Need Info on lowering the back of my friends 54 chevy

[SpeedRacer2002]

Well here is our situation..... Took out the helper springs and that just wasent enough to lower it .... so we decided to put lowering blocks in.... when we put the u bolts around the rear end the U bolts are at a angle because of the bolt that holds the rearend to the perch. and im guessing that cutting that bolt off and welding that perch solid is not a good idea??? it looks like the housing pivots on that perch??? i dunno... if it was mine it wouldnt have the original drive train.. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif but anyway anyone got any ideas???

[Moriarity]

If I remember correctly the u bolts have square tops and go around the perch only because the axle does pivot there. you need u bolts just like the stockers only longer.

[happy hoppy]

you need square U bolts.
I had some made at a muffler shop for my 54 chevy.
the U bolts go up and over the perch not the axle.
I have 4" blocks and de-arced springs , its on the frame (rigid) and its still not low enough . Iam going to step notch the frame soon.

[JamesG]

I bought a set of 4" blocks for my 49 Chevy fastback. i got them with the correct u-bolts from Chevs if the 40's. Those guys aint cheap, but they take all of the guess work out.

[poncho]

For my '53 i had 2 inch blocks,left only the long leafs in.. dearched them and had square u bolts made at a spring shop[$$cheap$$]and took out my snubbers..the frame sat on the axle!!!and it looked awsome.. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

[burger]

McMaster-Carr is an easy source for square u-bolts (and just about everything else you'll need to "re-engineer" your car).

http://www.mcmaster.com