild $1500+ kit that im sure would need modifying anyway plus your set up came with a modernish disc brakes that parts can be picked up at any parts store across the country not some one off or antique parts nobody had in stock. This is the perfect drag n drive set up i have been looking for for my fairlane. Thanks

[@cooperc240]

Absolutely 100% correct. I'm glad someone else understands where my mind was at!

[@DeusTex-Mex]

I've long wondered about adapting macpherson strut suspension into my '63 Fairlane using junkyard parts. You're the first guy I've seen do this from start to finish, so congrats. The one thing I'd really not be happy with personally is having to cut and extend those steering knuckles out like that. I don't know if those are cast or forged or what, but I absolutely wouldn't trust that at all on my own car. Perhaps with some gusseting. But I'd prefer to simply find a knuckle with closer geometry so I wouldn't have to resort to cutting. The trouble is finding something similar from a platform with as much aftermarket support as an s13 is not easy.

[@cooperc240]

I was comfortable with cutting and welding the knuckles because i have done it before, a bunch of times. Hopefully I can get to work on swapping in a power rack and pinion soon, and then I'd go back to oem "uncut" knuckles.

[@cecilnyman608]

I also have a 63 Ford Fairlane

[@cooperrogers9076]

Awesome! We are hopefully buy a second 64 2 dr fairlane saturday. We have a mudtang 2 front end going in to make room for the 460 bbf.

[@cooperc240]

I thought about a mustang 2 front end, but I honestly didn't feel like doing all that work and spending all that money! Next up is swapping in a 240sx rack and pinion for power steering

[@cooperrogers9076]

@cooperc240 I don't think I've ever seen what you're doing before. I'm excited to see it! What state you located in? Don't see too many 1964 fairlanes around here in Nebraska.

[@cooperc240]

@@cooperrogers9076 I like being different haha. I'm in Alabama.

[@erikredlich]

Great idea and installation tutorial. Have you got an actual parts list of what all you used for this suspension swap ? Thinking of doing the same on my 63 .

[@cooperc240]

The only "foreign" parts used really were the coilovers, spindles, calipers, rotors, and tension (strut) rods. The 240sx spindles installed right onto the oem Fairlane control arm and ball joint, and the oem Fairlane tie rod end installed right into the 240sx spindle as well.

[@jsimmonstx]

Aldan makes a coil-over kit for the 62-65 Fairlane that doesn't call for modification of the shock tower or upper control arm. It's less than $1000. You can also get adjustable strut rods from OpenTracker Racing for 62-65 Fairlane for $425.

[@cooperc240]

those aren't true coilovers. those are springs over a shock. the coilovers I installed are true coilovers (spring and shock all in one unit, with the spring "contained"). Look at pictures and you will see the differences I am talking about. I believe I saw those strut rods before I did this swap. No way I was spending that kind of money, but to each their own!

[@nagadsby9413]

How does it handle now compared to a well aligned (not to original specs, but properly aligned) stock front end? I have a 64 that I’m considering doing all new “track” front end components (from one of the various manufacturers). You’re very brave to try this with a street car, great video!

[@cooperc240]

@@nagadsby9413 honestly I can't give a good comparison because I was never able to get a good alignment on the stock stuff. That's a big reason I did all this work. But now it handles great! And very easy to align.

[@bigfish8473]

you dont have to cut out anything for a coilover. Aldan make them to fit bolt on they are 900 bucks but well worth the money i have them on my 63 ford fairlane 500 and it rides and handle so good.

[@cooperc240]

Those aren't true coilovers. Those just replace the oem spring and shock with an aftermarket spring and adjustable shock. I replaced just about the entire system. Take a look at the entire video.

[@bigfish8473]

@@cooperc240 I did watch the intire thing. They are pretty good dubble adjustable coilovers. I didn't want to change it all because the cobo of my 63 ford only made it 2yrs its a 221 small block 3 on the tree. . Trying to keep it as cloes to original as possible.

[@cooperc240]

@@bigfish8473 I wanted to keep it original also, but I was having a horrible time trying to get a good alignment with the stock setup. Doing this solves my alignment problem, while also modernizing the suspension which increases handling, and makes it easier to find parts in the future. Next up I plan on using a 240sx steering rack and converting to rack and pinion steering. Eventually...lol

[@shortysshack9551]

I love it man. I'm thinking about doing the LS swap in my 63.

[@Jas-wd9zh]

Just sell it and buy a chevy!

[@MaxWedge413]

If you wanna recoup some money sell me your upper control arms.

[@trentdawg2832]

How did you get that LS in there….my son has a ‘67 mustang 289 that i would love to stuff one of my spare LS’s into

[@cooperc240]

I have a bunch of videos on how I did it. Check em out!

[@trentdawg2832]

@@cooperc240 i did…man im diggin the sleeper vibe!!!…..u make it look easy brother!!

[@cooperc240]

@@trentdawg2832 thank you sir!

[@trentdawg2832]

beautiful car

[@cooperc240]

Thanks!

[@lizardKingCDXX]

no, sacrilege!

[@toverturf9097]

I can’t understand why a person would take a completed car and cobble a front suspension in it then wonder why the Ford guys didn’t like it. Plenty of half ass work!

[@cooperc240]

Because the front end is way better now :)