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Technical TECH MONTH: Stepping lower A arms(king pin style)

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by droplord49, Dec 16, 2008.

  1. Sweet & Low
    Joined: Feb 13, 2014
    Posts: 300

    Sweet & Low
    Member

  2. Sweet & Low
    Joined: Feb 13, 2014
    Posts: 300

    Sweet & Low
    Member

    Scan0035.jpg Scan0046.jpg Hey Guy's, these are shots of my modified 51 Ford A frames, after I made my cuts, I installed an enter piece of 1/8" flat stock to match the modified A frame and then boxed it on all sides, this is what it looked like with 2 coils cut.
     
    daddio211 likes this.
  3. Sweet & Low
    Joined: Feb 13, 2014
    Posts: 300

    Sweet & Low
    Member

    The bracket welded to the A frame if for a 1/2 Chevy pick up sway bar, the horse shoe pic carries a urethane bushing that the sway bar ends terminate in, using the sway bar took all of the Yaw out of the car when turning in a corner.
     
  4. Sweet & Low
    Joined: Feb 13, 2014
    Posts: 300

    Sweet & Low
    Member

    Important info I forgot to mention, I had to add an aluminum spacer to lift the top A frame the same amount as I raised the lower A frame to keep the geometry close, when I was a kid in San Diego this was a popular mod if you wanted low, I had a 50 Chevy back then and did something very similar to those A frames to get it in the mud, I was getting to low tickets back then before there was a law, LOL, LOL
     
  5. Tim Payne
    Joined: Aug 5, 2015
    Posts: 23

    Tim Payne

    I lowered my 53 today with stepped a arms and cut 1.5 coils from the front springs. It turned out lower than I anticipated. I'm trying to decide if I should stick with it and try and get it aligned, or buy some taller coils to get the height back up a bit. I love the look, but the wheels are leaned in quite a bit, and it's sitting on the bump stops on the lower a arms. Will an alignment resolve the wheels leaning inward? Should I cut the factory bump stops?
     

    Attached Files:

  6. King Karl
    Joined: Sep 27, 2007
    Posts: 383

    King Karl
    Member
    from N.C.

    Wow, that's down in the dirt. If the suspension is same as the one on a 50 then alignment won't completely take care of your problem.
    Good looks come at a price.
     
  7. niceguyede
    Joined: Jan 19, 2009
    Posts: 633

    niceguyede
    Member
    from dallas

    Change the springs out. If you have to, the 49-52 uprights will raise you 3/4 of an inch. I left the bump stops off with no problems.

    Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
     
  8. King Karl
    Joined: Sep 27, 2007
    Posts: 383

    King Karl
    Member
    from N.C.

    Changing the uprights will not help the geometry. Your best bet is to make changes to the spring height.
     
  9. niceguyede
    Joined: Jan 19, 2009
    Posts: 633

    niceguyede
    Member
    from dallas

    Changing the springs won't correct the geometry either, it needs an alignment. Springs and, if needed uprights, are just for height.

    Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
     
    Lone Star Mopar and slammed like this.
  10. Tim Payne
    Joined: Aug 5, 2015
    Posts: 23

    Tim Payne

    Niceguyede, is there enough factory adjustment to get this thing aligned?
     
  11. niceguyede
    Joined: Jan 19, 2009
    Posts: 633

    niceguyede
    Member
    from dallas

    Yessir. My brothers 52 aligned just fine.

    Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
     
  12. Tim Payne
    Joined: Aug 5, 2015
    Posts: 23

    Tim Payne

    Thank you Sir! I would love to stick with the current situation following a successful alignment. I may try removing the bump stops and getting an alignment. I'll keep you posted.
     
    niceguyede likes this.
  13. ky54mordor
    Joined: Feb 3, 2016
    Posts: 8

    ky54mordor

    I used this thread to modify mine this weekend. Thanks for the help guys!
     
  14. That 53 looks good, are you planning to lower the back a bit as well?
     
  15. droplord49
    Joined: Jan 12, 2004
    Posts: 1,690

    droplord49
    Member
    from Bryan, Tx

    Tim, you should not have any problems adjusting your camber issue. I'm running juice on my 53 now and it holds proper camber from fully lifted to fully laid. [​IMG]Hosted on Fotki [​IMG]Hosted on Fotki
     
  16. Tim Payne
    Joined: Aug 5, 2015
    Posts: 23

    Tim Payne

    Updated pic after installing New stock sprinGS with 1/2 coil cut, stepped lowers and 3" rear blocks. Very happy with the stance but I have to correct a serious camber problem. Wheels still lean on at the top severely.
     

