1952-59 Ford side profile pics of your car's stance.

i need to see some side profile pics of your car's stance to determine how much of a drop front and back i need to get for my 53. i like my stance now, but i got it with heated coils and saggy leafs w 3" blocks. so i don't have a stock reference point. not going to be using airbags, going for a 50s style drop, not slammed. lets see what you guys got, and suspension details to go with it.

 

Here's my '53- the only thing that is adjusting the stance at all is the four original tires/wheels in the trunk. I left them in there after the 5 hr drive home from where I bought her. I hafta find a better way to lower the rear b4 next season.

 

here is mine, i have the skirts on it now, but it has 3 inch blocks in the rear and aerostar springs in the front.

 

I'm too dumb to get pics on here even with all the expert help.... just can't do it. I do have some pics on my album if you want to take a look.

 

Here you go, Geno...



Glad to help out.

 

Here's mine...



Oooops...that's my girlfriend, here's my car...




3" lowering springs in the rear, 2" lowering coils plus Granada spindles (- 2") for a total of 4" drop in front. This is actually a photoshopped illustration, but it's pretty close to how my Vicky will sit when it's done.

 

Eric!!!!! Does your girlfriend have a sister??????? Thanks for posting my pic! You're a God! I just can't get over your car color, nice choice! jamco stuff front and rear. 3.5 inch drop in rear and 4 in front.

 

My pleasure, Geno. Yes, I'm very fond of that particular blue and ivory combination - it's 100% original and would look great on your car, too! (By gosh, you already did it! Great minds and good taste often think alike.)

Ford used that color combo in a large percentage of its advertising in 1952, which reveals that the factory execs liked it, too. It's what came on my Vicky from the factory.

I'm going to paint my car myself, and these two colors are single-stage (no clear) so should be fairly trouble-free to apply. And, if I get dirt or runs in them, I can either sand and recoat or sand and rub-out with no fear of burning through the clear or of color match problems.

The car can also be panel-painted later if I decide to do further mods (or repairs ) at a later date. (I plan ahead and intermix all my paint. I then save some for later use. I still have enough left over from painting my Plymouth to spot in all the earthquake repairs...when I get around to making them.)

 

hey genosslk, whats your car lowered front and back?

Mr. H, what is the drop with the aerostar coils? 2-2.5?

 

its 3 inches in the front with the aerostar springs

 

just realized that the pic i posted was an older pic here she is today.

 

Westcoaster, it was mentioned in the social group before that some people actually report an increase in front end height with the Aerostar springs- depending on how shot your suspension is to begin with. I think I might be in that category, but the improvement in handling that people report is well worth the sacrifice for me ( and hopefully I get a small drop).

 

Something to consider is if you are planning an engine swap do it first,a 5.0 aka 302 or 289 weighs almost 150 pounds less than a Y-block which can effect your final ride height or should you drop in a big block then you have the opposite situation.

 

Dang, I need to get on this when I can drive my car again.
Also, for what its worth, my car has cut coils and A-arm spacers, and it rides fine. Its no corvette, but it rides as good as any static dropped car. Obviously, my car has blocks in the back. All in all, its about 4 in the front and five in the back, I might take another half-loop out of the front coils to level it out. Right now, I just hope I get all of my garnish moldings back from my plater.

 

MORE INFO! Check todays main board there has been a lot more posted on the Aerostar springs with before and after pics by several members including our own "desert droog" look under this ***le:Cheap and Alternative Coil springs for '49 to '59 Fords and Mercs"

 

Here is a pic of my car with worn out stock springs and granada spindles w/ 5" blocks in the rear with original springs. I dont have a new pic of the car with the new stuff but i did jamco 4" rear springs and 2" blocks car sits 1/2" lower in the rear from pic and i did the aerostar springs in the front the front sits the same. As far a ride the car handles ten times better but with that came a little more ridged of a ride i should see a slight bit more drop after everything settles a bit but i am really happy with the overall change that i got.

 

Iv got a side one on mine, i need mine higher in the back than i would like because of the roads i live down. but the stock doesnt look too bad.
Check it out on my page

 

Here's mine with stock suspension. All suspension restored to almost new (bushings, etc.). No extra weight up front, but she does seem to sit down a bit. I think it's cool.

 

My 54' more door sittin in the weeds. Blocked in back, cut coils up front. I HATE speed bumps! but Lake pipes can be used as skid plates right? HA!

 

Quote: AROCK
My 54' more door sittin in the weeds. Blocked in back, cut coils up front. I HATE speed bumps! but Lake pipes can be used as skid plates right? HA!


Now that's the way a more-door should sit! Oh...about using the lakes pipes as skid plates? Looks like you already did! Great pooch, too!

 

thanks guys. i think this is a good thread for all of us to determine ride height. keep the pics and specs coming.

 

fatman front stub with dropped spindles, jamco deluxe lowering kit "4" with reversed springs and 3" blocks

 

That is perfect! Did you notch the frame, cut out the floor and raise the driveshaft tunnel? That's the stance I want for my car, I just don't know how well it would take to the roads in the Northeast. I'm thinking I will definitely have to do everything I mentioned above. Perfect car though. I love it!

 

No frame notch, but the tunnel was raised when the floors/rockers were replaced. JeremyJames did all the fab work in 2008 and it came out awesome. This give an idea of how much it was raised

 

One thing to think about.... How will you get the rear wheels off in case of a flat? Practice it and then stock the trunk the stuff for road side flat replacement. My rear tire will come off if flat, but an aired up tire back on is a *****!!!

 

Bob, I really like the stance on your Customline. My Fairlane sat about the same but the previous owner flipped the rear spring shackles to get the rake, like kids used to do back in the 60s. But for the resto I used air shocks (another custom touch).

QUESTION - what size tires/wheels do you have? They seem to be a perfect fit.

Ron

re: 01-15-2010 01:47 PMBobLove


Here's mine with stock suspension. All suspension restored to almost new (bushings, etc.). No extra weight up front, but she does seem to sit down a bit. I think it's cool.

 

Monkeey...that's awesome. Really nice work on your car. That gives me so much motivation to finish my club coupe.

 

Genosslk, I know what you mean, I have to take the lower shock nut off to lower the axle enough to get the rear tire back on my '55 Long Roof.



Sorry about the ugly guy in the picture...

 

Damn Monkeey, I loving your driveway overhang... Where you live? I want to work on my car in your driveway.

 

I have to carry two jacks and several tools to get the tire in the right place to remove.... it takes about 40 minutes per side to r/r the tire/wheel with both chrome and mags.