Happy Holidays all.
I have a 73 Mach 1 without the fold down rear seat. I have the parts in the garage and am getting ready to replace the original leaf springs, shackles etc. Also am replacing the rear air shocks holding the rear of the car off the ground with KYB self adjusting shocks.

Where are the top of the rear shocks hiding? Do not see them in the trunk. If they are behind the rear seat how and what has to come off to
get to them? in older mustangs rear seat removal is a kinda pull and yank thing. In this car this does not seem to be the case.

Hopefully the rest of this is not to difficult. Put back of car on Jack stands. Remove wheels. take weight off of rear with jack under pumpkin. Unhook shocks from bottom. Unhook shocks from top. Put new shocks in to top and leave unhooked from bottom rear. Remove and install shackles and leaf springs one side at a time. Hook shocks up at botton of rear. Put wheels back on.

Hints for this particulalr car? Are there PITA problems doing this on this year car etc.? If I am missing something or there are better ways to do something please chime in.

Thank you
Andy...

 

I just went through that, except it was a 68. I am unsure about your car. but the shocks came through at the very back of the trunk. which was easy to get to from the back seat.

I too, used the KYB gas-adjust shocks make sure that when you cut the band that constricts the shock that it is pointed in the right directon because the are hard to push back in. hope this helped

 

The tops of the shocks are underneath the panel that lays behind the back seat i believe. Do you have a fold down rear seat? Basically you just have to lift the panel out and the access holes are right there. I don't really know how to describe it so if you need a pic I might have one. Hope this helps.

 

I do not have a fold down rear seat. Replaced the rear shocks. They are staggered and located in the back of the trunk under rubber plugs.
Try as I might I could not get the leaf spring u-bolt bolts to budge? Used liquid Wrench, air gun would not budge them. Used cheater bar to point I thought the car may come off the rear jack stands. No real great place to support rear of this year car if rear axle can not be used. Stopped after car moved some and I thought you know I am out here under this car and no one is around. I guess I need to get a friend and maybe try a torch to heat them or something. Did not even try bolts that go through frame for leafs. Any tricks or hints for giant stuck bolts?
Thanks
Andy...

 

Oh I guess you have the competition suspension which would explain why they were in a different place than mine.

 

Ok going to try this again with a sawz-all for removal. As soon as I get some time.
Happy Holidays
Andy...

 

soak with WD-40 over night or if that doesnt work heat the u-bolts and nuts. or your sawz-all will do the trick for sure. hope you got new u-bolts. good luck.....