Ideas to lower the rear of my El Camino?

I bought a '59 El Camino last week and I'm going to install front disc brakes and 2" dropped spindles. What's the best way to lower the rear end 2"? I'm not neccessarily looking for the cheapest way, I'm looking for the best way without bagging it.Click on pic to enlarge. Click twice for full size.The car's filthy as these pics were taken just after it was taken off jackstands and tires re-installed after 1 1/2 years sitting uncovered......Thanks,Mike

 

2 inch shorter springs.

 

I just got shorter springs off ebay, they weren't expensive but I haven't installed 'em yet, working on the body is more important right now.
Beautiful car, BTW, more pics and details please.

 

Agree with Nads more pics please. CHeck with one of the spring outfits they should be able to hook you up.

 

Yeah, that thing is filthy alright. How can you even stand to have it in your shop? I'd be rollin' that pig out into the trees and hiding it until it was presentable. NOT!!

NICE ride, I wish my El Camino was 27 years older, then it would look pretty similar to yours. Shorter springs are the answer for the rear drop. Or just sag a half a coil at a time on yours with the fire wrench. It may ride a tad more harsh, but will get it down some.

 

Those things do sit high on the back end, you'd almost think Chev actually expected you to carry stuff in the back!
You could always just plunk your spare small block in the back. You do have a spare, don't you?
Humour (?) aside, I think the sedan springs are shorter. Depends how much lower you want it.

 

Contact Eaton Springs here in Mi. They can get you new springs with up to a 3" drop. <CITE>www.eatonsprings.com</CITE>

 

Mike...call Coil Spring Specialties in Ks., (785-437-2025)...they wind new springs with up to a 4" drop, and with the original spring rate to retain your ride quality...I've used them many times, they're reasonable, and their springs work great...

 

Shorter springs
DON'T FORGET TO RE-SEAT YOUR CARRIER BEARING once you lower it.

 

My head must be up my ass today. I just called my good friend that owns John R. Spring and Tire here in Troy. He said to bring it over when I get the 2" dropped front end installed and he'd put the rear any heighth I wanted.

"flt blk", thanks for the reminder to re-seat the carrier bearing..........Mike

 

You Flt-blk , good lookin out! seems alot of people just skip over this important step. I lowered a buddy's car the same way and he just said it will be fine.. aome time later he payed the price.

Buzz

 

Several more "before" pics........It's got a pretty rare,working, dealer installed Chevrolet Cool Pack air conditioner. It was a virtual no rust vehicle when restored in the 80's. It's painted black Deltron. It has all factory N.O.S. mouldings, headlamp and tail lamp bezels, steering wheel and a 1960 black/white interior. I'm going to add power disc brakes, 2" drop, power steering, factory tinted glass all around, 15" blackwalls and 15" black steelies with a N.O.S. set of '59 dog dish hubcaps. Click pics once to enlarge...once again for full size.

 

Beautiful. Mine's a factory air car with the nozzles in dash but your under-dash unit's pretty nifty looking.

 

I love it like it is.

 

yeah that stock carrier bearing is a piece of crap...i opened it up and welded 2 nuts on top of the existing threads...i like your car as is...keep the whitewalls..

 

You have it all covered. Just call me when you bring it to Al's ok? Really, really cool.

Kent

 

Canadian (only) '59 Poncho front clip will bolt right up - drop in a 389 and you have an instant super rare '59 Ponchomino.....

 

HUH?......how will going through the bullshit of installing a Canadian Pontiac front clip lower the rear of my El Camino?

 

To those of you that provided helpful,honest sensible answers, thank you. Several days ago I found that McGauhy's Suspension Parts, a California manufacturer that produced my dropped front spindles, sell 2.5" lower rear coil springs for my El Camino. They do not sell to the public so I asked them to suggest a retailer and they said Summit. I called Summit on Wednesday at 12:54 pm and they arrived Thursday at 2pm. McGaughy's said that the suggested retail was $210.00 and Summit charged me $165.00 plus $11.95 shipping which I felt was fair. I've gathered all the parts to make all the changes to my El Camino so we should get started on it within the next week or so. I'm attending a car show this weekend with my '34 Vicky ,then I'm going to take it to the storage building where my El Camino is and bring my El Camino to my building to get started...........Thanks again,Mike

 

Cant wait to see the final results... I have faith in ya... all your other cars seem to be alright looking I guess.

 

That El Camino looks pretty low already. Maybe it's just the angle of the photos? How good are the roads in Michigan?

 

They're great where I live....Thanks for asking!?

 

I want to drop mine about 4" all around. I called Coil Spring Specialities & they quoted me $185 for a pair of 4" rear springs. Paired with 2" spindles & one cut coil in front should get me there. This would be about $450 spent on the drop.

Great info guys. Thanks.

JH

 

What's involved in "re-seating" the carrier bearing?

I have a new one for mine. Dropping the car next week.

JH

 

You loosen the center carrier with the car sitting at it's new height, then retighten, I've learned to do this everytime you change that bearing or it will fail.

 

Easy enough then, with a new bearing. Drop the car & install the bearing AFTER that.

Thanks!

JH

 

I've wondered, what's all was involved when it comes to adjusting the ctr carrier bearing. Saves me from asking, thanks guys!