Lowering a '54 BUICK

Okay, so I'm going to cut a coil or two out of the front to drop it a few inches. But I'm not sure how many to cut out of the rear. I don't want to C-Notch the rear yet. I'm going for that slammed *** (motorboat) style. I don't want the front to rub when I turn iether cause my wife will be driving it also. I got 670 15 Bias ply cokers all around. Any suggestions?

 

I think 1 coil is like 2".... I'm sure someone else will chime in and let you know for sure. I'd start with 1 coil and drive it for a week so it'll settle and see how it goes.

 

You are not going to want to cut those coils as they should be tapered. You can torch them.

 

Yah-cut one revolution dropped almost two inches on my 53 Special.Swear to God Buick coils are the hardest in the f'n world.
So then I just HEATED to drop even more.(Not suppossed to). I had good lever action upper control arm shocks and never had a problem.
Then I just bagged the s o b.

 

what chaddilac said! when i cut mine, got a little impatient, chopped too much, and my truck sits a little bit lower than i'd wanted. new coils are 80-100 bucks. a very avoidable mistake!

 

with our 53' special, In the front I got lowered uprights that moved the spindle up and cut a coil. The front does not have the stock upper a-arm, they are from a later model Olds with tube shocks. In the rear I had coil springs made that lowered the car. I could not cut a coil because the rear springs are pig-tailed....

 

I used springs from another old car and saved mine, when i cut a turn it dropped 3", on back I only have 3-4 turns, I used a hydraulic cup that bolds to swing arm, holds cut spring in place.

 

Okay, so I did it. I cut 2 coils out, it is pig tailed so the first coil was just tightly wound but flat. Cutting that wouldn't have made a real difference. So they are 1 coil shorter now. The upper spring cups are deep enough that they hold them in place even without the retainer. I measured the clearance from the rocker panels to two ground. Back of the rockers are 7" off the pavement and the front of the rockers are 9". I have lake pipes, so that takes up another inch. It's only 5.5" from the pipe flange to the ground. I think it was the perfect amount. I left the front alone for now. I'll cruise it for a while and see how it feels. I'll post pictures soon.

 

Okay, maybe another inch or so out of the rear, and probably 2 inches in the front. It rides really smooth......a bit too smooth. Floats like a Cadillac. A LOT of body roll on corners. My front wheels are backspaced so much I think I could go pretty low without rubbing. But I don't want it sitting on the bump stops, I want a little bit of travel. My wife won't like bottoming out ALL THE TIME. Occasionally is understandable.

 

What do you think?

 

It looks good but lower is almost always better.

 

What sean said. They are tapered so cutting them will be a challenge.

 

I already DID cut them, I cut the tops so that the bottom could still be bolted down with the retainer, and the top cup is soooo deep that they stay in place without being bolted once the panhard bar is connected.

 

I like the at***ude that *** down stance is giving off. Nice!

 

Honestly? I think you might contact kaydub (above post) and ask where he got the parts he used on his Buick Special. His car looks pretty close to "right" to my eye.

I just haven't developed a taste for the "motorboat" look on mid-'50s 4-door sedans.

I've attached a quick scan of what I think is a 4-door like yours lowered to look "right"...

It's a lot more work, but you've got to admit that this car looks truly elegant.

Just my $.02

Good luck!

 

That looks great if you got bags. I'm not ready to bag her yet, but in the furure for sure. So yes, I argree that is want needs to be done to obtain the perfect stance.

 

That photo is from Custom Cars Annual 1959...no bags back then, just hard work!

The car was built by Winfield. The text says it was lowered by chopped coils up front, blocks in the rear...which I highly suspect is not accurate.

Gene is still around, so you might consider contacting him for more info on how it was really done. Being a "seasoned citizen" myself, I'd suggest that you not be too disappointed if he can't remember the details after all these years.

Good luck!

 

Thats not quite accurate, Cadillac Eldorado Broughams came out with factory airbags in 1957, but your right in that they wer'nt common place

 

I know about Cadillac's early air ride setup, an in my eyes at least, there is no question of 'bags being a traditional or period correct suspension additive. In addition, I also know that a lot of "hard core" guys run that low with no adjustable suspension. I get the idea and don't have a problem with that point of view, I just want to be able to air it up a bit and go for a nice relaxing cruise without my wife and kids having to go into the hospital for spinal cord injuries afterwards. As for the "Blocks" in the rear, I don't know how that would work without leaf springs. Unless the swapped out the rear suspension as part of an engine or transmission swap.

 

Lookin good Cody. When you decide on new (dropped) springs give these folks a call. They are very helpful and inexpensive.

http://www.espo.com/

 

Alright I did it, when my wife was gone I put a movie on for the kids and snuck out to the garage for some demolition (she doesn't want it lower than it is already after the 1st drop). After about an hour I was lowered by another half a coil (or about 1"). It sound like not very much, but it makes all the differance. Now the top of my rear fender opening lines up perfectly with the top of the bolt pattern. Keep in mind that my rear openings are squared off like built in half-skirts. She hasn't noticed. Now the front must get done, again I think only 1 coil so about a 2" drop. I don't want any turning problems, even if I hit a small bump while turning. I think 2" should be perfect. I'll post pictures when I'm done. You all know what differance an inch can make, and that a good stance can make or break a car.

 

Post some pics man. I vote for keeping the *** down low. Nice scallops, by the way.

 

Or you could always just bag it.......

 

BAGS ARE IN THE FUTURE............REPEAT: BAGS ARE IN THE FUTURE! =) I know, I can't wait to bag the SOB, just need some TIME and MONEY. So if anyone would like to donate a large amount of either one of those precious commodities, feel free to do so. It's for a good cause.

 

I was thinking about 3" jamco drop coils front/back. I know it's not that low, but I thought I'd get some input....

 

If your runnin stock drive train you may notice after awhile a leak under the car. It maybe the torque tube seals leaking at the back of the transmission to torque-tube seal. because it will be more strait or a down angle from the rearend to ******.

 

any reccomendations?

 

Hi, I cut 2 coils on the back of my 54, and leave the front as it was, since it was lower than normal with stock springs. The springs probably lowered with the pasing of time. 4 years like this without any driving and suspension problem. The adapted shoebox fender skirt also helps a lot for the lowered look.

 

Thanks Buicking.............looks good!

 

I've heard that a pair of 79 El Camino rear coils will give you a 4" drop in the rear. There like 60 bucks at Autozone. I haven't tried it myself, but I plan to once I get back in the states.