Bags on a 51 Chev

Wondering if I can bag the front of my 51, stock suspension.

If so, what does anybody recommend, and if not...well so be it

Thanks

 

well here ya go...good thing you asked before you went ahead and did it.

yes you can bag your stock front end. but it will most likely NOT be low.

a buddy put bags on a 53 for another guy, which is basically the same car. rebuilt the stock suspension. spent a bunch of money. it's all done and I pull up in my cut coils 49 sedan and park net to it. we are about the same height. so I ask him to drop it down so I can see what it looks like and he tells me it IS down.

all I could say was "oh"

that's not to say someone else may have had a positive experience with this, but just one example of what may happen.

 

...not sure how it rode or anything like that...

that's an old funky suspension. by the time you get it all tight and rebuilt your in it for quite a few bucks. then you still have poor brakes for todays hiways. you want to be behind a 4 wheel antiloc disc brake 2000 pound 2006 model car when they go to stop in a hurry? not me.

 

Thanks guys...that's what I figured but I still wanted some opinions.
Just want to get it down as much as possible right now without spending the big dollars.

I guess I'll go with the dropped uprights and cut the coils for the time being...

Anybody run the Air over leaf setup in the rear?...or are blocks and removing a cpl springs the way to go...again stock set up back there.

 

yo... if you are just gonna do the dropped uppers in the front with a coil or 2 hacked out, i would just chunk a lowering block under the rear leafs and let 'er ride. And if you are a cheap bastard like me just make your own lowering blocks.

 

Thanks Sik Shifter, prolly what Ill do...how tall of a block can ya get away with? 3" or 4" ?

 

I don't know, if you're willing to shell out for dropped uprights, it might get down pretty low with some bags. I've seen plenty of pics of bagged 49-54's sitting down low with the stock IFS and dropped uprights. I believe the dropped uprights only get you 3"? I'm totally speaking without experience here, but I think bag selection and installation also plays a part in how far the front will air out.

 

I'm running 3" in my '54 with worn out shocks and it bottoms out fairly easily. I got mine from Night Prowlers supposedly made for the narrow width leafs and locating pin.

 

Well, I was gonna go with the dropped uprights for sure, and if I can get a bag up there that would get me lower than cut springs...I would spring for that set up....Im not up on bags, so Im really not sure what would fit up there.

 

well it doesn't sound like money is a big concern, so yes, you can get it down there. with the dropped uprights and bags you should not be able to get your toe under the fender. i bagged my stock suspension, i was short of funds when i started so i skipped the uprights and sectioned 2" out of the frame instead, it's low.

 

So with the dropped uprights and some bags..It will get the job done?

I know I wont have the rockers on the ground, but if I can get it down with out the whole M2 IFS..I would be happy...


Thanks again for the replys.....

 

mind you i'm runnin short radial tires, not some tall bias ply, but there's less than 2" under the fender. low enough that i had to remove and redo the K-member.

 

You can get it low with bags. I am in the process of doing my 52 with the stock suspension. It takes some modifying, but definately will go low. My 52 will lay frame with the stock type suspension. There is a great article on lowrider magazines website on bagging a 49-52 chevy.

 

Thanks Rockabillyjoe...what type of bags are you using up front?

 

Go to the www.lowridermagazine.com site, they did a 51 with airbags up front. Was a very straight forward proceedure and turned out well. Look in the tech section, its not to far down. Also ask Gambino Customs. He has bagged a bunch of these. You can get em down there especially if you also use dropped uprights. Buffalo enterprises in washington state will modify your uprights for a reasonable fee, and they are better than an aftermarket piece like fatman because there is no grease fitting interference.

Hotrob

 

Hey Hotrob, I was already on the the phone with Buffalo Ent...also was looking at his disk brake kit...his sounded better than most.

 

I figured others may have had better luck.. or maybe 53's are different.

my personal recomendation, especially if you want discs and bags... spend the bucks for the mustangII. unless you have an incredible fondness for the OG suspension, or want to keep the car more original you will be way ahead of the game.

had OG suspension with cut coils and discs on my 49 sedan. I put a few bucks into the front end also. it bottomed over big bumps and was a bitch to park in a stall made for an import with the slow OG steering. of course air ride could possibly alleviate the bottoming out.. for what I spent to get this thing to stop and tighten up the steering I would have been well on my way to getting the mustang II.

that car is gone and I'm doing another 49... mustang II on this one. it will be very low without bags and ride nice all the time.

 

I just read through the lowrider stuff. Pretty slick. Did their method put the front on the ground too? They never showed a picture of it.

 

Sinner... I would think 3" no prob, but definitely get under there and see what MIGHT give you clearance/bottom out issues, such as the freakin axle hittin the frame rails, etc etc. My opinion, the lower you can get the rear of those ol hoopties the better they look, gives it that tail dragger effect.

 

Is there a specific lowering block to use? and if so who can ya get them through?

I have a bunch of blocks from my big truck days, but I'm not so sure those will work....

 

The blocks are different for your chevy. I got mine through brockman mellowtone.

 

Thanks Rockabillyjoe...Ill prolly grab them from there.

 

It gets plenty low!!

I was'nt real crazy about the leaf spring method they used for the back. I would have changed to a ladderbar suspension, but it seemed to work.

 

Ya...I would say thats plenty low enough for me....

 

So...am I safe to assume that the car in the lowrider mag did NOT have dropped uprights and all the lowering was accomplished by bags?

I didn't see a mention of them and If I go the same route, I don't want to spend the money on them if they are not needed.