Projects Extended or Lift front spindles for 1958 Impala

Hello
Would anyone know where I could get custom front disk brake spindles to "Lift" a 1958 Chevy Impala about 3". There are alot of "Drop" spindles but none to raise it. I built some 40 years ago with a 6" lift ( Gasser Style) but it seems too high now. I no longer work in that field with access to that type of equipment. I have seen 2" ball joint spacers but they don't seem that safe. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all again

 

Not all ball joint spacers are the same. Next an upper ball joint spacer does not lift a vehicle. It can only do 1 of 2 things. It’ll allow for increased up travel upon excelloration with stock height coil springs or place upper a-frame at near ideal plane/level when using a taller coil spring.

Asking for 3” lift my suggestion would be taller springs then correct upper a-frame plane via ball joint spacer with good fasteners and retain upper bump stop’s so there will be no upper binding upon hard excelloration.

Keep in mind, 3” of lift does not mean spring’s need to be 3” longer.

 

Swap out the upper and lower ball joints for spherical bearings [bolt through]
The modify the knuckle by boring through the tapers and welding tubes
You will need to address the steering arm / bump steer issues as well

This method is a lot easier and safer than cut'n'weld knuckles BUT it will widen the track slightly [OK with skinnies]

 

Thank you, any recommendations of how much longer or larger the coil springs should be. I found some 58 Chevolet Brookwood that are larger but not taller. I haven't found a specification for load.

 

This is what I have currently on the car with a 6" lift

 

348 58 wagon springs.

Note about upper bump stop mount attached to the frame. These most likely will have to be removed. What happens is ball joint spacer will smack them causing a blow to the side of the ball joint spacer which is the real cause for them to fail.

 

most Chevys have a 1.5:1 motion ratio.
So you need a 2" longer spring to get 3" lift.

Why don't you use Weight Jackers with your existing springs

 

He wants to Raise it 3".

 

This part?

 

Ball jont spacers just let the front end rise higher without topping out or let you run taller springs without topping out. Without the springs they don't do anything as far as static lift to play poser gasser goes.

That picture of the spindle rather reminds me of some of the cobbled together setups that some local guys did with AMC spindles in the 70's or 80's.

No one has ever made a spindle to raise those cars because there is no market for them.

 

Up six from stock then down three equals three. Up three from stock equals three. Just saying

 

This is the 'assume' problem. Because that car was 40 years ago, I assumed he is now talking about a new, different 58 Chev he is building. Maybe he is still talking about the same car he raised 6 inches 40 years ago?
Perhaps the OP can clarify?

 

Thanks, I see that now.

 

Moriarty hit some good points...

My view is as follows you have 3 choices...

Option 1, and the cheapest is cut the springs and use the stuff you have now.
Option 2, is stock spindles with a longer spring or higher rate or the extended cup option.
Option 3, have a set of custom control arms made, alot cheaper to do that lift spindles. This can correct suspension geometry issues caused by the two options above and is stronger than changing the spindle etc. I'm not saying what you have is plenty strong but anytime you modify spindles there is a chance for failure.

Backup option is raising the rear 1.5" and it will make you look the same look you're after, so maybe larger tires are in order....

 

I agree his first post is confusing.

 

That tire is shot.

 

I don’t find it confusing. On one hand it seems he’s tiered of the current set up, why else ask about other spindles. Then on the other, he just want’s it lower. It’s all there as @Moriarity pointed out. I just opted for replacing spindles because I don’t like modified spindles.

 

Hello,

As far as a lifted front end of a 58 Impala is concerned, is this thread going on this long without someone asking for a photo of the whole car or is it not a traditional HAMB approved car?

As the old saying goes, photos of the car or it did not happen... ha!

Jnaki

So, are there complete photos of a raised in front 58 Impala? It seems like the whole car idea does not fall into the 1965 or earlier HAMB rules topic facts. Or, is this topic during the 69-70+ time periods and only showing mechanical stuff?

 

^^^^^ The a-frames posted within op’s pic sure look like 58-64 unit’s. What’s the point?

 

Put stock spindles in and add extra body mount bushings.

 

Mark, technically he is lowering it….

 

Car is well within the date of manufacture thing, Guys were starting to Jack up cars to look like "Gassers" in the early 60's and in those days all bets were off as far as what model of ride you jacked up. Throw in, the jacked up look on the street started right after the Ramchargers ran High and mighty at the drags, Half the guys in the country were buying Pep boys out of spring spacer the week after that came out in Hot Rod magazine.

The spindle setup is a bit sketchy but survived a hit hard enough to bend the wheel and damage the tire in the process and the wheel is steel meaning no off topic billet. If you saw it a rod trot you would just think, Dang, a jacked up gasser look