Customs Anyone done a z'd front on a 54 Belair?

Looking for some insight before i tear the clip off friday. Tried to search but z is kinda a hard term lol. Curious as to how much i can do before my steering is unusable linkage wise...

 

If im not mistaken, bass z'd the front of the 49 fleetlne he did. Same frame, however, aftermarket front suspension so probably no help.

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however much you move the suspension up in the frame you need to move the steering arm down so the drag link (?) stays parallel.

you will have to move the motor up or back or both if it is a six.

 

What fink said. Moving the suspension up will throw everything off of you don't take the proper steps to correct it. If the z is behind the steering box that will eliminate a lot of problems. But you will have to move the core support back down so all the front sheet metal will bolt back on.


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I've been eyeballing my 51 and thinking the same thing! If you only Z the frontend where it bolts to the frame then you wouldn't have to change much. I'm planning on using an after market steering column, so I think adding in a u-joint would work and match them back up.

 

Are you saying you would split the stock column from the steering box and use a joint to hook up to the stock box?


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If I was going to go through all that trouble, I'd have to go with a more modern clip. A nova rear steer with it's stock "Z" comes to mind.
I went with the original 50 chevy stuff on my 50 delivery, with the exception of using a 53 steering box. The brakes were just ok but I always wanted a nice power steering/disc brake setup with a lot lower stance. I'd have done a rear steer nova clip if I'd kept it.

 

With everything available in the aftermarket today there is absolutely no reason to to a front clip swap. I'm personally not a fan of them. I do agree that for all the trouble it would be better to just upgrade the front suspension. It a hell of a lot cheaper than it used to be and there are even bolt in kits ok the market. I personally am building one from scratch on my 53. A mix of mid 60's GM and Mustang 2.


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SlickRick z'd one but I think he clipped it at the dame time.

 

I haven't looked at the stock box yet, if it's do-able yea... if not then I'd search for a new box that would work, maybe a power unit?

 

I did a 6" z on the front of my '57 Suburban. It has a jag clip done by the previous owner and I wanted it lower. I didn't want to cut the jag crossmember out and rework it, so the "z" was my next choice. I bolted the vehicle into a frame jig of angle iron that was attached to my shop floor. It takes lots of measuring and planing to do it correctly and ensures all the sheet metal will bolt back on. Good luck!

 

No way am I clipping it. To much work and cash just to use OEM parts from another vehicle. I've done many a z before just none on these cars. From the ones you've suggested it looks like I can get away with 2.5-3" no problem

 

You're the fabrikator, tell us?

 

As I said nads.... I havnt done one on these cars so o was looking for suggestions or some possible problems others had run into before I get into mine. Thank you EVERYONE ELSE for your input.

 

Mine is clipped, z'ed and narrowed. A ton of work, but i had more time than money, so i made it work. I also converted mine to a rack and pinion. Not for a Job for a first timer. Geometry and strength are nothing to half ass if you plan on Driving your car

 

for all the trouble of doing that why not just clip it?

 

I really see no benefit to clipping it. Aside from going to a rack.

 

Search for Coles (Foster) post where he steps the A-arms on them. His Blue 54 is done that way. Frame is untouched.

 

You can get really low just with a jag xj front end.

 

http://www.50chevy.com/how-to-articles/mustang-2

 

Gonna start tomorrow night. Ill post some pics.

 

Other benefits to clipping The front end is easy to get parts, disk brakes, heavy sway bars, better steering...... THE down Side is always front horn mods for The core Support and bumper brackets. But for The cost of a used clip and The added benefits it seems like a no brainer. Plus if your z ing The frame you will have to deal with many of The same issues as clipping a modern gm on. THE 54 set up was not bad to drive as stock, but since your chopping your fram, why wouldnt you spend $200 and upgrade your ride? It doesnt make any sence to me, but its your car

 

Ok... my buddy Mike forwarded me this link which I had missed somehow or it went unnoticed before I got my 51 sport coupe... so I think this is a mucho easy way to lower the car... I'll be doing this to mine!!!

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=317696

 

Are you kidding?
Seriously?

I know it's not traditional...and it is against the grain to advocate clipping around here in HAMBville, but really!

I had a 54 Chevy. I drove it. I did not like it. I put in a Monte Carlo clip from a car I bought for parts...used engine trans, rear, subframe, column (mistake!) wiper set-up, radiator, everything I could cannabalize!

54s have kingpins, not ball joints...inferior...(AND the modern replacements are usually crappy Chinese ones!)
Crazy monkey motion steering linkage.
Strong, but outdated suspension design.
Lousy brakes

With my 80 Monte, I got modern power steering, ball joints, better suspension design...better handling and ride quality, and most of all, great brakes.
Add this to a traditional mild custom body and interior and I had a great car. Drove it over 40,000 miles in 4 years, all over the country, with no problems, and rode like a modern car. A lot of my cross country trips I'd sail along at 80, 85 MPH on the highway.
Oh...and by utilizing the built in upsweep in the Monte frame, it lowered the car about 3-4 inches right off the bat.
While there are lots of poorly done, badly welded clip jobs out there, one done right is a nice way to go....I think I'd choose it over a Mustang 2 conversion for ride and handling quality...but it is more work, fabrication, and doesn't quite look as nice as original. or M2. But then again, you dont' see i much on Kustoms.

 

Got it in the shop after a few pitiful burnouts and started cutting her up. Made a new trans cross member that will clear 3" exhaust and the asphalt...

 

Because of the way these frames are made, a Z would bother me. You have that thick bottom plate with a much thinner "hat" so you're combining different thicknesses of things in ways they weren't designed to be mated with a Z. At the least it's going to need some added side bracing and maybe a piece run from the bottom section at the cowl to the bottom section wherever it's raised to.

Just a Jag swap alone gets you an inch or two, and you can bag one and pretty well put it on the ground - and save a ton of work I think in the process. I don't know why anyone would do anything else, unless they wanted the challenge.

 

Ended up doing a 2" z. Started welding everything up hopefully will finish this weekend.

 

...if you only want a few inches, just notch the bottom of the frame and move the suspension up into it, then use coils/drop'd spindles. Lot of work, be easier to clip or use MII.

 

kinda diggin this!

 

Progress pics