I scrounged a piece of 2x2x3/16 wall square tubing out of the s**** dumpster at work. I plan on making a set of 2" lowering blocks from it. My question is should I cap the ends of the tube for support or leave them open? Thanks for the help. later shawn
Will look neater but not nessesary , what is though is to drill a hole on the top side to locate it on the leaf spring ...
Thanks guy's. I plan on cutting down a shouldered bolt so that a little bit sticks out the top to locate in the hole on my spring perches. I'm gonna put two heavy spot welds on each side of the bolt head inside the block to keep it there. Then drill a hole on the bottom to locate it on the spring pack. later shawn
You know you can buy a good set of aluminium 2" angled lowering blocks, w/u-bolts for like... less than $40 right?
get a long drill bit. (1/4") long enough to go through both top and bottom. that way they are located the same. on the top use an allen head bolt for your pin in the rearend. drill the top hole to fit the diam. of the bolt. just bolt it to the tubing. on the bottom drill the hole to fit the pin on the springs. very easy and works well. i have made several blocks like this for my stockcar.
Im down with the saftey part of things so I would say cap um. Like Insane said you can buy lowering blocks with bolts so cheap it might not even be worth the amount of time it takes you to make up the s**** ones. Just a though. Advance Auto, PepBoys, AutoZone they all sell um. -Jon
Sure you can go to one of the quality auto part stores and buy some top notch lowering blocks (which are more than likely made to the exacting standards of CHINA or another high end suppling country) or make your own....in your own shop or garage...here in the US. I say make your own! Oh yeah the original question....I would cap them for both strength and looks.
hahaha I thought about what I said after I said it lol Put my fist in my mouth on this one. I say build um also its about the quality not the price or time. -Jon
You will also need shackles, the last set I had made at a spring shop cost me $30.00 you can buy a packaged set for about the same price, so think about it.
I just got some u bolts last nite, Im going to grab 2 pieces of 2x6 tubing to do the same thing. Yeah yeah before all the safety professors chime in I know about scrub line and blah blah, this is just to scoot the *** end down while its sitting waiting to be finished and maybe get it around town for a few months. Stock ride height and the chop is making it look worse.
2x6 tubing?! You do realize there'll be no suspension travel at all with that much block, without some major frame work (C'ing, etc.)?
Yeah I'm going to do it, but just to move it around my street and MAAAYBE the in town cruise nite. Outside that Im too scared to drive w/ 6" blocks.
Yeah I know I could buy them, amatter of fact I looked into it down a Carlisle. I'm sticking with my factory narrow springs and the only thing thats available is just the blocks no u-bolts. Since I had this tubing and the s**** pieces to cap the ends, the only thing I need is new u-bolts. In my situation every buck I can save is better for me in the long run(at least that's what I keep tellin myself,haha). Thanks guy's. later shawn Sickboy, thanks for the tip that's even better than my lamo idea.
3/16" square tubing, no need to cap the ends, it will not collapse, for esthetic reasons, I would thou.
I built these for my buddies 53 Chevy. Used 1/4" 2x4 and 1/4 " plate to box the ends. Sectioned 1/4" out of the tubing to make it fit the narrow springs and had a local spring place make the U-bolts. Got my TIG learn on making these. Then my buddy Mike (Gl***bender) threw on some quick stripes.
That's a damn nice set o blocks you got there , now they beat the **** out of any store bought ones !
My buddy builds his own but with a twist...they double as the leaf spring pads. He just cuts the axle tube radius in the rectangular tubing and welds 'em to the axle tube...strong and simple.
The Jalopy Journal
