I am still trying to learn as much as I can about my 53 chevy coupe, and have done some searches here and there, but never could get a solid answer. I want to lower my otherwise stock 53 chevy belair, but am down on green, and am looking for a cheap (read free!) method. Can I just take the springs out and cut off 1 or 2 coils? How bout the rear, just take out the leafs? Keep in mind this will all more than likely be temporary until I can afford some air bags or drop spindles. But I gots to get rid of that 4x4 look. Thanks gents. Jason
Cut'em! Then build a jig to reverse the eyes on the rear leafs, possibly remove every other one. Not the best way, but always worked for me....
I think the recommended max spring cut would be one and a half coil for that car. I'm at 1 1/2 on my 51 and 3 inch drop blocks in back. Pretty happy with where it's at. You could also remove those rear springs and have them de-arched at any spring shop.
Measure the ride height your at right now. Write it down, take 'before' pic's. Cut one wrap, re-install and look it over. Take your time and remember to add a shorter shock for the 2" or so you lost in height. Add weight to the truck to get the 'look' your after. Another way to lower rear is to de-arch the spring. Lowering block's are another.
Also remember that chopping coils should be done with a cut-off wheel. Never heat to make the spring shorter unless you want to mess them up for good and have to replace them at a later date. When you cut a coil or more the spring rate will go up (means the spring gets stiffer) and the ride will be a little more firm. Maybe that is desired in a lower car, but if the stock spring is 10 coils and you remove 1.5 coils, the spring is basically 15% stiffer. Can't get much easier and cheaper than lowering blocks in the rear. You need some with an offset pin hole for your car.
I cut 1.5 out of my front coils, new gas adjust shocks, the rear has new springs but i changed to open drive line to slide 350 pnies up front but i made a set of rear spring perches that lowered the rear 3.5 inches..just do this..jack the car up (front). put two jack stands under the Frame. the lower control arm has 4 bolts holding it up to the bottom of the member. Take your jack and jack it up to this lower control arm bar and take the 4 bolts out..than lower the jack..wala.. the spring is out..oh dont for get to take off the anti sway bar bolts..than take that spring and measure out exactly 1.5 coils. wrap (after the cut) the spring side you are keeping with a cold wet rag..take a 4.5" grinder with a wafer wheel on it and cut it square. do it to the lower part of the spring not the top..do the exact same for the other side and ..down she goes..re assemble and there ya go..oh get a long drift pin so you can guide the arm back up to bolt it..DONE
In my opinion, and I hope I'm not the only who thinks this but, DO NOT CUT COILS!!! It isn't as good of a method as you think. Springs are made in a specific way so they seat properly, if you cut out coils you risk the spring unseating and failing when you hit a big bump. Just be patient and save your money and just buy a kit.
if you need step by step pm me and i will guide you thru it..its really easy just did it 2 weeks ago and it took me 1 hour and i took time out for drinks too/
on the 53 54 they will not come out they are captured springs..the ride is just a little stiffer but only 1.5 coils is enough..it doesnt ride like a hammer and with 54 year old springs up there they could use some stiffness..I have the money for the drop spindles and i had the time..i saved both and used it to buy something else
garantee you will get alot of feed back on this..it has been a topic that goes round and round..some will say dont..others will say do..there are spring manufactures who will make you a set of custom springs shorter here in the metro detroit area i could have bought springs from eaton 2 inches shorter for 160 bucks..so i figured cut these if i didnt like it spend the 160 bucks..well its over 2 weeks later over 400 miles and im not changing a thing so ..my opinion save your money just keep that coil spring cool when you cut it and dont cut it with a torch!
What Von Rigg said. Dropping them from the inside like that is a piece of cake once you break the old bolts loose. I'd plan ahead and get 8 new bolts to put back in. With new bolts it's about a ten minute job per side. I cut half a coil at a time and kept reassembling until I had eased it down to a full 1 1/2 cut. What's the worst that can happen? rides too stiff? not enough suspension travel? So you start over, big deal.
Chop 'em! Did two cars this way and never had a problem. In fact when I chopped the springs on my Falcon, it stiffened up the way too loose and floaty front end just right.
We can come help you. PM me and ill give you my number, theres a trick to getting those springs out easy and back in easy. also i can show you how to cut them easy. for the back we need to go to advance auto and buy these shackles they got(cant seem to find them at any other parts places) but anyway, they are square. then we can make some 3 inch blocks out of some steel stock and take a leaf out. zack, Graves CC heres a 53 we lowered in back. 51 slightly lower in back. but we cut the springs too.
my 53 has 1.5 coil cut in front and 4" blocks in rear and im still not happy with it i want lower plan on doing bags this next year(income tax return) but im thinking im gonna get a set of dropped up right and install em in the meantime but first thing first is i gotta get rid of that stupid stovebolt and get some horsepower under the hood
Just a quick reply for me, but if you are interested in dearching your rear leafs there is a really nice tech article in the archives. It's step by step and lots of good pics. I say cut the fronts too. My Ranchero was done that way and it rides just fine. Just need to remember to spend the cheese on a decent set of lowered gas shocks. Just my 2 cents!
Just curious, what are you using the shackles for? what is so special about these? (looking for some more drop on my Dodge)
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