So i have this 62.. pretty nice.. its bone stock right now and i am mulling over the thought of lowering it. From your experience... how low can you bring a 62 chevy impala down before you start having tire rub or driveshaft and clearance problems. Its an x frame.. and when i was under there looking the other night it looked like you could go down pretty far before the rear driveshaft starts getting close. Its coil springs all around.. and it has long rear shocks with coils around them also.. i am assuming i will have to swap those out too. Any ideas? a know a 62 is a lowriders dream.. so there has to be tons of experience out there in getting it low. i am thinking of putting 2 or 3" dropped springs and moving from 15" steelies to 14" supremes.... Also.. who is a reputable shop that i can order new springs/kit from? You guys rock.
3" drop springs would look good if you're not trying to be "ultimate poser" low. I like the 60's cars to sit "just right" where its driveable and low but not too low....I hate low scraping to the ground cars....or do I??Before the 60 Oldsmobile I had was bagged, it rode perfect and sat perfect lowered 2" up front and 3" in the back.
Yeah i am looking for that classic 60's "thats the height the manufacturer should have made it" look I figure 3" in the springs and the smaller rims will give me the look i am shooting for.. But i always wonder.. just how low can it go?
Check out my 59 on Saturday. It has a similar frame and suspension as your 62. It's lowered 3" all around with lowered springs and looks and rides really nice. It has tendency to drag the rear coming out of gas stations if I don't get the angle right, and the exhaust is hung for a stock car, so it's a little low, but I haven't run into any problems yet.
A '64 I built two years ago (now gone)...cut two coils out of each spring, including the rears...handled better than a factory SS...and sat low enuff to look good... Forget the pricey lowered springs...just take them out and chop them! R- PS...nearly identical frame as yours
check my profile pic of my 65 chrysler. 3" blocks & saggy springs in the back = about 4" drop in the rear & just about the same in the front by dialing out the torsion bar ride height adjustment. i just rebuilt the entire front end & added new shocks last year & she rides really nice. smooth & quiet, feels a lot like a stock ride. id say the lowest part, the front subframe, is just about 3.5"-4" from the pavement. shes been this low for 6 years & has been my daily driver since day one, no problems except draggin my exhaust on occasion.
I got my springs from http://www.coilsprings.com/index.html They ride really nice and I had them in about 2 weeks
My pal Nate is layin out a 62 right now for a customer. He is going big with a frame notch and bags, ec. I will try and get some pics. FONZI
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