Hi all... I feel the stance of a car is key, and for style it's kind of 'the lower the better'. (We were all into this in my neighborhood in Philadelphia growing up in the '60's) That said, my wag is as low as it can go with the current setup because the wheels are pretty far out in the front fenders due to the set-up, a power disc brake kit mounted on stock 56 spindles. Anyway, it looks cool enough and is sort of perfect for the way I use the car, I drive it, alot! It's a daily Los Angeles city/canyon/freeway driver... motoring at over speed bumps, etc. Here's the thing. I am running the original 265/cast iron powerglide but next week will be going to a new drivetrain, 71 350 4 bolt block/aluminum heads and intake and a 700r4 trans. I wouldn't be surprised if the front-end weight is reduced to the point that I will have to cut a coil off my front springs to keep my car's stance like it is now. If it then comes out a bit lower and I need to create some additional clearance in the front, I wonder...Has anyone had experience rolling the inner lip up on the front fenders on a '50's car? I could also go the route of removing some of the inner fender lip material with a grinder. I love the integrity of my car, and I am braced for some backlash from the group on this one so please don't hold back. Have a great day.
I don't think you are going to gain enough clearance just rolling or t******* the fender lips on your rig. Looks like you are going to have to get some front wheels with less dish. I know it's easier said than done 'cus wheels are expensive but it is what it is. You may be able to find someone to swap wheels with that wants more dish. If you want the car to sit the same as it does right now after the swap and you do have to trim your front springs you're just going to have to trim the springs a little at a time untill you get it back where you want it. Hate to give you bad news but there really is no easy or quick fix on this one.
I dont think the weight diffrence will be enough to make much diffrence if any. A 700r4 is no light weight. oh yeah, I like the car by the way
I don't think you'll see any difference. Rolling the lip won't help enough to make it worth while. Change the backspace is your best bet. I think it looks just fine at the stance it is now. Especily (sp) for a daily driver. Just my opinion.
Just finished a similar swap in a friend's '56 Chevy using a 350 and a TH350. Yes you lose the heavier ******, but you're adding motor mount weight, and a trans crossmember. You'll end up having no weight change and no height change. Nothing to worry about if you like the present stance, it will be the same.
Are those 16" wheels? You might try 15" wheels on the front if they are, might lower it a little in the front also. A lot of money for wheels and tires though!
We used to do a hat trick. ball bat between tire and fender. Or rolling the inner fender lip as you have said. I wasn't a tri five chevy gay way back wne but I did roll some for or with other fellas. it works fine, you don't gain much but sometimes it was enough. Works the same on the front or the back.
Thanks for your responses. Good to know it's likely that the stance will be the same. Not sure I'd like the look of a lower front with the wheels further into the fenders. The kid in me wants it slammed, (especially when I look at pictures of all the *****in rides on here) but some things that look super-cool just make it not work as a car as well. These wheels are 17 x 7 and had 235-45 tires. (wanted all 4 the same for ease of ownership) This looked good but the 235's didn't have enough air volume for a car like this and the thing rode like ****, banging over every expansion strip. It ****ed and I thought I might have to change to a smaller wheel diameter. My tire guy was cool and we tried switching the tires out for 245-45. This increase in air volume made all the difference but he warned me that I might have clearance problems going into driveways, etc with the wheels cut all the way. No problems so far after driving for almost a year. (lots of miles) It looks way better with the wheel wells filled up more but the whole thing was a series of experiments. I agree with ya 325w, this is a good workable setup overall. Thanks. Hey porkn******, can you school me on this hat trick so I understand? Does it somehow use the weight/rolling of the car? Any pictures of this bring done? Thanx again.
sk6strng just jack up the wheel your working with to have weight on it.slip bat between tire and wheel well lip and roll tire back and forth.it will slowly turn lip under,or up under fender
Those look like 2 piece wheels. Call some wheel shops and see if they can cut the weld and slide the rim in an inch and re-weld. Done on steel wheels all the time. But it seems your fixing a problem that does not yet exist. Measure ride height, do your swapping, re-measure. Then decide.
No, you're right....I'm cool doing nothing. I was just interested in how it's done. The isometric aspect of it is cool.
I don't have any pics of my old 56 wagon, but I used 2" dropped spindles and new shorter coils. It was pretty low. RockyJr, here on the hamb bought it about 5 years ago. You might see if he has any pics in his album.
Thanks. When you're watching you dollars and on the upgrade-as-you-go plan like I am there's always this thing of trying not to "f" up some earlier choice you're running with, in this case my wheel-tire choice which I like. I didn't see a pic on Rockyjr's page but he may be running different backspacing, etc. Thanks and have a great day.
Hi all. It turns out that the car sits almost exactly where is was before the engine / trans swap, maybe a gnat-hair lower ( ? ) Not sure why...some of the weight went farther forward, radiator, trans-cooler... A ton of items are gone from under the hood though...various soleniods, vacuum amplifier...etc, etc.. Anyway, very happy with the stance, looks killer. Can't go lower with the headers I'm running anyway. Thanks for all your input.
I had a '56 210 wagon in high school, it had 2" dropped spindle and 2" lowering coils. It sat super low, but not too low. It had a 350/350 combo. I could make it over speed bumps if I took them sideways and slow. I rolled the front fenders a little, not sure if it helped much, but it made me feel better. Here's a pic of it with lowering coils, right before I put the disc brakes and drop spindles on.
It seems as though you're trying to make the car fit the wheels not the wheels fit the car. You say you've experimented but apparently with tires not wheels. A 15X6 wheel with decent tire size could give the wheel well a full look if it was slammed as you say you really want, plus give the needed clearance.
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