Customs 54 Ford with Aerostar frontsprings

I have been running Ford aerostar coils on several sleds I have owned over the years to lower the front ends. I recommended that to a buddy of mine to lower his 54 Ford. A lot of people chimed in and told him to buy specific shocks to go with that set up. Out of ignorance on my end I have never changed the shocks only the coils biy never had any problems! He went with a shorter shock as recommended by several people here, and now he has almost no travel in the front end. What shocks are you guys using when you run the Ford Aerostar springs. His car isa 54 Ford Victoria.

 

When I built the boss ladys '54 Ranch Wagon I was unaware of the areostar springs swap, the car was parked years ago because the front left spindle had self distructed, at that time Fat Man was making a speciality 2" dropped spindle, he suggested using the original springs, with that information I went with gas shocks designed for the '54 Ford.

You might try asking the guys HERE, there are a lot of guys that have done the spring swap. HRP

 

Thanks, but I don't see an option there to start a new thread. And the search option was very vague

 

My 2 cents, from my 55 bird. If you didn’t cut the bump stops, they should still stop the movement before the shock bottoms out. The Aerostar is progressive in rate, so there’s a chance the original shock doesn’t really match the rate quite right, but I’d make that call on how it feels when you drive it. Since we don’t normally get the front airborne, the extension travel will probably not matter.

I’ve had a car that would “porpoise” front to back in the right cir***stances, and I was told that was a combination of spring rate and shock rate being mismatched front to back. I don’t really know. But it was only on an odd uphill bump hitting a bridge in the middle of a hill. So I never felt the need to chase that down.

 

When I get home I’ll find the correct shock. Because of the compound wound it’s very stiff I needed a bottle jack to put mine in. Ride improved….100%… next I didn’t cut off 1/2 of my stops. Destroyed both. Replaced cut…all is good. There on a 56!

 

Found this on a thread about the Aerostar swap…..

 

54

 

@oddrod46 Sonny, is this your HAMB name?
When I had my old 53 Customline and did the Aerostar spring swap I used Gabriel 82026 shocks. Travel on the shocks was just right.

 

Yes

 

On my '51 Club Coupe I used Aerostar springs and stock shocks. No issues, way better ride.

Dave

 

Used Aerostar springs and stock shocks on my 54 with no issues..drove way better than the torched ones that came of it