How low is to low?

Whats up everyone! I'm about to buy blocks and spindles for my 50 chevy two door to lower it and also take off one coil on the springs . Has anyone found a level thats too low or just right so i dont drag on everything until its bagged. how big of blocks in the back to go with 2" spindles

 

many guys here will say there is no such thing as too low. i might be one of them. my galaxie is about an inch off the ground without bags or hydraulics.

yes it drags on shit, and yes you need to cruise slow. but you'll learn your towns roads like the back of your hand.

if you dont want to drag try for about 3 inches of clearance. you'll drag on the big bumps, but overall it will be nice.

if it were me id throw in some 4 inch blocks, but make sure they are blocks that are angle cut for correct pinion angle.

 

thanks I didnt know to look for that.

 

No bags. Just 2 coils cut up front and 3" blocks in the back. Rides fine and only scrapes on large bumps in the road. It could be a little lower but it's not worth all the bumpin and scrapin ...for me.

I do plan to bag it (only rear) so I can drop the rear when I park or come in and out of driveways.

 

is the torque tube rearend still in that 50?

 

Yes it is the suspension and drive train are all o.e.

 

then there is no pinion angle to worry about

drop uprights and 1 coil, you'll be fine up front. 4" blocks would put you real close to hitting the snubbers or frame. check your rear brake line for binding.

 

slam it and if you're worried about dragging, make some custom drag plates made out of steel. Bolt them to your low spots and write down the measurements for when ya have to make new ones. And steel because it sparks damn good.

That 2" spindle you're talking about actually lowers it about 3" and that's all I'm running in the front. It's too high right now even with the 3" drop so I'm going to add another 2 by ordering 2 inch lowered springs from Detroit Spring. The back HAS TO BE LOWER than the front, for me anyway, at least an inch so I can't go crazy with the front because then I would have to notch the rear and that's a can of beans I don't wanna open yet.

 

I dont think you will have to much to worry about with dropped uprights and cut'n 1 coil,My 49 sedan didnt get down as far as I wanted it to go or thought it would go with this combo,as far as the back I didnt use 4 inch blocks but I made some 1 3/4 wide 3 inch blocks from some 2"x3" stock and removed the third leaf from the bottom,it came out 4 inches lower in the back from stock,and it will bottom out like a son of a bitch(with all the jacks,stands,fluids and toolbox in the back)but overall ride height is still high enough(to high in my oppinion)to drive the shit out of it with out tear'n anything up to bad!

 

heres a pic of my 49 that has the same eqipment on it as you were talking about,except the four inch blocks,but still four inches lower in the back(unless fully loaded with all the shit in the trunk to keep this pile roll'n down the road)then its about 4 1/2 in the back.not a good pic but its the only one I have. It'll give you an idea anyway

 

I think 3 inches minimum is about right for a TRUE daily driver. 4 is better, but depending on your car it will depend on the suspension and the resulting travel. You do not want to ride on the bump stops, you need at least 2 inches of susp travel. Here is my old 60 El Camino daily driver, and my old 64 Riviera (65 front end). Both daily drivers and had about 3 inches clearance, both scraped some on speed bumps or high center driveways.

 

On the other hand....I did see a guy rip the plug out of the oil pan of his 350 blower motor going over a speed bump.

 

when you get stuck on a speed bump, you are too low.

I think 3 or 4 inches of ground clearance is good.

 

I like the taildragger look,so i'm 3" in back when drivin,the front of my shoebox has one coil cut,but were talkin different cars.I have bags on the back only cause stock fronts on Fords fold in when you dump them.I hate that look.I put the ass on the ground when I park at shows.

 

i just bagged my shoebox only because it was super low with no bags and if i put anyone in the car with me then the driveshaft rubbed and it scraped on everything.

so now with bags i just lift it up to roll and slam it at the shows all with the good feeling of no scrapage and i feel a little safer

 

It depends on the look you want. Traditional=not all that low (cops were really on guys about ride height back then) New style=lower it until it rests on the round and then go abut two more inches.

 

if you can get a pack of cigs under the car it is too high...

 

3-4" in the back is pretty safe and will still give you some travel (not much, though). I'm over 5" down in the back with blocks, Chassis Engineering leaf springs (built in 2" drop) and cut bumpstops. I like the way it looks, but still not low enough and almost no travel...notch, 4-link and bags are planned for next winter. The front of my car is bagged with 2" dropped spindles and a Ultra-low MII kit (2" drop), so it'll sit on the frame or up in the air for the ass-dragger look. Ride height is about 3" off the ground, but nothing hangs below the frame, so I should be ok if I'm careful.

I'd suggest just cutting your coils in the front if this is a temporary setup before you bag. New springs, dropped-uprights, or other options get kinda pricey for these cars, but will really help your ride.

Just my .02.

Bryan

 

Something I always wondered...was the cigarette pack placed vertical or on its side??

Tucker

 

Too low?

When you can't take a fat chick out on a date.....

And thats, just too damn low.

 

i cut 3" of coil off the front of my poncho and kept the stock spindle put 2" blocks in the rear and took a leaf out., thats all it would allow without frame mods, so overall it dropped 4" in the front and 3" in the rear. i've got about 2-3" ground clearance in the front before the exhaust rubs. it usually only rubs on the big stuff. and if i get more then 2 people in my car its riding on bumps. not to bad.

 

I always thought it was vertical, but laying flat would be way better!

Bryan