Topic: Lowering my 53 (Read 16377 times)

RaTaTat · « **on:** July 07, 2011, 10:41:23 AM »

So i dont know very much about suspension. My 53 Bel Air is sitting stock and supper high. Give me some ideas on EASY ways to lower her? I wont get around to actually droping her for a few more months I think but I want as much information as I can find and I know you guys are full of it (in a good way LOL:) First step I need to get on is cleaning the undercarage, Ugh gota get it done tho.

tattoodaddy1967 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 07, 2011, 11:34:01 AM »

Put 10" wheels on it....

RaTaTat · « **Reply #2 on:** July 07, 2011, 11:59:29 AM »

Good thinkin Daddy LOL

tattoodaddy1967 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 07, 2011, 12:18:04 PM »

The old-school way would be to cut the coils on the front and readjust your camber. Then on the rear remove every other leaf on the springs...

Greybeards Customs · « **Reply #4 on:** July 07, 2011, 12:53:36 PM »

Quote from: tattoodaddy1967 on July 07, 2011, 12:18:04 PM

The old-school way would be to cut the coils on the front and readjust your camber. Then on the rear remove every other leaf on the springs...

good advise , the other thing you might consider is lowering blocks on the rear if the car has an open driveshaft , if it doesn't have an open shaft you can't use the blocks

RaTaTat · « **Reply #5 on:** July 07, 2011, 01:10:45 PM »

good advise , the other thing you might consider is lowering blocks on the rear if the car has an open driveshaft , if it doesn't have an open shaft you can't use the blocks
[/quote]

Explain this "open" driveshaft to me please?

tattoodaddy1967 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 07, 2011, 01:18:05 PM »

The lowering blocks can be made out of 2x4x1/4" box tube. Just drill the hole for the alignment pin all the way through, and weld a new alignment pin into one of those holes. The "hole" with the pin welded in goes up. If you don't want to come down quite that far, just go with a different size box tube. You can go anywhere from 1 to 4 inches using that method....

RaTaTat · « **Reply #7 on:** July 07, 2011, 01:21:41 PM »

Quote from: tattoodaddy1967 on July 07, 2011, 01:18:05 PM

The lowering blocks can be made out of 2x4x1/4" box tube. Just drill the hole for the alignment pin all the way through, and weld a new alignment pin into one of those holes. The "hole" with the pin welded in goes up. If you don't want to come down quite that far, just go with a different size box tube. You can go anywhere from 1 to 4 inches using that method....

Thank you Jimmy! If there's one thing I have unlimited access to it's steel (especially TS) Can you explain the "open" shaft thing for me?

My cars all stock

tattoodaddy1967 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 07, 2011, 01:37:14 PM »

On a closed driveshaft the torque tube is a large, hollow tube that is attached (fixed-it doesn't move) to the rear end and the transmission, it ties them together. The drive shaft is a seperate piece, inside the torque tube. The torque tube does not rotate,it is a part of the rear suspension. An open drive shaft is the most common, it serves no function other than to transfer power from the trans to the rear end and "floats" (slides) back and forth a little on the transmission spline as the rear end move up and down. The reason to change is almost always due to the fact that old cars had high gear ratios and new transmissions are made to work with open drive shafts.

RaTaTat · « **Reply #9 on:** July 07, 2011, 02:01:14 PM »

Gotcha. Dont think Ive ever noticed a closed drive shaft before? Hm I'll have to do some checking when I get home but looks to me like there stock setup is a closed drive shaft. this pic is closed correct?

Is it easy to switch out the closed for an open setup? looks like I would have to get a new rear end too Hm......

tattoodaddy1967 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 07, 2011, 02:07:05 PM »

The open was the most common, and from my understanding they could have either/or on the 210's and the Bel Aire

tattoodaddy1967 · « **Reply #11 on:** July 07, 2011, 02:16:04 PM »

That is a closed shaft......

tattoodaddy1967 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 07, 2011, 02:29:16 PM »

you may have to notch the frame if you go more than 2" lower with a closed driveline...good question for Greybeards or ezrat or obama or hotwheels or anyone but me....

RaTaTat · « **Reply #13 on:** July 08, 2011, 08:44:43 AM »

Here are some pics of what i'm working with, after looking at her last night I dont think it's going to be all that dificult after all. There's a spider living behind my tire in that first pic :'(

Greybeards Customs · « **Reply #14 on:** July 08, 2011, 08:52:23 AM »

does your rear spring shackle line - up under the frame or the outside of the frame ?

RaTaTat · « **Reply #15 on:** July 08, 2011, 09:03:16 AM »

Under the frame. There is a "C" shaped bent steel plate that acts as a spring in itself at the end of the leafe springs

Greybeards Customs · « **Reply #16 on:** July 08, 2011, 09:13:25 AM »

I think removing alternating leafs is the way to go

RaTaTat · « **Reply #17 on:** July 08, 2011, 09:20:19 AM »

Thanks for your help Greg! I think its going to go pretty smooth once I get things cleaned up a bit

hotwheels · « **Reply #18 on:** July 08, 2011, 04:12:16 PM »

A spider, yuck..............Sell the car, Sell the car......

RaTaTat · « **Reply #19 on:** July 08, 2011, 04:18:09 PM »

LMAO im not scared of em im just sad my car's so slow it has things living in it :/

hotwheels · « **Reply #20 on:** July 08, 2011, 04:29:06 PM »

I be scared though...........i hate spiders. You'll get it on the road, you have been making great progress on it.

RaTaTat · « **Reply #21 on:** July 11, 2011, 03:08:05 PM »

Slowly, Its no kid monday! so I'm going to be playing outside with the car today! My boys new favorite thing to do is make a run for the street (lauphing the whole way) while I'm droping what i'm doing and running after him. Arg that makes working on Betty very frustrating LOL Rear suspension here I come!

Greybeards Customs · « **Reply #22 on:** July 11, 2011, 07:38:58 PM »

keep us up to date on everything

tattoodaddy1967 · « **Reply #23 on:** July 12, 2011, 02:47:55 PM »

Quote from: hotwheels on July 08, 2011, 04:12:16 PM

A spider, yuck..............Sell the car, Sell the car......

Agree, my garage is home to Black Widows...I keep a can of starting fluid close at hand when in the shop....I HATE SPIDERS and them copperheadedwaterrattlers that get in the barn....

Greybeards Customs · « **Reply #24 on:** July 12, 2011, 03:34:05 PM »

copperheadedwaterrattlers

That's funny !!

News:

AuthorTopic: Lowering my 53 (Read 16377 times)