    Attached Files:

    niceguyede likes this.
  17. Lone Star Mopar
    Joined: Nov 2, 2005
    Posts: 3,811

    Lone Star Mopar
    Member

    They will lean until you get an alignment. It's also important to rebuild all the suspension components while your at it. Otherwise it won't align worth a shit anyways. Keep us posted
     
    Last edited: Mar 10, 2016
  18. Tim Payne
    Joined: Aug 5, 2015
    Posts: 23

    Tim Payne

    Update...aligned really well, drives great. Now I'm ready to cut another 1/2 coil. Never satisfied
     

    Attached Files:

    Lone Star Mopar and niceguyede like this.
  19. h.d.fire
    Joined: Sep 20, 2006
    Posts: 80

    h.d.fire
    Member

    I have the same question.....
    I really like the idea of the stepped A-arms, but I also want to run air bags on the
    front of my Packard. Any advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated!
    GREAT thread droplord49!
     
  20. ky54mordor
    Joined: Feb 3, 2016
    Posts: 8

    ky54mordor

    Although it's still a work in progress I am running airbags with stepped a arms on the front of my 54 chevy.

    Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  21. h.d.fire
    Joined: Sep 20, 2006
    Posts: 80

    h.d.fire
    Member

    ky54mordor-
    Any pics of your front suspension?
     
  22. 47streamliner
    Joined: Feb 24, 2014
    Posts: 160

    47streamliner
    Member
    from Huntley il

    Anyone local to the chicago area that is willing to do this for me? I can fabricate but dont trust my welding skills for a part like this . I have a 50 style line that id like to try this on .

    droplord49 I actually grew up in college station if I was coming home for a visit anytime soon Id hit you up haha
     
    droplord49 likes this.
  23. gsnort
    Joined: Feb 5, 2008
    Posts: 281

    gsnort
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Your car looks sooooooooooo cool. Thanks for all the tech advice. It's highly appreciated.
     
    droplord49 likes this.
  24. Bigdavid
    Joined: Feb 10, 2012
    Posts: 41

    Bigdavid
    Member
    from Tennessee

    What kind of steering rack works best on these cars?
     
  25. lowrd
    Joined: Oct 9, 2007
    Posts: 405

    lowrd
    Member

    I used a manual center steer rack from a cavalier. Works fine with stock suspension. Lowered with dropped uprights and cut coils.
     
  26. martyk98
    Joined: Jun 12, 2006
    Posts: 134

    martyk98
    Member
    from washington

    Hey DL, not to change the subject but what ever happened to your 303 Olds engine?
     
  27. droplord49
    Joined: Jan 12, 2004
    Posts: 1,690

    droplord49
    Member
    from Bryan, Tx

    EC85E2D2-80DC-488B-8E0C-0E23853CBB27.jpeg
    It’s collecting dust in my garage. My chopped 51 project has been stalled for a few years(moved a few times, had a couple of kids, and got distracted with my 53 ). Hope to get back on it in the next year or so, when I get my backyard shop built.
     
    gsnort likes this.
  28. sweetchaos
    Joined: Nov 29, 2010
    Posts: 4

    sweetchaos
    Member
    from montreal

    Thanks for this tread! Thats how i will build the front of my 51!!! IMG_20180911_120253.jpeg IMG_20180911_122102.jpeg

    Sent from my CLT-L04 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
     
  29. Jay Castillo
    Joined: Dec 18, 2018
    Posts: 1

    Jay Castillo

    NEWBIE here , Great stuff guys !! Question , I am gonna step my arms, but is there any threads on bagging a 54 bel air with stock suspension and drums . Don't really have the funds for MII ,
    I tried the search function, but no cigar .

    Thanks !!
     
    chryslerfan55 likes this.
  30. Brickerconst
    Joined: Sep 6, 2019
    Posts: 5

    Brickerconst

    Search baggin a Chevy 49-54, it will take you to the correct article
     

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