1952-59 Ford Lowering 54 coupe front end

Hi, I want to cut the coil springs to lower my 54 about 2 1/2 to 3 inches. Does anybody know how much to cut? I am thinking 1 1/3 to 1 1/2 rounds should do the trick.

Jack

 

at least 1 1/2, I cut 1 round off and it dropped 2 inches.

 

Do yourself a favor, and install a set of Ford Aerostar coils. This will lower the car about 2", and will ride 1000% better, cuz they are a progressive spring.

 

New Aerostar coils are cheap too check this out! http://www.ebay.com/itm/Moog-CC850-...her_Vehicle_Parts&hash=item5d33cdf1aa&vxp=mtr

 

Spacing the spring pocket down is also a great way to lower the car. I've got 1.5 coils lopped off and the night prowlers a-frame spacer. The aerostar springs are also a great way to lower your car.

 

After much consideration I removed 1 1/3 rounds from my springs. The result is pretty much what I was looking for, lowered but level.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

I had 1" spacers in the lower pockets for a couple of years till I heard about the Areostar springs. I took the spacers out & put the Areostar springs in. The ride is a lot better now. Those old springs are 50 years old. Car rides at the height up front.

 

I have an unused set of Fenton 1" spacers that I was going to use on my 54 but the process of removing the rivets was overwhelming. I had done this to a 51 a few years ago and thought it was the way to go, but had to work really hard at removing the rivets. So, long story short, I no longer need the spacers if anyone is interested. The set is complete and in the original box. It does not have a full complement of bolts and nuts though, only 8 bolts and 7 nuts. It should have 12 each.

 

Removing the rivets is a big pita, but an air chisel takes care of them pretty easily!

 

The best way that I've found to remove the rivets is to drill a 1/8'' pilot hole into the head of the rivet about 1/4" deep, then switch to a 3/8'' bit and then drill until the head pops off. At this point you can knock what's left of the rivet out with a punch.

 

Yes, I appreciate that an air chisel would work if I had one. And, drilling out the rivets is easy to do if you have the A arm off of the car but impossible to do laying on your back under the car with limited access. I speak from experience when I say that it is near impossible to do with a drill. Grinding off the head works for the center rivets but not possible for the 8 rivets in the corners. Even after grinding off the head you cannot pound out the rivet from under the car on jack stands. Somehow my question of how much to remove from the coil springs resulted in me being taken for an inapt novice. I have owned cars for 61 years and consider myself a pretty darn good mechanic. I also know when to abort a project when the level of effort is counter productive. Also, while I am on a rant I want to address the cost of cutting the coils rather than replacing them. It cost me $0 to cut them as opposed to $60 or so to buy Aerostar springs and have them sent to me. I did not come from the Getty family.

 

I can understand the bucks down approach, but sometimes its easier to spend the money. Would be interested to know if it stays level after x months.

 

I was 15 and didn't use an air chisel to do my a arm spacers. Lopped off the heads with a cut off wheel, and banged them out with a punch. It ****ed, but I did it. As have more than a handful of people. Also, good rule of thumb on ford non progressive springs (you should know this), one loop= two inches. If you ask for advice--you get advice. Don't get mad. We aren't being condescending.