I've got a '65 rambler cl***ic 660 wagon that just came back from upholstery yesterday and I forgot how high this thing sits....it's almost farm truck ish.... I want to give it a lower stance but don't have the funds to bag right now and after finding nothing anywhere online the only conclusion I've come to is this: Cut the springs maybe a coil to a coil and a half along with replacing the worn out shocks with either replacements or something more fitting to the cut springs. I know it's not the perfect solution but I'm coming up dry everywhere else and the car will look much better sitting lower so I'm asking for ideas here..... I'll get some pics up later this morning after I give her a bath..kinda dusty after a month in the shop! EDIT: As promised, here's pix of the new money pit! Tell me what ya think, good or bad!
Cut the springs. Start with one coil, then if you want more cut half a coil. Is the back leaf spring? If so you could flip the main leaf, and remove a leaf or two, depending on how many it has, or flip the main leaf, and use a 1" block. If it's coil in the rear, make sure you can cut them. Sometimes the coils are bolted in, and the top and bottom coils are curled for the bolts, if that's the case you can only heat them. I've cut many a coil, and never had a problem, they've rode pretty good too.
thanks for the info...didn't even think of heating them! all 4 corners are spring, was actually hoping for leaf in back for that reason but no dice. I do need to replace the shocks no matter what I do so here's a question. Will the car ride like hell if I do cut or heat the springs to lower it AND replace the shocks with replacements of the same size? I've lowered newer cars using lowering springs and stock shocks with no problem but didn't know if this would work on an older car. Also, is there a general rule to cutting springs? like 1 coil= 1.5-2"? I'm looking for 2-3"...just enough to set it off...if I decide to lay it out I'll bag it but that's down the road.....
Cutting your coils is fine. But whatever you do, don't ever heat your coil-springs to lower your car, even as a "last resort". You'll get 'er lower...that's for sure...but you won't like the ride. Your local spring-shop can fit your car with shorter springs. If you don't lower it too much, chances are your original shocks will be fine...just don't want to bottom them out. If there's a chance of that, your auto-parts store (a good one) can provide the same style of shocks, but a little shorter.
Cut 4" at a time then install, one full coil may be too much, you can't add to the spring if you cut too much, it's one of those cut and fit cut and fit cut and fit until it is where you want it.
I think it looks fine up there wait till ya go with the bags at least you can drive the car down the road and not have to swerve each time you see a ciggeratte pack or a sewer lid ..lol buddy of mine just ripped his full exhaust off hitting a raised sewer they were repaving ..not nice
forgot to say the sewer was only a couple inches higher then the road caught it on header flanges ruined his day..
Drop the spindles in the front. you make a drop plate, with holes where the spindle bolts on now, and drill another set of holes to drop it the amount you want. you won't even need to realign it. In the rear get 79 to 87 Gbody GM rear springs. they will bolt in, and give you about 4" drop.
That's good info. You could lower the front as described above, then just put sand bags in the back for now. I know, but at least he won't have to heat his rear springs. I'd personally would do the GM rear springs like enjenjo said.
awesome info guys, thanks! I will definitely be doing this...was hoping to take this to the easter show here in stl but found out I leave sunday for 3 weeks working in savannah, ga so it's all on hold for now. does give me some time to round up the parts though! ratrodder34--definitely want to see those pics if you have the chance to send em!
Hey , when that wagon was new , I was working at a rambler dealership as a mechanic... Like the other guys said, dont heat the springs to settle them.... everywhere they are heated , they will eventually break... because it takes the temper out of the spring... Consider using springs from a rambler p***enger car instead,,, the wagons were calculated for carrying a 500 lb. load and all of them sat high in the back because of that...p***enger cars didnt use that type of spring... the cheap way to go is cut the springs from the ends , but that is going to affect the ride... like some others have said... you can have some springs custom made by a spring shop... and that is probably the best solution... contact some one like Eaton and see what springs you can juggle... a lot of times springs are common with other makes...personally , I would hit the wrecking yards and internet ... some one out there has a set of springs that will work....
good to know, enj. how about some of the progressively wound spings? i've got a line on a 62 2dr sedan...
any idea if parts off a '62 will work on a '65? got some interior stuff I need and some outside trim along with the springs....pm me!
looks good just take it to car shows and park next to a corvette, you will get more attention that way, and irritate corvette owners. ramblers rule
no idea but the interior looks like somebody tried to ******* a bobcat.... if i get this, i won't be s****ping it,sorry.
Doesn't this car have the trunion front suspension with the springs on top of the upper a-frames? If so, be really, really careful removing those springs, they area killers, literally. Something you might consider is a front cross member kit with more modern suspension if it has the trunion front end. I have seen steel plates bolted onto the spindle with a lower mounting point to lower the front. Also do some looking at Amb***ador or Rebel front spindles. They had bigger brakes or discs in later years and some had the same spindle bolt pattern. SPark
the spindle bolt pattern is`the same on AMC from 1950, to 1986. In fact, on all models there were only two spindles used, and the will interchange on the upright.
Here is the deal with the spindles. Yes you can make new plates but you will have to heavily alter the springs and lower cup area or you will have to run a very narrow wheel. You would have to change the front spring to a coil over set up. I looked every way I could to lower my 62 without bagging it due to funds and I ended up with only one option until I bagged it and that was to cut the springs. I instead bit the bullet and bought bags. Search 62 rambler and see my post of my build if you would like. I am trying to do***ent everything I can on this one.
I did this on my 65 Marlin, same ch***is, and used 15 by 7 wheels with no problems. Also did a 70 AMX with 17 by 7 wheels, again no problem. The rear springs I use are for a Malibu wagon, 78 to 87
Would plates 3/8 or 1/2 of regular steel be strong enough ? I d like to lower my 66 Ambo on front .. Stock coils are difficult to find for those cars .
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