How low is TOO low- progress on my '53 Chevy

nice !

 

Megan, I like what you have done so far with your new ride. For practical reasons, pot holes and such, why no air bags? You will be able to get the look you want and not sacrifice too much ride quality? Don

 

Looks good! I agree with the 'flaked top- that'd be sweet! A '54 Chev is in my future... I might have to talk to Mr. Moriarity and make it a bubbletop! Keep up the good work and keep us posted!

 

Right on, Megan! I LOVE the flake wheels.

But, I think you're going to need to C-Notch it to get it where it needs to be. In the WEEDS. Not enough clearance there, if you ask me.

 

looks good

 

CAR LOOKS GREAT. YOU HAVE A GOOD EYE FOR "COOL" UMMMMMMMMM EH HEMM WANNA ADOPT ME?

 

looks awesome megan,dig the color you painted the wheels,car looks sweet!

 

I put 3'' lowering blocks in the rear of my 49, and I have about an inch, to 1.5'' clearence from the top of the axle tube to the frame. Should give you an idea of what you have to work with. Also, I cut 1.5 coils from the front springs. It sits a little lower in the front than the rear.

 

Great job, I really like the rim color that was chosen, looks sharp !

 

Did you go by BOAT, when you drove to the paint store? Cars looking real good Megan!

 

Is that a Backwoods cigar your smoking in the first pic?

I guess a pick up line like "hey baby wanna come over to my place and operate my tire machine" wouldn't work on you, cuz you already have one.

 

Megan , what can a guy say ???????????. Outstanding !!!!!!!!! Just be carefull of those marriage propasals from these guys . We both know what their after.

Lowered a 54 chev sedan delivery and drove it daily for many years. The main problem with the rear suspension is the rear leaf springs. They are very narrow width wise (1 3/4" ) and as such give a very soft ride. Adding a leaf or two can resolve most of the bottoming out problems and should also help with the wheel hop that is evident by the traction bars . I would suggest getting rid of the old torque tube differential and replacing it with an old 10 bolt posi from an late 60's Nova . As you lower the rear suspension watch out for clearance issues with the front driveshaft yoke to the trans. This may become a big issue depending on how the original mods were done . I'm not for c/notching the frame. You've got a great piece of history in your hands . It would be great to see it keeping with tradition of its time.
Oh, Dont get any ideas of driving this car off the cliff with Thelma . I'm sure someone will trade you an old T-bird just in case .

 

Thanks everyone for the suggestions, compliments and words of wisdom and experience. I have learned alot from your comments and it has made me really think hard on what I really want the car to look like and what I am willing to sacrifice for it. Please keep your suggestions rolling in. Hopefully this can help some other HAMBers with lowering their cars as well.

The gun had a 1.3 tip on it. It worked well.

I live near Canton in the middle of a cornfield. You?

Come to Ohio, I'll give ya a lesson

First I was going to run full caps, I got a set of NOS with the car. Then when I decided to flake the wheels that was out. Then I was going to run baby moons since I had the clips but now that is out too. I ordered some spider caps from Eric at Riley yesterday. At least they will show on the front!
As for the mural and the pinstriping, some of it will be removed. I might leave a little in a couple places.

The truck is almost alive and well. Hopefully I will get her wired and plumbed up to be on the road this summer as well.

It only took 18 posts for someone to say that! Ha ha When I picked red that was the first thought that entered my mind. I was going to pick green but figured I would go with red since there were red accents on the car already.

Hey now, you were at that swap meet, they could have been yours! I would have even given you the HAMB discount!

Nope, not this year. Denise and I are flying down. Our big driving trip for the year will be Bonneville.

I like this idea, it is seriously in the running... Thanks!

Your car is uber gorgeous, I love it! We were having that discussion in the shop the other night about lowering these cars vs. lets say a '63 Ford Wagon. Ya, 4" is a ton in lowering land but not that big of a difference in cars like ours.

I am kind of starting to think about air ride assist. I didn't really wanna go that route but it might happen now.
Like I said, keep you suggestions coming. 20,000 brains are better than 1!

 

CGR,

You're so cool. The car looks great, but I'm going the other way with my '53 Pontiac 2-door sedan. Up, up and away to gasser-land for me.

