'61 T-Bird suspension options?

I'm going to move on to working on my '61 Thunderbird's suspension next. Have I got any options regrding what I get, in the way of performance parts? I know stock replacement springs, etc. are all readily available, but what about such things as fiberglass rear leaves and GOOD shocks? Most places I see advertise "Shock absorber - 1961 Thunderbird". I don't know who makes them or valving or anything. I have also seen sway bar kits, but 1 1/8" front AND rear seems a bit too much for me - I want a nice ride, just without the "wallow". Any poly bushing kits out there for the front (rear should be easy to piece together)?
Thanks,
Darel
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Hey Darel,
I'm in the dreaming stage for my '61...I think I wanna street-rod mine. Nice Big FE, C6 and some meat out back. I've done a lot of surf/searching and parts catalog flipping.

My understanding is this: The suspension on the big creampuffs was intensionally made soft, for the smoothest of ride. Bias ply tires stiff sidewalls took the brunt of abuse in this suspension setup. Modern Radial tires are soft in the sidewall relying more on springs/shocks to smooth and stiffen the ride. This makes for a really mushy ride with soft springs. I think re-issue bias ply tires are available, but are fairly expensive.

Custom springs (coil and leafs) should be fairly easy to round up for any application (have weights and measures handy). A little searching should be fruitful. I'll look around.

Shocks look like you'd be able to interchange any popular flavor. Nothing fancy going on Post-to-post. I hear Edelbrock IAS shocks are righteous. I'll look into this too.

I suspect a 1-1/8" bar isn't too much for a 4000Lb beast.

I've yet to come across a dedicated '61-'63 bullet bird forum...have you? I wish someone would start one.

Very Very useful '61-'63 Tbird parts interchange page link: http://www3.sk.sympatico.ca/harrism/intrchng.html
I printed a text reformated copy out using Excel.

Eaton springs will make anySpring your heart desires: http://www.eatonsprings.com/index.html probably pricey

Rear shocks on many 50's-60's fords are interchangable. The '61 bird came with originally with a coil-over shock in addition to leaf-springs. With sagging leafs, coil-overs or even airshocks may be justified. With new and/or improved leaf springs, a good gas shock should do fine. One site listed the same rear monroe shock for both '65-'68 mustangs and '61-'63 Tbirds. I suspect they're very close or the same.

Paul Herd's "FORD: Parts Interchange Manual" is a hugely great resource, but doesn't cover shocks. Tbird references are scattered about the book, but aren't focussed on.

I'm not above calling Eaton or National for some custom-made springs, but I'd rather not have to pay for them. I suppose I was hoping that maybe some Mustang springs were the same, since everyone and their brother makes Mustang performance parts. Guess that's a pipe dream. I was really hoping to find some fiberglass rear leaves and maybe save myself 50 lbs. or more, and get a nicer ride from reducing the unsprung weight.
Thanks for the info on the shocks. That's what I'm looking for - someone who's tried different shocks and liked them. I'll look into the Edelbrocks, anything else worth checking out? I am intimately familiar with off-road shocks but when it comes to passenger cars I'm lost. How about KYB, I know they're popular with the old-Ford crowd?
Also, because of my off-road experience, I want to avoid bias-ply tires. Cost isn't really a big deal, but those killer flat spots in the morning are, especially since I'm up north and they'll vibrate your teeth out for the first 15 minutes of your morning. I am planning on running a larger wheel, 15 or 16" (I think the wheels I want only come in 16, unfortunately) so that may take some of the squish out of the tires.
Thanks for all the great info!
Darel

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The composite leaf springs are only necessary in racing. They're trying to shave as much weight as they can where ever they can. If you don't want to buy new leaf springs, have a shop re-bend the leaf springs, and they'll be good as new, but shouldn't run you more than 100 bucks. You could also have more or less leaf springs put in or vary the number of leafs per side depending on how much power you're producing to keep the rear wheels planted.
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