What's the best way to drop the rear

I have a 1951 Desoto and I want to drop the rear end a few inches.Does anyone know an easy inexpensive way to do this? Bein' a family guy with a blue collar job I can't really afford to bag it.(not that'd I want to anyways)Any help would greatly be appreciated.Than**x

 

***uming its a leaf spring rear, and the spring mount under the axle tubes.. I would say blocks.. you can prolly get 3"-4" that way , in expensivley.

much more than 4" you will prolly need to modify other things, driveshaft tunnel, c notch.. etc..

 

exactly, flip the axle if it's an under axle. if not you can always remove every other leaf until it gets to a desirable height.

 

family guy, on a budget... Amen brother...

Find someone in your area that does spring work for trucks, off road vehicles etc... have them cold de-arch the rear springs flat... do not let them heat them, do not let them take leaves out. There's a reason your car has 7 or 8 leaves. Cold De-arching the springs will allow them to retain their tensile strength as well as spring value but allow the rear end to sit higher in the frame when under load. If when they're done the rear is too low, grab some air shocks to bring the rear up a bit.

3" blocks will generally put the axle bolts below the lowest portion of the rim... fun when you're driving with kids and lose a tire.

Pulling out springs reduces the ability of the rest of the spring pack to bear the weight of the car and function correctly.

I have done all three of the above and kicked myself for the last two when I dug lines in the road with my kids in the back seat and there was nothing more fun than driving home 30 miles @ 20 mph with 2 of the 4 leaves holding the rearend in place after removing springs to lower the car.

If cost me $120.00 to get the springs cold de-arched locally and the ride is great and I don't worry about the rear any more.

Here's what my Chevy looks like with just de-arched springs, I have about an inch of axle travel making for some slow driving and of course dimensions will differ with the De Soto but it gives you and idea.

Additionally, let me know if there's anything you need for the de soto... It just so happens I've been yanking misc parts from a 53 I believe...

 

Thanks man that helps out a lot!I know a couple of off road guys at work and I'll ask them.I was definitly wanting to avoid removing leaves or torchin the springs,seein's how I'm gonna have kids or friends in the back.As far as Desoto parts,I do need a rear drum.But,I'm not sure if a 53 would work.I think It depends on if it came out of a Hemi car or a L-6.

 

de-arch the springs, move the axle to the top of the springs if its undernieth or blocks. All good.

Any spring shop can dearch the springs, I've never heard of a reputable shop heating them but there are a lot of upstarts out ther who think they know and they don't so take a good look around befor you dump your springs off.

If you're handy ( what blue collar worker isn't) you can go to coils mounted low and behind the axle. Coils from a something or other are cheap from the wrecking yard, about 20 bucks worth of metal and rubber for bushings and you there. Just a thought.