This forum is the only place that I have heard it suggested that any Falcon based front suspension has the Arning drop from the factory,excluding Shelby modified cars of course. I haven't actually sat down and measured it but I have had a later car and it had the same issues with tire wear and poor handling without the drop as the earlier cars. My 73 had the brace in the shock tower and I had to do the 1.5" drop instead due to the interference but it appeared the bolt holes were in the same location for the UCA.
Total Control Products makes a straight and a dropped version of the UCA that covers cars from the early '60s to the late 70s. Since their dropped version fits all year Mavericks, I would say that the factory never made this modification in later Mavericks. Going by their list, I would say the other models were not modified either. http://www.totalcontrolproducts.com/upper.html Damn those things are bad ass!
That makes 2 of us then. I've had well more than 20 older unibody Fords with this same suspension.. not to mention I've worked on many dozens.. and none of them ever had a factory drop. Shelby even quite doing it after mid 1966(or so) and seems entirely doubtful that Ford would start doing it on their own. Besides, why do it on a select few "economy cars" at that point anyways?
It might be worth noting that zerk access is limited after the drop and modified zerks, or, access holes drilled into the shock towers for use with stock zerks may be a good idea.
Good point. The 2" drop you have to massage the shock towers to get them in at all and the drivers side rear one won't fit due to the notch for the steering box. If I ever do another one, I'm installing the rubber bushing replacements to get rid of the metal ones altogether.
