Question, if you replaced the stock springs on your GT with Ford K springs, you should no longer be allowed in F Stock. You should automatically be placed in ESP. I made the same argument that the K springs were stock on the Shelby GT, but unless the springs on the car were OEM from the factory when the car rolled out, it doesn't count. If you're able to get away with it, good for you, but technically your car is not F stock compliant anymore.

 

Let me add that i agree with Sam that too many people spout off e-knowledge with no real experience and just go off of what manufacturers are selling.

1: Get a spring that gives you the drop you want. there are plenty of pics out there. You will not bottom out a stock or aftermarket shock with any of them.

2: Cut the bump stops in half when doing the rear springs. You will need the clearance. I'm assuming most people who are complaining of bottoming out are actually hitting these bump stops.

3: I run the stock shocks/struts with HR SS springs. The ride is tolerable but I wanted to get some use out of the stockers before replacing and in all but the worse roads, its actually not bad as the SS springs are not a huge increase in spring rate vs. the stock GT springs.

4: You do not 'need' UCA's and LCA's or drop brackets for a street car. You certainly do not need adjustable versions of either. You only want them if you need to dial in your suspension for certain types of racing being drag, autox, or open track.

5: You really can't go wrong with any of the main stream shock/strut companies. Tokico, Koni, Bilstein will all work well. This is where I would recommend adjustable versions so you can tune the harshness of the ride to your taste.

6: You do not 'need' caster/camber plates. With a 1.7" drop my camber was aligned to 1.5* negative on both sides which is actually within factory specs. I know the 05's had strut mount issues, if you're not having a problem with yours, I wouldn't waste the money.

7: I would recommend an adj. panhard bar only to center the rear axle. However, it is not a need, as it will only visually be off slightly from one side to the other.

To summarize, if you want to lower your car, pick a spring you like the stance of, get a popular adj. shock/strut combination, and an adj. panhard bar from any popular manufacturer like Steeda, BMR, etc. Once done, get an alignment and enjoy your car. Any other suspension piece you buy will likely do nothing that you can see or feel to justify the cost.

 

I have the vogtland 1.3", not leveling kit, and the D-specs and feel the ride is fine, especially with the shocks set towards soft. We have alot of frost heaves and uneven pavement, so there is a fair amount of buffeting, but you expect that when you lower the car and put on stiffer springs. I bought the Steeda adjustable LCAs simply cause they were on sale, haven't ever adjusted them, they're stock length but work fine. The CHE LCA relocation brackets are the beefiest steel on my entire car.
Also have the J&M C/C plates and while they do have a bit more noise on occasion going around slow-speed corners and hitting bumps (ie parking lots), it's not horrible, and they allow me to swap over to a more negative camber setup for track days.
I did get the adjustable PH bar from J&M, which I can barely notice going around corners, the rear end is a bit more solid, but that's also likely due to the FRPP rear AR bar and billet endlinks. Definitely tightens everything up, doesn't have the softness the original setup did, but also rides harsher all around on the street. Still, I'm happy.

 

Update/Backdate allows for the a conversion to the Shelby GT and still remain in stock. You must utilize all of the parts except for pieces that are cosmetic, like the unavailable fender badges.

 

FWIW, the Shelby GT is F-stock legal. Might not like it, but it is.... I don't make the rules. Reverend's car, you are correct is not legal, becasue there was no configuration like his car you could order from Ford. Update/backdate is legal provided you could build the correct model year car and do a 100% conversion. I don't believe that a Convertible Shelby GT was available in any year other than 2008, and don't think his car is. Could be wrong.