 

Girl, your Chevy Rox-I bet you're gonna have to with 2 inch lowering blocks or a whole new plan. Haven't you weenies ever changed RADIALS with only a hammer and a big and little screwdriver?

 

Great job,I want to see a pic under the hood please. That car is nice, flake the roof. Later Rob

 

Well thats about how low i am with my '51. It rides ok. I took 2 leafs out and added 3" lowering block. Yes, I did shave the bump stops down to get some clearance and i do hit the floor pan every so often when I punch it, but, it sure does look good! I also have noticed the rear get slightly lower when you add 2 coolers full of beer and ice in the back seat. Oh, make sure you have clearance with your gas tank, f.y.i.

 

Well you asked, so here's my take. Before I bothered with the lowering blocks,I'd ditch those ancient springs and the aftermarket
shackles. Talk to the guys at Emch Spring in Youngstown and see
what they can do for you. They've been building springs since Model
T's were new and know their stuff. First though I'd mod the bump
stops and find a new pair of stocker shackles. Verify that your
shocks aren't gonna bottom out before the pumpkin hits the floor.
If your contemplating any kind of C-notch work and floor mods
for clearance,I'd do that to before I got the springs. They should
be able to build you a spring to work way better than your worn out
stockers and blocks. Drive it over and drive it home,think you'd be
very happy. I haven't dealt with them in a long time now,but they
were the best of the best when I lived up there.

BTW Expect deep discounts when you show up in a Riley headed
stovebolt Chevy with red overspray in your hair and well worn
overalls.
http://www.manta.com/coms2/dnbcompany_y94rr
( link to Emch Spring)

 

Johnny Sparkle approves of your use of metalflake for the wheels. You need to put some big sparkly stars all over the car, then it would be totally sweet!

 

of course,she can do the vacuuming , ironing, washing ,cooking and baby minding plus build the hot rods...

 

Your car looked good as a "nose bleeder", but it will be badass as atail dragger. spider caps,skirts, is all you need.

 

You are putting some of these guys to shame! (Including me) Nice car. Looks sweet. Thanks, BOBBY FORD

 

Nice ride. Looks like its about as low as it gets without cutting. Just watch the dips and driveways. Love the shop pics w/ pedal cars.

 

kick ass job sorry im so busy and missed this thred keep up the good work seems you got alot of the guys im aw about the work your doing it was nice seeing you and dennise in pamona gots to run
alex

 

No silly, he was talking abotu the tire machine!

 

I got some work done over the weekend. It was basically 10 degrees or less so there was nothing else to do!

The machine shop got my lowering blocks all done. They look great!


They are 4" since that is what I thought I needed when I started the project.


I had another local shop make me up some u-bolts since the old ones would be nowhere long enough


They were pretty easy to install. Here are a couple of pictures before the lowering blocks




the machine shop had put the pin in the top and hole in the bottom so they were easy to line up





Once I got the pins/holes lined up I jacked up the rear of the spring to compress it to the block. Here is what they looked like all put in





And here is how the car sat after they were in. (it is pretty close to my estimate when i was using the jack to gauge it)





I am really happy with how it sits with the blocks in it. I really want to see how it rides before I do any cutting or fabricating or anything else. But in order to see how it rides I have to remount the engine. I took out the radiator to get to the mounts better and hatched out a plan but I didn't do anything yet.
I also am in the process of sandblasting and prepping the skirts for paint. Hopefully I'll get some paint on them this week.

So that's what I've been up to and where I'm at. I really haven't made any decisions yet about springs or c-notching or bagging yet. Like I said before, keep your suggestions coming, thousands of brains are better than one!

 

Megan, how's your pinion angle? I noticed you're not running any angle shims with your nifty blocks.

 

my springs must be worn out... cause I have 2" blocks in and my car sits almost that low in the rear?!

either way, looks good!

 

Megan..looks cool should be low..and sweet.
I got one issue to ask you to look at closely..dont want you to get hurt.
hows that scrubline lookin?
I know when i lowered my 53..about 3 1/2" inches was cutting it close.
i had to change the shock mounts and make my axle bolting flanges differently so that if i had a rear tire blow out i wouldnt be flyin sideways on the axle mounts..if yer tires go flat you dont want nothin' to be lower than your rims.
just check it out!..K?

 

So does this mean this car will be attending some events. Great work on the wheels. Looks so much better