So I finally got around to trying to lower my 1956 Ford Customline. I had a set of 3" aluminum blocks, air shocks, and an air lift compressor. I had already mounted the compressor, wiring, air lines and air lift gauge a while back with help from a hot rod/kustom builder. So I just needed to put my blocks in and new shocks in. I jacked the car up and took everything apart. I put in the blocks and put in the new shocks and let the car back down. My girl friend and I both agreed the car didn't look lower at all. I had her play with the air buttons and me squat down to look at the ass end of the car. It seemed to have moved a tiny tiny bit but not much. After texting Norton Grimm (on the HAMB) back and fourth we decided to scrap the air shocks and I should just put my regular shocks back in. So I jacked the car up ripped out the lines and replaced the shocks. I know had the original ones that were always on the car in. So I set the car back down and the girl friend and I both had a look. Wow, it was like I did nothing at all. It was maybe a hair lower but you couldn't really notice at all. I don't think it moved down much if anything at all. The leaf springs are really low now and you can see them through the side profile of the car and you couldn't before. So basically the leafs look low as s*** but the body doesn't. I have seen lots of '55-'56 Fords with 3" blocks and they look great. I'm wondering if maybe I need to reverse my shackles, or the angle of my shocks is forcing the car to not lower? I have no idea? Any suggestions? I can get pictures if needed.
Sounds like you repositioned the rear shackels. The spring should be in the same position as previously. The blocks raise the rear end thus lowering the car.
I have never touched the shackles before and to be honest I'm not even 100% sure which part they are. Can anyone post pictures or let me know how to do it? Thanks!
Its what the springs attach to in the rear of the springs. if the spring is lower than the shackle that would be your problem
Okay so it's 11:25 P.M. here and pitch black and I have no garage so I can get some daylight photos tomorrow. In the meantime here are some pictures... This is before I tightened everything down and just had the block in place. This is when I first did everything with the air shocks in. Then I re-did everything with the regular shocks Here is a pic underneath that was taken when I was all finished. This is also how it looks now I can get better pics of everything tomorrow. Thanks a lot! I was so pissed off when I dropped the car down to find out it wasn't lowered
Its the shackles being flipped, You may have to remove them to flip them back over, not too big a deal
Is there a thread on here or pictures of how I would have to reverse the shackles? Would I have to take the leaf springs out? Not 100% sure how to execute reversing the shackles. Thanks!
Put it back up in the air, put stands under the frame, undo the shocks and drop the axle down as far as it will go. Then push both shackles forward and up with pry bars while jacking the axle back up. After that, reattach the shocks and be safe while doing so.
wrong (trailor towing camper shackle position) right (ass end down hot rod) dont worry it took me a minute or two as well, but once its done it is worth it
Thanks guys! Norton Grimm and Speedy Canuck are coming over tonight to thrash on my '56. We are going to reverse the shackles and put some Aerostar coils in! Pics to come!
It looks like you are going to have to work for the beer now Michael, we used to have shackles on some cars flip over when we had the car up on a single post hoist with the tires and axle hanging down. When you had the car blocked up by the frame with the axle hanging down is probably when it happened. Not a biggie but it does happen once in a while.
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