Technical TECH MONTH: Stepping lower A arms(king pin style)

Hey Guy's, these are shots of my modified 51 Ford A frames, after I made my cuts, I installed an enter piece of 1/8" flat stock to match the modified A frame and then boxed it on all sides, this is what it looked like with 2 coils cut.

 

The bracket welded to the A frame if for a 1/2 Chevy pick up sway bar, the horse shoe pic carries a urethane bushing that the sway bar ends terminate in, using the sway bar took all of the Yaw out of the car when turning in a corner.

 

Important info I forgot to mention, I had to add an aluminum spacer to lift the top A frame the same amount as I raised the lower A frame to keep the geometry close, when I was a kid in San Diego this was a popular mod if you wanted low, I had a 50 Chevy back then and did something very similar to those A frames to get it in the mud, I was getting to low tickets back then before there was a law, LOL, LOL

 

I lowered my 53 today with stepped a arms and cut 1.5 coils from the front springs. It turned out lower than I anticipated. I'm trying to decide if I should stick with it and try and get it aligned, or buy some taller coils to get the height back up a bit. I love the look, but the wheels are leaned in quite a bit, and it's sitting on the bump stops on the lower a arms. Will an alignment resolve the wheels leaning inward? Should I cut the factory bump stops?

 

Wow, that's down in the dirt. If the suspension is same as the one on a 50 then alignment won't completely take care of your problem.
Good looks come at a price.

 

Change the springs out. If you have to, the 49-52 uprights will raise you 3/4 of an inch. I left the bump stops off with no problems.

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Changing the uprights will not help the geometry. Your best bet is to make changes to the spring height.

 

Changing the springs won't correct the geometry either, it needs an alignment. Springs and, if needed uprights, are just for height.

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Niceguyede, is there enough factory adjustment to get this thing aligned?

 

Yessir. My brothers 52 aligned just fine.

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Thank you Sir! I would love to stick with the current situation following a successful alignment. I may try removing the bump stops and getting an alignment. I'll keep you posted.

 

I used this thread to modify mine this weekend. Thanks for the help guys!

 

That 53 looks good, are you planning to lower the back a bit as well?

 

Tim, you should not have any problems adjusting your camber issue. I'm running juice on my 53 now and it holds proper camber from fully lifted to fully laid. Hosted on Fotki Hosted on Fotki

 

Updated pic after installing New stock sprinGS with 1/2 coil cut, stepped lowers and 3" rear blocks. Very happy with the stance but I have to correct a serious camber problem. Wheels still lean on at the top severely.

 

They will lean until you get an alignment. It's also important to rebuild all the suspension components while your at it. Otherwise it won't align worth a shit anyways. Keep us posted

 

Update...aligned really well, drives great. Now I'm ready to cut another 1/2 coil. Never satisfied

 

I have the same question.....
I really like the idea of the stepped A-arms, but I also want to run air bags on the
front of my Packard. Any advice or suggestions are greatly appreciated!
GREAT thread droplord49!

 

Although it's still a work in progress I am running airbags with stepped a arms on the front of my 54 chevy.

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ky54mordor-
Any pics of your front suspension?

 

Anyone local to the chicago area that is willing to do this for me? I can fabricate but dont trust my welding skills for a part like this . I have a 50 style line that id like to try this on .

droplord49 I actually grew up in college station if I was coming home for a visit anytime soon Id hit you up haha

 

Your car looks sooooooooooo cool. Thanks for all the tech advice. It's highly appreciated.

 

What kind of steering rack works best on these cars?

 

I used a manual center steer rack from a cavalier. Works fine with stock suspension. Lowered with dropped uprights and cut coils.

 

Hey DL, not to change the subject but what ever happened to your 303 Olds engine?

 

It’s collecting dust in my garage. My chopped 51 project has been stalled for a few years(moved a few times, had a couple of kids, and got distracted with my 53 ). Hope to get back on it in the next year or so, when I get my backyard shop built.

 

Thanks for this tread! Thats how i will build the front of my 51!!! [emoji1]

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NEWBIE here , Great stuff guys !! Question , I am gonna step my arms, but is there any threads on bagging a 54 bel air with stock suspension and drums . Don't really have the funds for MII ,
I tried the search function, but no cigar .

Thanks !!

 

Search baggin a Chevy 49-54, it will take you to the correct article