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Lowered my 54' Chevy Sedan........

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by gasalley, Feb 25, 2013.

  1. gasalley
    Joined: Jan 10, 2013
    Posts: 116

    gasalley
    Member
    from East Texas

    I was pretty successful in lowering my car over the weekend. I used the jack under the a-arm method and it worked perfect (the shop manual also says to use this method). The only issue i had was getting the old shock out. I had to cut the top and bottom stems on the shocks. I guess the 59 year old shock nuts didn't want to play nicely anymore. I also used zip ties to hold the coil springs in place until i could get the a-arm down safely. Super easy job (with the right tools) and i appreciate all info i have learned from this site! Here's the pics-

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Sorry for the dark pics, it was getting late. The car sits now with a 3" block in the rear and exactly 1-1/2 coils cut from the front. I think i will cut 1/2 more and it should be perfect........ for now.

    Oh yeah, i searched forever on pics of 53-54 chevys and how they were lowered. I think we need to make a thread on how the car was lowered and pics showing the stance........

    M-
     
  2. jetcycles
    Joined: Dec 14, 2008
    Posts: 220

    jetcycles
    Member

    I really dig the clean simplified look of your car...it looks great!
     
  3. mrconcdid
    Joined: Aug 31, 2010
    Posts: 1,156

    mrconcdid
    Member
    from Florida

    Nice looking 54, looks like its ready to run a load of shine.

    Godspeed
    MrC.
     
  4. gasalley
    Joined: Jan 10, 2013
    Posts: 116

    gasalley
    Member
    from East Texas

    Thanks Jetcycles. I have 670-15 Firestone wide whites on the way with o/e chrome wheels and spider caps to set it off........

    M-
     

  5. 56premiere
    Joined: Mar 8, 2011
    Posts: 1,445

    56premiere
    Member
    from oregon

    My wifes 54 should look so nice. Jack
     
  6. lawman
    Joined: Sep 19, 2006
    Posts: 2,665

    lawman
    Member

    Wow, That is a nice 54 !!!!
     
  7. scrap metal 48
    Joined: Sep 6, 2009
    Posts: 6,079

    scrap metal 48
    Member

    Very nice 54.. Sits good now...
     
  8. rodder@heart
    Joined: Feb 7, 2011
    Posts: 16

    rodder@heart
    Member

    Looks REALLY nice! I went the other way with subframe,p/steering,p/brakes.
     
  9. Looking good.
    That car, which appears to be the cheapest model (150) , sure looks to be in excellent condition. Back in college in the 1960s I drove a 54 210 two
    door post (white over black).....a good car.
     
  10. Albie
    Joined: Feb 14, 2009
    Posts: 174

    Albie
    Member

    Man, thats a clean ride. What a blank canvas...
     
  11. flatheadpete
    Joined: Oct 29, 2003
    Posts: 10,478

    flatheadpete
    Member
    from Burton, MI

    So did you replace or cut springs? Dropped uprights? How did you do it?
     
  12. deeddude
    Joined: Aug 30, 2011
    Posts: 127

    deeddude
    Member

    Beautiful car. :)
     
  13. KenCrete
    Joined: Jun 1, 2012
    Posts: 157

    KenCrete
    Member
    from Milwaukee

    Nice 54! Winning the Gambino Christmas givaway didn't pan out for me so I'll be doing same thing to my 54 Bel Air soon. Good work! -Kenny
     
  14. 49ratfink
    Joined: Feb 8, 2004
    Posts: 18,828

    49ratfink
    Member
    from California

    cool car. there was a guy at all the local swap meets with a set of those rubber coated rear fender gravel gaurds in NOS condition. he hauled those things around for a couple years. very hard to find if you needed to replace them. most people would just put the chrome ones on.

    do the back windows roll down on that one?
     
  15. gasalley
    Joined: Jan 10, 2013
    Posts: 116

    gasalley
    Member
    from East Texas

    Thanks for all the compliments. It took me a long time to find this car and i am very proud to own it!

