Question... What suggestions do you have for lowering a stock 1950 Chevy front end? Keeping a 6cyl, 3spd as the drivetrain. I'm trying to avoid the swap to a Mustang II. Has anyone installed Air Ride on a stock '50 front end? Drop spindles are an option, but how's the ride? Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Timbo, Couple of options. There is a place called Buffalo Enterprises in Washington state that can modify your spindles for $250 a pair. He also tweeks them so the tire alignment won't be out of wack. One of the other things he has is "cups" that weld to the bottom of your lover control arm and allow you to run Camaro shocks. You can also cut your springs to lower the front. Go to Chevytalk.com their is alot of lowering info on the 49-54 board. Todd
you can get the last 4 months of lowrider for a crappy how to, or read here http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97139 and here http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=72871 to cover the basics, find a 53-54 car, nab the uprights and brakes, cause they're better, cut 2 coils and you have 3"-4" of lowering, blocks in the back or remove the 2nd and 4th springs. hardest part is finding the front end parts. I found replacement shocks in the monroe book by going for measurements, I posted the #s some time ago. 55-57 shocks work in the back and are readily available.
I found the shocks for my 54 at the local napa, they even had them in stock. I just cut two coils on my springs and used blocks in the back.
53sled is right on the money. The mustang 2 may be cookie cutter, but it sure works well. When you price out a total rebuild of your front end, you'll find the cost isn't that bad either. You lose some of your turning radius though. Hopefully, you have a good front end. Do some searches on the HAMB, because there are lots of threads about this topic. Airbags can definately be done, but you better be a good welder.
Woops...didn't realize how old this post was, just looked at the last date, my bad. I just responded to a post on Chevy Talk with the exact same topic... http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/286048/post/2263122/hl//fromsearch/1/#2263122
fyi...I'm new to the forum thing and I'm learning the ettiquite, the grouchy guys don't like it when people start a topic in someone elses post, you should start your own. However, this is usefult information to lowering a car so.... You remove the grease fitting on the upper pivot, isert allen wrench to turn and eccentric. One complete turn will change the caster but leave the camber alone. Less than one turn will change the camber. Check out the manual available on old car manual project... http://chevy.oldcarmanualproject.com/ Read this for carrying out an alignment. I used to pieces of 16 gauge sheet metal with grease on the back on by smooth concrete floor. For the level I used a Wixley Digital level. Worked out awesome. http://www.woodcraft.com/family/2005894/wixey-digital-angle-gauge.aspx
thanks for bring up this thread again. This will be good information when I start building my 50 fleetline.
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