I want to lower my car how low can I go with out the driveshaft hitting or any thing rubbing Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
I had mine with 3" blocks and the original springs with a few leafs removed. It would rub with a couple big girls in the back. I went to the reverse eye drop spring and a two inch block. What I did was clearance the area that rubbed in the past. It is right under the back seat. Also changing back tires is tuff when you lower these cars in the back if you go too far.
I went with 2" blocks in the back and 1 1/2 wraps cut off the front springs and it looked great and nothing rubbed.
Start by clicking on this and join: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/social-forums/1952-59-ford-social-group.282/ A lot of the guys have already done it and give you the best advice.
I have 3" blocks in the rear (stock leafs but an 8" rear) and Aerostar coils in front of my '52 for an all around 3" drop and I have never bottomed out, although I don't know that I've ever had more than 2 p***engers either. Even on my stock 5.5" wide wheels, tires are hard to change in the rear. I heard the trick is air shocks in the rear so you can pump a bunch of PSI in them to raise the rear to change a tire easier. Haven't tried it but seems genius to me.
The best way to get a lower stance up front is to use the Aerostar springs, they are absolutely a direct swap and will leave you with a nice ride. If more is desired you can remove the rivets on the lower spring pocket and buy/fabricate a pair of spacers to lower the position of the spring pocket on the control arm. Lowering blocks are the easiest way to get the rear down.
Others have quoted that same link but it leads to a bike show.. I'm confused or is my damn app routing to some random link? Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
The link should take you right to the Group,just tried it and it works perfect.I founded the Group in May of '09, join up and just ask away or use the search function in the upper left our over 1300 members have discussed this many times over.
You can lower it all the way to the bump stops without the driveshaft hitting anything, but the ride will be terrible. Same with the front. That's why the car has bump stops in the first place. The goal, as others have already posted, is not "how low can I go" but "how much drop will make my car look as good as it can without causing ride and handling problems?". There is a sweet spot called the "ideal stance" that accomplishes this goal without causing the car to look like it's filled with fat chicks. And, as others have already posted, the ideal stance isn't really all that low and can be accomplished with relatively minor changes. Trimmed Aerostar front coils and lowering blocks will get you where you want to go...with absolutely no risk to the driveshaft. You will, however, have to figure out how to change the rear tires if you use anything other than stock wheels and tires in the rear. Looks like you've got a great car to start with. Here's a little advice from a greybeard: SET THE STANCE FIRST, then build the rest of the car around the stance. Good luck with your project.
Here is mine a few months ago. Aerostar coils in front and 4 inch blocks in back. The front has since settled about an inch since this picture. I don't have any problem with the driveshaft hitting. I also put new bump stops all the way around. The Aerostar coils ride awesome. As far as changing the rear tire just disconnect the rear shock and let it droop. Just make sure when you jack the axle back up the spring shackle is flipped back up. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
The Jalopy Journal
