What is the best/easiest way to lower my BelAir?How low ?Its stock height in front;looks "tall" Thanks in advance
How low do you want it? I'm an all or nothing kinda guy, so if you want it pretty low, I'd cut 2 rings from the front and 2.5 in the rear!! I took 2 rinngs off the front of my Merc and was pleased with the overall height and ride! Of course you can always buy the spindles/coils for a lot more! Just my $0.02!
Had a 61 and cut 1 coil on all 4 corners... Set her up pretty low, then was at 2 coils and drug the exhaust everywhere... 3" frame clearnace... start with 1/2 to 1 coil on all 4 corners and see how you like it .... then if not enough just take another 1/2 or 1/4 and you will be fine... Hell take 1 out of the front and 3/4 out of the rear and will probably fix your tail dragger status... Few pics of mine that I had with 2 coils cut...
Yeah, I don't want scrubbing issues.Just lowered.So I should do frt&rear?It is "stock" but think it could" look "alot better atad lower.Like that stance you have on the 61! Thanks for the Pix
Cut with a grinder with a cuttoff wheel...less heat build up and is the only way to cut coils.... Id say to cut 1.5 in front and 1 in rear and you should be where you want... Or do 1.5 all around and put air shocks on rear to give you rider capacity still...
Just put "new"shocks on all 4 corners.So I will p*** on airshocks for now.Cutting 1.5"will lower the front how much?Gonna go "measure"that look.Cut the bottom of coil?
Your cutting rotations off... not inches... 1 full rotation of the coil..or 1.5 rotations of the coil... deff cut from the top it fits TONS better that way...
I was refering to:1.5 rotation of coil equals body drop of?I wanted to go measure"how low"that would be;since car is currently at stock height.
I think its something like 1 coil equals about 3-4 inches. My memory isnt all that great. Is it 4:20 yet?
1 coil is equal to roughly 3" of drop... depends on springs and how old they are and sag etc.... 1.5 would be anywhere to 4 to 5 inches...
imho if you like the car a lot invest in some lowering springs .. its a xframe chevy they are out there and not crazy cash ... progressive rate will ride better than cut stocks ... maybe only slightly, but it matters to me if im keeping a car .. $300-350 for all for and you can pick 1, 2, or 3" drop which should be enough for you since doesnt seem like you want to really see low ... and you can usually mix em too if you want abit of a rake .. plus u retain the stock ones if you ever need to sell you dont have to say you cut em (some people frown on that in general), and gives you a chance to throw in new shocks while youre at it (slightly shorter ofcourse) ... you wil be proud if you do everything the right way instead of the cheap way ps - if you do go this route keep in mind the stock springs are worn and likely are already .25-.75" or so lowered
Hence why I said to start with 1 coil cut out... and My 61 rode like a freakin dream.... better ride than new caddys etc... hell better than most of my friends bagged rides... cars are heavy and if you like the good floating ride of the cars then you wont notice any difference... Im not disagreeing with drop coils but its $ that you spend if you want to, but not necessary...new shocks is highly recomended...
Okay so do I use a "strut"spring compressor?Or do they make a "coil"spring compressor?Don't want to sound ignorant at parts house-
DON'T use a strut spring compressor. Use a coil spring compressor. You can rent one at most auto parts stores. Todd
No,just working on it.You know its never quite right;Just want to improve the "stance"The shop manual pics sux.I got the lower ball joint loose-what next?Am I to loosen the lower arm;even tho that spring is pushing downwards?I thought you would loosen lower arm&"somehow"get that lower ball-joint outta the way;then the coil should come out??What is "the lower control arm cross shaft bushing bolts"?
Hope these help to get me some advice... 1.Am I to remove that "lower"nut? 2.Is that the "bolt"that I should loosen?
No offense man, but I think you're in over your head a little bit here... Look on Youtube for a balljoint removal video.
I lowered my Biscayne using 2" dropped coils from Cl***ic Industries, 20% off deal, so I bought their disc brake conversion too.
I lowered my 60 Bel Air by cutting the coils. 2-1/2 coils in the rear. 2 in the front. Still has plenty of up and down travel. My front springs were stock but the rear may have been heavy duty replacements as the car rode rear end high. Start by cutting off a coil at a time and see where it puts you. Don't forget to allow for p***enger weight, full tank of gas ,etc when checking your ride height. I don't use spring compressers as I don't trust them to hold. Just wrap a chain losely thru the spring and and secure it to itself.Disconnect your rear shocks and sway bar. Jack up the car by the frame and as the rear end lowers the spring will come out. You will have to disconect the the drive shaft if you do it this way as the carrier bearing on the two piece drive shaft won't allow the rear end to drop enough for the spring to come out. As for the front you can do the same thing but you will need a ball joint tool to seperate the ball joint. Jack from the frame and the A arm will sag. Be carefull to support the backing plate/brake drum or you will rip out your brake hose. If you send me a pm with your e-mail I will try and send you some pics of the lowered car.
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