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Technical dropping the buick

Discussion in 'Traditional Customs' started by 51_special, Jan 31, 2014.

  1. luke13
    Joined: Oct 25, 2013
    Posts: 381

    luke13
    Member

    probably best to talk to spring maker as to why you shouldnt cut'em,they'll explain it better, its to do with the shape of the spring on the last couple of coils. i regreted it mostly cause its illegal over here,
     
  2. desotot
    Joined: Jan 29, 2008
    Posts: 2,036

    desotot
    Member

    ^^^^^ We forgive you. :]
     
  3. knucklepower
    Joined: Jan 9, 2009
    Posts: 149

    knucklepower
    Member
    from .

    I have long driven shortened springs and was often dissatisfied,still too high but often too low.now i have airride and my own rules.: DI know it's taboo for many guys.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  4. luke13
    Joined: Oct 25, 2013
    Posts: 381

    luke13
    Member

    i thought that might kick up some dust, but i did it anyway.:D
     
  5. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 23,329

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Probably via the blue-tipped wrench.
     
  6. 51_special
    Joined: Dec 20, 2012
    Posts: 83

    51_special
    Member

    Finally starting on the drop. Got the fronts out and getting ready to cut em. Not sure if I should start with one or 1 1/2 coils. Any input? One just seems to little looking at it.
     
  7. I have no experience here. But I do know that you can always cut more off, you can't put it back on!
     
  8. 51_special
    Joined: Dec 20, 2012
    Posts: 83

    51_special
    Member

    Well I started with one and it didn't drop it much at all do I pulled me out cut another 1/2 out and now it looks great but ...... Now the snubbers are fractions away from the stop do I find some other ones and try again pull off the snubbers or what!? It looks sweet as hell now
     

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  9. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 23,329

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

  10. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 23,329

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    You may need to trim metal if it hits the 3/8" stops on a regular basis.
     
  11. desotot
    Joined: Jan 29, 2008
    Posts: 2,036

    desotot
    Member

    You could start by taking a hacksaw blade and reduce the snubbers to 1/2. Its not a real good idea to totally eliminate them because its murder on the parts when steel hits steel.
     
  12. 51_special
    Joined: Dec 20, 2012
    Posts: 83

    51_special
    Member

    Sweet! Thanks for the help I was dreading the wife's reaction if I had too go buy new springs I wouldn't hear the end of it I can hear it now "remember the last time you tried to do it yourself" in the mean time could I just trim mine up? And second trim the metal where the bump stop?
     
  13. 51_special
    Joined: Dec 20, 2012
    Posts: 83

    51_special
    Member

    any tips on the rears other than el camino spring? i read on one of the other forums that i could cut them as well just make sure i do the tops. they are pigtailed at both ends but they were saying that the spring pocket on the top is big enough and they sit back up inside just fine. any thoughts??
     
  14. 51_special
    Joined: Dec 20, 2012
    Posts: 83

    51_special
    Member

    Heres a pic of the lower a arm and snubber
     

    Attached Files:

  15. Y I W O R K
    Joined: Feb 19, 2014
    Posts: 54

    Y I W O R K
    Member

    Did you measure ride height pre and post cut? Curious to see how much drop you gout out of 1.5 coil cut. Thx
     

    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Feb 26, 2014
  16. 51_special
    Joined: Dec 20, 2012
    Posts: 83

    51_special
    Member

    i didnt actually measure but it was right at about 3 inches. i did lots of measuring and stuff about a week ago and 3 inches was what i was looking to achieve to put the white walls right at the top opening of the wheel well. now my only concern is suspension travel. my bump stops are currently barely touching the frame. hope that modifying them will work.
     
  17. tommyduncan
    Joined: Jul 17, 2012
    Posts: 27

    tommyduncan
    Member

    You might also try rear Jeep Wrangler springs for the rear.
    97-06 are pig tailed on both ends.
    07-current are too but more on one end than the other... kinda beehive shaped.
    The 07+ came in different spring rates for 2 or 4 door and the Rubicon for 2and 4 door.

    The nice thing about Jeep springs is they are often replaced by a lift spring before they ever get worn out.
    I have a set of each of the above if you need me to measure anything.
     
  18. layedout49
    Joined: Jan 15, 2008
    Posts: 483

    layedout49
    Member

    My question has been answered 😎


    Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
     
  19. chopper york
    Joined: Feb 20, 2011
    Posts: 18

    chopper york
    Member
    from England

    what was the outcome of the bumpstops? have you cut them down and has it made any difference?
    got the same problem on mine
     
  20. 51_special
    Joined: Dec 20, 2012
    Posts: 83

    51_special
    Member

    Haven't had a chance yet work has me busy. Plus i snapped one of the bolts connecting my sway bar to my a-arms. How is the ride on yours sitting this way? How did you drop your rear el camino springs or??
     
  21. 1951Streamliner
    Joined: May 15, 2011
    Posts: 1,875

    1951Streamliner
    Member
    from Reno, NV

    My dad had a '53 Buick in the late 50's that they lowered by heating the coils.
    They stacked a few bricks under the bumpers on each corner and heated the springs until the car rested on the bricks...

    I bet it rode wonderfully :)

    Looks like you have a nice Buick, post some pictures of the whole car!
     
  22. chopper york
    Joined: Feb 20, 2011
    Posts: 18

    chopper york
    Member
    from England

    Mine sits on the bumpstops too,i cut 1 1/2 coils like you,i have had two aluminium top hat spacers made to fit in my springs to lift them 20mm,still got to fit them but i might try cutting the bumpstops first.
     
  23. Y I W O R K
    Joined: Feb 19, 2014
    Posts: 54

    Y I W O R K
    Member

    Just located a set of Free rear Jeep springs and a set of free Chevy truck springs through my regional truck group. Thanks for the info guys!


    Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
     
  24. 51_special
    Joined: Dec 20, 2012
    Posts: 83

    51_special
    Member

    Allright... the dropping is complete! so it was 1 1/2 coils lopped of the front springs and el camino springs for the rear. Took her for a test run and am happy with the ride. one the rear got dropped it took enough weight off the front so it no longer sits on the stops. I also replaced the swaybar links and bushings on the front while i had it apart.
     

    Attached Files:

  25. Looks great!
     
  26. layedout49
    Joined: Jan 15, 2008
    Posts: 483

    layedout49
    Member

    Looks awesome !!!


    Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
     
  27. Buddy Palumbo
    Joined: Mar 30, 2008
    Posts: 3,871

    Buddy Palumbo
    Member

    The drop looks nice - just enough .
     
  28. chuckshomeservices
    Joined: Oct 21, 2011
    Posts: 76

    chuckshomeservices
    Member
    from mass

  29. timelord
    Joined: Jun 27, 2013
    Posts: 103

    timelord
    Member

    Looks great. I cut my rubber stops down some with my cut coil drop
     
  30. LONG
    Joined: Aug 20, 2011
    Posts: 292

    LONG
    Member

    looks good. bagged mine.
     

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