how in the hell do i lower this on a serious budget

Remove all FOUR coils and remove 1-1/2 coils from each and re install.

 

Just for a refference point- 1-1/2 coil should get you about 3" of drop. At least that's what I have had experience with. I haven't noticed a ride problem yet. Cutting witht a torch is the easiest way, but if somebody suggests just heating them and letting the weight of the car do it- Step away.


Tim

 

Mr. H,

Like the guys have said, cut a quarter coil at a time tell the ride height is were you want it. One full coil at most beyond that your ride will be too harsh. Have someone who has done this before, there's a lot of tension on coil springs, be very careful. The rear leafs use 21/2 to 3 inch blocks. The easiest way to make blocks is with aluminum and some round head allen bolts. The allen bolts head size should be the same as the hole in the axle pad. Drill hole in the center of the aluminum block and tap it to the tread size of the allen bolt. Drill 1/2 hole on the other side in the center and your ready to go.

Cruiser

 

Take Every other leaf out of the rear springs,should be good for 2"-3"

 

thats the shit right there..

 

Pep Boys******* 2" Lowering blocks $29.00

Muffler shop***** Heat front coils $10.00

Getting some stink in the backseat of that indian........... Priceless

 

As mentioned, hotchkis and several others make lowering springs for A bodies, I'd try to find a used set for the rear ($50) and cut the fronts with a carbon-rod in your hacksaw. Builds muscle and character.

If that's too high fallutin, do the shifty-in-high-school plan. Get yourself a propane cannister from wal-mart ($8). Point the torch at the spring, sit on sidewalk reading rod & custom ($6) until the car is sitting on the bump stop. Move torch, repeat. Plan to buy lots of bump stops ($4 ea) since that's your new suspension.

 

Torch? WTF! Get a chopsaw. Cut 1 full coil off the front,the bottom of course. Put 4" blocks on the back. Then give it another look. Might have to cut the bumpstops. If you want to go lower up front,only cut 1/2 coils at a time. Remember that it will settle after about a week or two. And ALWAYS get it re-aligned when you're done.

 

For the benefit of half the people in this thread

YOU CANT PUT LOWERING BLOCKS ON A 4 LINK WITH COIL SPRINGS!

A BODIES HAVE PIGTAILED REAR COILS SO CUTTING THEM ISNT A GOOD PLAN

Buy rears, cut fronts.

 

you guys all rule. thank you so much for educating me. you ever need any advice on pinstripping just let me know. also im one hell of a picture framer. i love the hamb. who would have thought a place like this existed.

 

Buy indvidual airbags some brass fittings and a nitrogen tank. For a couple hundred bucks you'll get an adjustable ride height that will ride much nicer than cut coils or stock for that matter. Good luck. http://www.fbirides.com/shopping_department.asp?cat_idno=256438

 

if that is a pont tempest it would be the first one i ever saw with rear leaf springs.maybe its a canadian whatever.

 

He says leaf's.

I thought they were all coils also. My 66 Lemans had coils all way round. I bough the new, 3 inch lower springs. Worked like a champ but this cat's looking for dirt cheap I believe.

I'm assuming serious budget means little or no money. I guess it could be the other??

 

sorry to use your thread for my purpose, but i have a question sorta related... is it a bad idea to take out the overload leaf to lower the rear?

 

Sorry to be a dick, but your car doesn't have leafs in the rear unless it's been redneck backhalved. All A bodies. 2 door, 4 door, wagon, elcamino had a 4 link with coils. Every year of manufacture 1964 thru discontinuation of the RWD midsize platform in 88 (renamed G body after 81). Every one. And they were all pigtailed and problematic to cut.

If you can post a picture of the rear leafs, I will apologize profusely.

good luck with the project

 

Rear blocks are available at most parts stores for about 30 bucks. You can cut the front springs with a grinder with a cutoff wheel.

 

Coils or leafs, hold the torch to them bitches and watch it drop. Know it all fuckers, the dude wants cheap.

 

there pigtail at the bottom in the rear, just cut a coil off the top on my buddys 65 chevelle.

 

Check out a kit from Summit.
These are an easy way to drop it without cutting coils.
You can try cutting first but you might end up ordering these anyway.

http://store.summitracing.com/partd...839913+4294908153+4294908147+115&autoview=sku

 

I agree. start with a little and go from there. you can cut em with a torch, but a die grinder or sawzaw would work also.

 

he wan't cheap but i doubt he wants a crappy ride with it. my friend bought an impala that was heated all around to lower it and it rides horrible. "Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain".

 

If you're gonna cut coils, start with one turn. It's too much work to fuck around with for 1/2 or 3/4 of a coil.

 

You can heat a coil or two in the front and it'll still ride pretty well. And you don't have to take it a apart.

And it's dirt cheap.

I'm cheap. I'd know.

The back should be springs, they're easy to get out. Cut a coil from the top, put it back in and wait a couple weeks before you cut any more. You're gonna want airshocks in the back because it's a 4-door and also you can fit about four bodies in the trunk.

The whole operation should be under 250 bucks, airshocks and all.

Sweet ride.