    I removed the factory springs and cut 1-1/2 coils. I wish i would have cut 2 full coils. No dropped uprights yet but they will be on the car in the future.

    The rear windows do not roll down. This is a back seat delete car so there is just a floor behind the seat. I would love to get my hands on those gravel guards!

    M-
     
  16. Dead End Sleds
    Joined: Oct 13, 2009
    Posts: 224

    Dead End Sleds
    Member

    Nice car. Before you cut anymore coils, look at attached photos First one (outside) is where I started.

    Everything I have seen says to only cut 1.5 b/c they will settle.

    I have Fatman Fab dropped uprights and 1.5 coils taken out. That's what they did in directions that came with uprights. Just completed it again; I only took out 1/2 coil to begin with. I plan to drop rear with Posies Super Slides
     

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  17. gasalley
    Joined: Jan 10, 2013
    Posts: 116

    gasalley
    Member
    from East Texas

    Thanks for the pics Dead End. I will hold off and let them settle a bit. My end end result is to have a little rake to the front........

    M-
     
  18. lrs30
    Joined: Jan 30, 2007
    Posts: 2,214

    lrs30
    Member
    from Kentucky

    With the 3 inch blocks and coils cut check your scrub line, I did the same on mine and it was damn close, killer car by the way.
     
  19. historynw
    Joined: May 26, 2008
    Posts: 806

    historynw
    Member

    Beautiful car has that sinister look, i wouldn't do another thing except polish it.
     
  20. gasalley
    Joined: Jan 10, 2013
    Posts: 116

    gasalley
    Member
    from East Texas

    Well, the plan is to keep it as simple as possible. Lowered, wheels and tires, exhaust, and a little engine work and this project will be complete.......

    M-
     
  21. That is a great looking 54. Like the stance.
    Later,
    Dick
     
  22. HUSSEY
    Joined: Feb 16, 2010
    Posts: 628

    HUSSEY
    Member

    Great looking car! Some wide whites would really make it pop.
     
  23. mj40's
    Joined: Dec 11, 2008
    Posts: 3,303

    mj40's
    Member

    WOW! 1-1/2 coils? I put a 54 Chevy front end in my 38 Chevy years ago. With stock spring, two 250# guys could not get the front end to move with engine installed. I cut 1/2 coil and it was just right for front end movements. Any more and it would have been stiffer that shit and ride like shit. Curb weight was 3257#'s

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Feb 26, 2013
  24. PandorasBox99
    Joined: Dec 1, 2012
    Posts: 186

    PandorasBox99
    Member

    nice piece realy nice piece i went up instead of down 50 chevy axle up front
     
  25. motoandy
    Joined: Sep 19, 2007
    Posts: 3,334

    motoandy
    Member
    from MB, SC

    Your car is a true example of "LESS IS MORE". Nice job. Looks great
     
  26. toucan
    Joined: Feb 15, 2009
    Posts: 1,083

    toucan
    Member
    from sc

    man i want to know more about your car,that thing is smokin' !
     
  27. gasalley
    Joined: Jan 10, 2013
    Posts: 116

    gasalley
    Member
    from East Texas

    There's not a lot to the car really......... its a 54' 150 2 door utility sedan with the back seat delete option. The car is documented with 36,xxx original miles. I have the original bill of sale from 54.......

    Here's the way it sat originally-


    [​IMG]


    Inside-


    [​IMG]


    Back seat delete-


    [​IMG]


    There is lots of little things to fix on the car, but they are all cosmetic. Biggest issue i have right now is the radiator decided to start leaking after i lowered the car. Go figure........

    M-
     
  28. yetiskustoms
    Joined: May 22, 2009
    Posts: 1,932

    yetiskustoms
    Member

  29. Dead End Sleds
    Joined: Oct 13, 2009
    Posts: 224

    Dead End Sleds
    Member

    Good score dude. I really like that car. Now even more after learning that info in post #29.
     
  30. Hotrodhog
    Joined: Aug 11, 2011
    Posts: 169

    Hotrodhog
    Member

    My '54 stance...M2 with 2" dropped spindles and 4" lowering blocks in the back
     

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