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Lowering my '55 Torsion bar question.

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Radman, May 28, 2004.

  1. Radman
    Joined: May 22, 2004
    Posts: 176

    Radman
    Member

    This is gonna sound stupid. [​IMG]

    My '55 Plymouth has a '76 Volare front clip. I want to lower the front end as far as possible. I'm just not sure of a couple things.

    1. How? I mean do you just turn a bolt and it lowers?
    2. Can you go to low? Other than wheels hitting is there possibility of damaging anything?
     
  2. CruZer
    Joined: Jan 24, 2003
    Posts: 1,934

    CruZer
    Member

    That's how you do it !!! They won't break by going too low.
    Cranking them up.... now that's a different story.
    It's what I always liked about owning MOPAR's in my youth. G***er stance one day, slammed the next !!!!
     
  3. DrJ
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 9,419

    DrJ
    Member

    Every time you change the ride height you ****** up the alignment so once you decide where you want to leave it, get it realigned (or realign it yourself if you have the equipment,) at that height.
     
  4. Radman
    Joined: May 22, 2004
    Posts: 176

    Radman
    Member

  5. luckystiff
    Joined: Mar 20, 2002
    Posts: 1,465

    luckystiff
    Member

    another good way to get low is to use fatman or someone else's dropped spindles for the volare clip. you can get all the drop you want from the torsion bars but your ride will suffer if you go to low. to bad the clip is already there because there is actually supposedly a way to do the clip higher which sits the front end about 3 inchs lower to start with. gonna put a volare clip in my wifes '55 plymouth some day but i got i tore apart for paint right now. probably a winter project will be volare clip and 318 for drivability sake. the little 260 was rebuilt about 500 miles ago and it just hasn't been driven in the 6 years since other than when i drove it home 5 miles about 8 months ago. if you want low and ride spindles will be your answer...ken....
     
  6. 53choptop
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 1,205

    53choptop
    Member

    I've been seriously thinking about getting the spindles, ($400+) my 53 f100 has a volare and it does drive like **** when lowered too much, but sure looks nice. Had to make serious camber adjustments.

    If I were to do it again I would have gone with a camaro.

    Anyone have a 76-80 camaro laying around in the back yeard they are trying to get rid of... [​IMG]

    Don't get me wrong your the voalre set up is nice, but lowering it too much has its drawbacks.
     
  7. bradberry00
    Joined: Feb 5, 2003
    Posts: 683

    bradberry00
    Member

    I have a 70's torsion bar setup in my f-100....cranked it low and it rides like ****, but it looks cool and that is all that matters!....sometimes you have to make sacrafices for looking cool...
     
  8. Radman
    Joined: May 22, 2004
    Posts: 176

    Radman
    Member

    Ha! Lowered 'em all the way down. It dropped the front end so I could not get the jack out!!! Took her for a spin and I'm pretty sure the shocks are doing all the work as the ride was horrible! LOL! Guess I'll start shopping for Volare drop spindles!!!!

    BTW, when I crank 'em back up do I just "eyeball" leveling the front end?
     
  9. DrJ
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 9,419

    DrJ
    Member

    [ QUOTE ]

    BTW, when I crank 'em back up do I just "eyeball" leveling the front end?

    [/ QUOTE ]

    Within 1/8" of each other is close enough. measure from the ground to some point on the frame that's the same on both sides or from the top of the wheel well opening.
    Important!
    Make sure you have the tire pressures the same from side to side, (and the same size tires) front & rear, and the ground is level or it'll be WAY off.
     
  10. daddylama
    Joined: Feb 20, 2002
    Posts: 928

    daddylama
    Member

    might wanna look into removing the rubber mounts between the K-member and the clip...
    Seem to remember it would bring the front down another inch or so, without the k-member being any closer to the ground.
    I put about 1500 miles on it with it about 2 1/2" lower than you got it... not too bad. Has a TON of room to go in the back...
    Post pics of it soon... starting to miss it [​IMG]
     
  11. Radman
    Joined: May 22, 2004
    Posts: 176

    Radman
    Member

    I put 3" lowering blocks in today and cranked the torsion bars down to level the front with the back. Now the exhaust needs to be pulled up out of the way. I should have the steelies on in a week or so. Still no offers on the wheels, hmmm...I wonder why! [​IMG]
     

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  12. Radman
    Joined: May 22, 2004
    Posts: 176

    Radman
    Member

    Another shot.
     

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  13. CURIOUS RASH
    Joined: Jun 2, 2002
    Posts: 9,635

    CURIOUS RASH
    Classified's Moderator

    <font color="green">A couple thoughts...

    Those wheels may be worth more if you take them to the s**** yard. Just keep watching the price of aluminum. [​IMG]

    Also, if you do remove the rubber between the K-member and the clip, it will drop the front end an inch plus.

    It will also raise the engine proportionally as the engine sits on the k- memeber.

    Just something to watch for in case your fan will hit the shroud or whatever other clearance issues you may have there.

    RASHY </font>
     
  14. Radman
    Joined: May 22, 2004
    Posts: 176

    Radman
    Member

    [ QUOTE ]
    <font color="green">A couple thoughts...

    Those wheels may be worth more if you take them to the s**** yard. Just keep watching the price of aluminum. [​IMG]

    RASHY </font>

    [/ QUOTE ]


    LOL! I'm sure I'll be rolling them behind the shop where they will stay until some unsuspecting (drunk) friend needs some cool mods! God he's gonna hate me when he sobers up! [​IMG]
     

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  15. I hear that.
    I have a set of Cragar Mach-8's that I ran in the 80's that have been gathering dust for 15 years.
    When is the 80's Nostalgia Fad going to hit cars?
     
  16. CURIOUS RASH
    Joined: Jun 2, 2002
    Posts: 9,635

    CURIOUS RASH
    Classified's Moderator

    [ QUOTE ]
    I hear that.
    I have a set of Cragar Mach-8's that I ran in the 80's that have been gathering dust for 15 years.
    When is the 80's Nostalgia Fad going to hit cars?

    [/ QUOTE ] <font color="green">Weel, the clothes and hair are coming back upper East, ***uming it ever went away.

    Maybe someone up there?

    Other than that, you may have another 15-20 to wait.

    RASHY </font>
     
  17. I figure I'll make them into stools.
     

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