OK, I know this has been covered before but I thought I would give you my personal experience to help someone else save some time. After reading many posts on this site I went ahead and installed some lowering blocks to the rear, simple and cheap, the rear was done. The front is a little more complicated. I cut 1 & 1/2 coils from the front coil springs and installed new shorter shocks. The stance was great but the ride was terrible. After 700 miles of slam banging I couldn't take it any more. Here is what I did today and it is sooooo much better. First buy a set of Moog 8542 coils. I got them off of eBay for $52.00 with free shipping from Jegs. Next buy a set of Monroe 555001 shocks. Nobody here in Indianapolis had them in stock so you will probably need to order them. I got them from Oreilys auto parts for $40.00 for the pair. The original cut coils and and the slam banging destroyed the original bump stops so I would advise installing new ones while you're at it. $32.00 with shipping from National Chevy Association took care of that. Now cut the new coils by 1/2 coil, that should take about 1 & 1/8 inch off the height of the coils. This not only lowers the car by about 2.5 inches and brings the coils up close to the spring rate of the original coils. I'm not going to get into how to install the coils. Get a shop manual or pull the one off the web for free. The job is pretty straight forward but any time you pull apart a 60 some year old front end it is a pretty greasy job but it can be done on jack stands with basic hand tools. Have fun and enjoy the way your car looks and rides.
Thanks for the tip. The parts numbers really help. How are the new Monroe shocks better than the shorter shocks you were already using?
Hey thanks for the tip, as of right now I'm tail dragging all over town wondering what exactly I want to do about the front end? This advice sounds like a plan. I put a 3" block in rear, what is common? Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Sorry for the confusion. The Monroe 555001 are the new shorter shocks. Whether you cut the original coils or use the cut Moog 8542's you will need a shorter shock than the originals. If you don't the shocks will become your bump stop and probably eventually break the bottom shock mount out.
Three inch blocks are about as big as you can go without a c notch in the rear. And especially if you are still running the original torque tube rear end. You don't want all your differential fluid running forward out of the pumpkin to the U-joint
Very nice. Current l y I am just running lowering blocks in the rear. I like the stance. You made some nice changes.
Thanks for the pics, I recently acquired a 54 and I'm trying to get a good look without crazy cash for air ride and notched frames. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I found those caps on eBay. I think I paid about $80.00 with shipping. Here is a set for $90.00. http://www.ebay.com/itm/15-FULL-MOO...Parts_Accessories&hash=item20d20c2baa&vxp=mtr Or these for about $85.00 http://www.ebay.com/itm/15-Full-Whe...Parts_Accessories&hash=item4ceb977260&vxp=mtr
I used 2 inch blocks in the back. I always have a lot of "junk in the trunk" (tools, small floor jack, spare tire, small set of jack stands, a gallon of coolant, couple quarts of oil & a cooler) that brings the back down a little more. I believe in being self reliant out on the road.
Thanks! I had a pair on the front of my 41 Chevy but one fell off the other day and destroyed! I bought them for $20 for the pair! 16 inchers too.
Would you happen to still have the piece that you cut off your new springs. If so please upload a pic so I can get an idea on how much you cut. I'm getting ready to try this and don't wanna mess up.
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