other than the obvious cost and labor differences, what are some of the other contrasts to each way of lowering the old girl? i am most likely going to do the traditional drop before iola here in wisconsin because its quick and easy. im thinking a 4"/6" setup front and rear. what is the easiest way to do the front? i thought about heating the coils in the front since the air bags will prolly be in the future. thanks! \ l / * / \
Don't heat the coils. If your gonna do it cheap, at least take them out and cut them (with a chop saw, not a torch). And use a good steel block, not the crappy aluminum ones from the auto-parts store.
so what do you do, measure the spring and take out a little less than you want the drop to be? i would assume i would want to leave the spring a little longer so i dont cut it a bunch of times and it would still be too short lol
When i did my 57 chevy years ago, i cut the coil's and used drop block's at first, then Posies dropped springs out back when i could afford them. I think i ended up cutting 2 coil's out of mine. Basically the best way i've found to do them is to cut one coil and reassemble to see where it sit's. If it's not where i want, go a little more. It's time consuming, but your not cutting too much out all at once. I used a cut off wheel to remove the coil.. As was mentioned, don't heat them even though you plan to change them out. I've since gone the other way and lifted it back up and now the Posies are sitting in the shed ..oh well.
It takes a while for the front springs to settle after cutting them. After a week or so it will be at least another inch lower.
It was quite a bit actually. I have 275-60-15 radial's on 15x8 rims and to get them out was a major project..Jack from the frame to let the rear end hang down, then let the air out of the tire and fight to get it out...Granted, i have a lot of tire under it..a slightly narrower tire with a 7" rim would have been a hell of a lot easier. I think they were supposed to be a 3" drop and they had reversed rear eye's as well..This is the only pic i have on here from when it was lowered.... It actually rode nice. The one and only problem i had was the header's i ran. They hung down bellow the bell housing mount's and would hit EVERYTHING..especially if the road had any sort of crown to it. I shaved both header's just about through the lower pipes from road scrapes. The front had very short tires on it.. It dosn't look real low in the pics, but the headers were about 3" off the ground.. As it was in the pic, the roof was lower than my 53 chevy which is chopped 5" and lowered as well.. If'n ya want a pair of those spring's come on down and pick 'em up.. I'll give ya a good deal on em Tony
Thanks Scrawny.. i liked it a lot, it was just was time for something different after being that way for 10 years or so. Best of luck with your's..and post pics when you get it done.. Tony
On my 57 I used dropped spindles and cut a little at a time on the front coils until I was happy (they will settle , so if it it's almost low enough drive it around for a couple days and it'll probably be perfect) 2" blocks in the back from McGaughy's . 18"s and 20"s help also (sorry , but I like them in this instance ) . Nothin' to it , but to do it (EZ deal) . Rides bitchin !!! I almost forgot , like my homie Big Worm says : " Bags are for groceries "
dropped it a couple of inches and the front and got some different center caps not much more i could do..
I used ClassicChevyInternational 2" drop "coils". Same temper as stock but 2" lower. Then I cut 1/2 coil at a time for desired ride height. After MANY 57's and lots of lowering jobs, This IS the best way unless you want to use drop spindles, but then you pretty much have to convert to Disc brake and booster. I wanted to leave the original Treadlevac system and brakes, so this worked best for me. Looks just right, I think, And gets lots of compliments about it's Stance. It's all about Stance! B
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