I have heard rumors that the jamco rear leaf springs dont really lower your car...i was about to buy the 4" dropped rear leaf springs for my 50 ford but i was told not to...anyone here use them? have pictures? thanks
I got the 2" lowering springs from them. Either they are real stiff or they are the wrong size cuz I can't get it within 2" of the shackle using a floor jack. I actually have tried calling 3 different times to get advice with no reply from them.
Keep in mind those lowering springs are designed to lower your car 4" from stock 1950 (brand new) specs. My guess is that the average car from that age has sagged 2" at least just due to age and use. So you may only see a 2" drop from where you are at now with 56 year old springs.
You can order the springs by the drop you want. Who told you to not buy them? helsbel: As far as the shackles not lining up with the spring mounts... stupid question, but you're doing this with the FRONT of the springs already attached to the frame, and the springs mounted to the rearend, right? And you're just jacking the whole thing up and the rear spring eyes won't align with the shackles,on either side? If that's not the case, you could have the springs backwards. Yup, it's possible, I know, er, someone who did the same thing. Otherwise, yeah, you might have the wrong springs. Can you post a picture of the assembly?
I bought the 4" drop kit from them and the springs brought down the car 1".The spring itself has a 3" drop and another inch comes from one reversed spring eye for a total drop of 4". Ham-boned-ford is right and spring manufacturers should clearly state what those drop measurements are taken from but I guess that would drop sales... I just would recommend to take a look under your car.If springs still have an arch under load the lowering spring will lower the car but if it is already "straight" you won't gain any drop.Even a 10" mega super drop spring ( if there would be such thing...) won't lower the car anymore and that's simply due to the design of an arch lesf spring and how it works. This was the case on my car but I simply didn't know before I bought them.Good thing is the springs are much stiffer than the stock ones but that was about all.350 bucks for 1" drop...
These pics are from the Mercury shop manual. If the pics are accurate, those are some pretty high standing cars when new. Most of us like to be at least even with the lowest point of the rim. According to these pics, I'm eyeballing about 2/3rds the height of the rim. that's almost 5 or 6" .
Jamco Rules! Jim from Jamco Rules! I have lowered 4 different cars using their springs, ranging from the rear with the 4" drop leafs (yes the revesed eye leafs) and the front with the coil kits. All cars turned out great and ride like you are on a cloud of titties! That's right they work, I know cuz I have used them! It's not something I heard or read about, my experience with the products and the ownder have been great. I even contacted Jim about lowering a friends 1967 El Camino (which by the way is Spanish for "The Camino"), and he makes coils to do it! We ordered them, installed them (3" drop all the way around), and wouldn't you know it, they worked too. So have faith, the measurments are all based off factory specs, the springs are designed to lower your car from a factory spec, not from thier current ride heights so I can see where some confusion or disapointment might come from, but the products do what they claim. Once again, I love Jamco, praise the lowered. Love Carl of the Cheaters
Mike,my car pretty much sat like the one in the illustration and that's why I was so fuckin surprised I didn't gain any drop from the spring itself.I was jumping on the bumper like a madman but it didn't help...stance is also the same if you look at pics of restored Mercs in stock condition.I only can say it again,the springs only lowered the car 1" and that was due to the reversed spring eye. This pic was sent to me by the seller of the car over one year ago and I still have it.This is how the car sat,please compare that to the illustration and don't anybody tell me it's lower than that... I don't generally say Jamco springs or better,lowering springs at all,don't lower a car but I only can tell from the experience I made...
I have been talking to Jim from Jamco the last couple days and we have concluded that his specifications that he uses for a 1953 Bel-air are different than the setup on mine. He says that there is some kind of hinge like mount kinda like a shackle on the front mount of the leaf spring where mine is just a solid mount that just uses a single eye mount. So that is the reason it wont line up correctly. I've been trying to find pictures of stock leafsprings on a 53 Bel-air to see if my specs are right or his is with no luck. Jim is a great guy though. He is being very helpful and Im sure if anyone was not happy with the leafs he would try to get something that you would be happy with.
You mean to tell me that things sag with age?!?!?! Well - that explains alot about that old man in the mirror...
It's a Kelso reference. If you don't know who Kelso is, you should. You went to high school with him. (Google "That 70's Show) Oh, and Carl - we don't see posts sign off "Love" around here too often.
Jamco is Awesome. I live in the middle of the desert and ordered a 4" leaf spring drop kit for my 1951 Pontiac. They sent everything seperately. I got the first spring and kit the first week, after 2 weeks I still did not have the second spring. I called and Jim tells me UPS lost your spring and they can't find it so we're sending you another one, it should be there in 2 days. The next day I get the spring UPS lost and it's BROKEN!!!! Those sumbitches broke my leaf WTF. I told Jim and he couldn't believe it, he said not to worry the other spring shipped and he was keeping tabs on it, and UPS was going to eat the cost. No money out of my pocket. Ham-boned-ford is right my car with stock springs my car was lower than stock but it bounced around WAY to much. After putting the new springs in, it is stiffer and rides like a dream, No more bottoming out. I was so impressed I'm saving up to buy the front springs.
Also a reference from SNL..."El Nino is Spanish for...The Nino." Chris Farley Sorry, back to the springs. Bryan
i haven't used jamco, but was waiting many moons for them to come out with the upper control arm/balljoint kit for B.O.P set-ups (still don't know if they did). on my friends '50 merc we used this place: http://www.vehiclespringservice.com funny thing is all the parts stores around my house (only the good ones of course) said to use them and that they were local (in anahiem). i couldn't find them, found a set of new lowered coils for the merc on epay and it turns out it was them........i guess the moved.
Man, what is up around this place. Old CarMike, these cats just don't get it sometimes, well like they say, if you gotta explain the joke... I still love Jamco and even though I never had the chance to meet the man, I would stab a mofo in the neck with a butter knife for Jim the owner. All these damn "take it for granted" car buffs, you people should be glad someone has spent the time, money and effort to even offer something like Jamcos springs. Like I says, Jamco has been good to me and my people. Now go work on your cars so you can all drive the to..... The 82nd Annual CHEATERAMA Hotrod & Kustom Car Show! It's gonna be a hot rod Jihad! August 19th, The Nite Owl Diner 830 East Layton Ave. Milwaukee, WI 53207 I Thank you for your time, as always, Love 15 Time Mr. Nude Milwaukee Disabled Early Ford V8 Club Member S.M.T.A. Founding Member N.A.M.B.L.A. Booster Carl of The Cheaters C.C. Milwaukee
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