Im looking for a mean looking stance on my Cougar, i was wondering if you guys have any ideas as to what size tires i should get as well as lowering it any.
Thanks
IMO raising the back up gives an aggressive look. Enough of this ‘female dog peeing look’.
There are tons of ways to get a good stance and there are just as many ways to mess it up.
I prefer to leave the rear alone and lower the front. On several cars, I’ve cut a coil off the front springs. For me it’s easy and free. Lots of guys shy away from that technique because it’s somewhat labor intensive and shortening the spring also stiffens it which alters the ride slightly. There are also also aftermarket springs that are shorter but wound with thicker wire. Although I’m not as familiar with them for Cougars, the aftermarket also offers dropped spindles for most popular applications.
Going with staggered sized wheels such as 17s in the front and 18s in the rear for example with corresponding tires will also give a rubber rake. But the drawback is you cannot rotate the tires all around the car.
One of the more expensive packages would involve an air ride suspension. If you’re unfamiliar with those, they involve an on-board air compressor, small storage tank and inflatable bags that can be adjusted on the fly from the driver’s seat even while moving.
I’ll give you my car as a case study. I used shorter 620 springs on the front with 2/3rds a coil removed. I also run air ride on the rear with staggered 17 and 18 inch wheels and tires front to rear. The front tires are 235/45/17 and the rears are 295/45/18. Some people might consider the stance on my car a little “cartoony”. But that’s what I wanted. No one is saying you need to follow my formula. I’m just pointing out how several factors work together.
Or just park the car on a hill, and tilt the camera. LOL
Love the stance on Mark’s. Lowered but still has rake, and no squatting rear. I went old school and added a leaf to the rears. No squatting, hooks up better, but also raises the center of gravity. Have tried to compensate a little w/ bigger sway bars, which helps, but lowered will help in the handling dept. Take some shots of stances you like, and ask questions. Bottom line: it’s your car so build it how you want. My opinion on how your ride ends up has very little weight if you build it how you want.
Thanks guys so much this has really helped!
Since not too many people weighed in on this. I’ll share a few more examples. However, they aren’t Cougars. Just some other cars I’ve done.
This first is a 77 Grand Prix I’ve had for the last 13 years. It was a daily driver turned winter beater. I cut a coil out of the front springs but left the rear alone. The rubber rake is achieved via 14" wheels and tires on the front and 15s on the rear. Coincidentally, this wheel and tire combo was on the Hero in a past life.
This is the current daily driver, a 78 Olds Delta 88. The car suffered the infamous full sized GM broken front coil spring when I got it. Knowing that brand new springs was going to put the nose in the clouds, I cut a coil here too but left the rear alone. It runs the same size tires all around showing that you don’t always need a rubber rake to get a decent stance.
This next is my wife’s Olds Vert. It’s had a coil cut all around to keep it level only lower. But you wouldn’t really notice until it was parked next to another at stock height.
Lastly, this is my sister’s Monte Carlo. It’s had a coil cut all around and the same size tires all around. This is actually a Monte SS and she hit a fence post and caved in the rear quarter panel. Upon fixing it we decided to remove the rainbow stripes for a more subtle look.
all good advise but i don’t think anyone mentioned the shelby drop to the front a-arms, which is another option.