Last couple of weekends I've been installing Fatman dropped uprights and air bags on my 52 Buick Special. I found that a pre-built front and rear kit for a 96 Chevy Caprice worked out pretty slick with only minor fabrication. Even has the big bags in the front that can take the weight of the heavy straight 8. It wont lay frame or be a taildragger my any means, but it should still have a real nice stance. I'll post some pics when I'm all threw and its off the jack stands. Thought I would share some pics with you guys.
the surrounding area had me slappin leather for a sandblaster that just wasn't there, but you do have some crazy cool suspension goin on, there, fella. I have no experience with those years of cars. Is that a stock type upright, or a fabricated beauty to allow a kingpin spindle swap?
Yes these cars are stock with these uprights, however the ones in the pics are modified reproductions to lower the car, just like a dropped spindle on a ball joint vehicle
That looks great. Is that with the air out of the bags is there enough movement left in that position to drive on good roads?
wow good write up,looks good, like it went together fairly easy. answers lotta questions about a Buick set up. Buick front ends are very similar from 39, to 56.
Looks good. Please post more pics and write up... Are you running the stock closed driveshaft/rear axle? Interested in the shock installation as well. I presume you are using stock upper A-arms. What did you do about/with the stock lever action shocks? Rear shocks?
Nice work on your 52. These Buick’s are almost as made for airride. You have a very similar setup like mine on my 48 Special except the sleeve bags on your rear. I have regular bags all around and using the stock torque tube setup and of cause the straight eight. I have to raise the floor over the drive shaft to be able to drive in the slammed/aired out position and to achieve some inch or so. I used tube shocks in front just like you. Here’s a few pics
Very nice fellas, would be great to post some more details, part numbers and ballpark of what you have into it, I would love to do this to my 52 special...the old front shocks just aren't what they used to be.
Yes its all aired out all way around. It does still have the stock torque tube driveline/rear end. I cant go any lower without floorboard mods. the torque tube is very very close to the top of the X-member & floor. The front lever action shocks where shot, so I had to install the modern tube shocks. So now they are just simply a upper control arm. The rear lever action shocks where in good working order so they are still being used for now. I am going to be looking into a rear swaybar install next, so if anyone has any knowledge to share....
I lowered my 38 Buick with springs no air ride. Got a adjustable bar for a 58 - 64 Chevy from hotchkis, it was a bolt in, looked like it was made for the car, and it has grease fittings for the bushings.
Well I got excited, screwed-up and forgot to take pictures of the process(sorry), I'll post some pics of the final install when I get them off the camera. But I found a rear sway bar that worked real well. Spent two hours in the wrecking yard looking at tons of choices. I settled with a rear bar off a 2002 Chev Tahoe. Its a 1in. dia. bar. Wraps around the diff perfectly. No binding with the airride and no interference with the stock lever action shocks. It really helped with the body roll.
Looks like you found a easy , straight forward way to fix the knee action shock and drop the car in a single job. I have been planning to do the same fix on my 49 Super, but your post just helped me tremendously. Thanks for the help. Which transmission do you have in the car?
Both of the cars in the pics look sick I have a 55 four door hardtop Special I would also be very interested in more info on what parts you use maybe in a little more detail again sweet cars gentlemen.
Wonder how this would work for 49-54 Chevys? Are the air bags stock on the Caprice? Never paid attention to them before.
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