1952-59 Ford front end lowering.

I know its been said that the aero star springs are great for lowering but has anyone used those with the accompany of the blocks that butchs cool stuff sellls? Ill include the link. just wondering since I already have the blocks installed what difference it may make. Im about to run 4' blocks out back and want to get it as low as possible without air ride all around but still be driveable.

http://www.butchscoolstuff.com/49-56-ford-mercury-many-others-bolt-in-front-lowering-kits-2400/

 

I made my spacers from 1" square tube I got from Lowe's. Welded a square cap on each open ends. Not sure hoe much drop I'll get since my wagon is still in pieces. The stock springs dropped in place easily so I am expecting at least a 2" drop. There may not be much travel for the a-frame with a 4" drop in front. Perhaps one of the members knows for sure.

 

What spindles do you have? If Granada I think it will be on the ground. Literally. Aerostar springs are really short.

 

I have the factory spindles. Nothing has been changed other than blocks up front. I want it driveable still but low. I guess I'll have to see what happens when it hits the ground for the first time in a couple years next weekend

 

Mine has Granada spindles and aerostars and is still driveable. 3" blocks out back

 

Dos, he has the 2 in spacers on the front lower control arms now and wants to add areoatars. Mine is like yours and I could not go two more inches.

 

Correct, you can do one or the other but not both.

 

If you go 4" in the rear you may have drive shaft issues you are OK with 3", but if you sometimes carry p***engers or a load in the trunk you may want to run Gabriel 49105 air shocks.

 

I rarely ever have anyone with me. Maybe one p***enger at most. I'll see what happens once I ****on it up next weekend. If I can get springs cheap enough, I may see what happens swapping them

 

More room for the case of beer on the seat! I got my Aerostars on Amazon for a flat $50 with free shipping. I have a pair I was going to sell, but the best shipping I can find is $36 since they're heavy. I may toss 'em back in with a spacer. They're really too short for my '59. They seem to work better with the older cars. Another good spring is the Moog CC851, one up from the popular Aerostars everyone likes. The CC850 spring rate is around 600 lbs, the CC851 is 440, the stock Ford springs are around 415. I whacked a coil out of my OG springs and it calculates at 495 lbs. A good compromise.

 

I don't want to cut a spring on my orginals just yet as I don't want to be dead in the water. I have a few friends that work at parts stores so I'm hoping I can get a good deal on something and that I can return them if it's not going to work. Blocks and shackles should be here today so I can get to working on this Monday or Tuesday to get it back on the ground and see how much room I have from the bump stop up

 

Download the Moog spring catalog, around 12 pages but quite useful. Has all the dimensions and rates you could ask for.

 

Well, is the aerostar springs more of a drop than the blocks I have now? I got the blocks installed today and would like to get another inch or so from the front. It has quite the rake. Can anyone whos done it measure from the fender to the ground? I would appreciate it

 

There is a HUGE discussion on aerostars here and a fair amount of before and after pictures. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...coil-springs-49-thru-59-ford-and-merc.260795/

 

Ive went through all eleven pages

 

Found this pic of original and Aerostar springs

 

Most report abut a 2 1/2" drop after installing the Aerostar coils and in many cases another 1/2" after they settle,the old springs are linear and Aerostars are progressive here is why many report a better ride with the Aerostar spring and what the difference is: http://automotivethinker.com/suspension/linear-vs-progressive-rate-springs/ if you get too much drop here is the solution:http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/universal-coil-spring-isolators.asp

 

Good stuff Jeff. If I put my springs back in I'll need the spacers or machine something up out of aluminum tubing. Speedway has adjustable steel spacers made for stock cars that would work. We used to use them on our bomber cars.

 

Front end lowered with aerostar springs and one inch spacers and 4 inch blocks in the rear. Finally made a qucik test drive down the street to see how it was. No bottoming out at all!

 

Looks great!

 

thanks! first time its drove in four years. still have some small stuff to get done but its closer than its been

 

Nice Stance!

 

Your stance looks great... I too just lowered my ride this past year while changing from original over to more of a street rod set up . I also used the 1 inch spacers in the front along with the Aerostar springs and 3 inch blocks in the rear. Very happy with the stance. When these pics were taken I still had the original 6 cylinder in it and now it has a small block and C4. Sits a little lower in the front now and no issues with bottoming out. Even have 10 inches of tire up under the back with no rub issues at all.

 

Im excited to get to drive this thing again. The short ten house or so and back drive made me realize how much I missed this car and how it shouldnt have been sitting on jack stands for four years untouched. Complete rewire, upgraded the suspension some and other odds and ends. There is a big cruise in coming up in June that I want to make an appearance. This forum is great. Ill have more pictures soon once its cleaned up some!

 

Since we are on the topic and discussing it. I can't find any info regarding insulators. Are you guys running coil spring insulators when you do the aerostar conversion or no?

 

I always run spring insulators, my old ones were still good but I installed new ones. Keeps the squeaks and creaks down.

 

The spacers they mentioned are just thicker versions of the insulators. The 1" versions keep the car from dropping too low.

 

What was the part number/company you used for those insulators that were 1" thick?

 

You can look up the part number here and pick out the one you need,both Autozone and O'Reilly's usually can have them overnight and you save on shipping that way just furnish them with the part number: http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/catalog.asp After you lower the car you may want to change out the sway bar links and bushings with the Energy Suspension units it tells you how to measure for them in the links.

 

Wonder which ones fit the Aerostar springs?