Does anyone know whether it is a better idea to cut or to heat the front coil springs of a car for the purpose of lowering? And more specifically, is there a universally accepted method to lowering a 1950 ford coupe? Maybe spacers at the lower Aframe? My hands are greasy as I type from removing old springs and I am a few minutes away from lowering my car.
Heating the spring actually ends up weakening it. If you;re trying not to spend any money and those are your 2 options. Cut a coil. Otherwise, Fairlane Dave started a thread on here about using Aerostar springs for a 3" drop. And they are only like $60 a pair. Do a search and find his thread.
Here ya go: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=260795 I am extremely happy with the Aerostar springs. Rides exactly like stock and sits just a shade less than 3" lower. O'Reilly had them in stock at their warehouse so I had them in my hands the next day. I know Autozone can get them, too, and Rockauto.com if you're not near an auto parts store. Cheap and good...my kinda combination!
If you cut the springs use a cut-off wheel not a torch BUT if you want to do it the TRADITIONAL way, remove the front spindles and then you either switch them side to side, or turn them upside down. I don't remember which anymore. Then jack the car up and place a jack stand under the end of the spindle, heat the vertical portion of the spindle and coax into correct alignment. Tex Smith did a little diddy on it years ago, it's in my magazine collection somewhere if any one if actually interested in the method. It does work well
I like the 3" drop on the shoebox. If you have wide whites, it usually cuts right at the top edge of the whitewall which makes it look even lower. It won't drag the ground, but it's a good mix of low and drivable. Plus, with the Aerostar springs, you could even cut an additional 1/2 coil to get another inch lower. I would install them as-is and let them settle for a few months before cutting them.
you have to do both flip and switch side to side and the rest is correct. details here http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6342&highlight=flip+shoebox
drop the lower plate an inch with a couple of pieces of square tube and some grade 8 bolts. Keeps the stock ride with a lower altitude....if thats not low enough for ya then cut a coil and still have a pretty good ride.
I found a photo of this A frame assembly from a car for sale on Ebay. Is this what you are describing?
Heat the coils that what I did on my 49 and it worked wonders. I kow befor people go nuts that it is bad to heat coils but you can drop your car in about ten minutes and I know guy that been running heated coils for over 20 years and have had no problems. Its a good way to go if your planning to update the suspension later anyway. But thats just my opinion. Because I also cut the coils on a 60 chevy truck and that worked out great to.
Heated coils will slowly collapse on themselves over time. I flipped the spindles [and moved them side to side] and cut a coil and a half. Used 14 inch wheels, cut the bumpstops down to about 1/4 inch and thought really low thoughts.....it rode fine but the crossmember would sometimes hit the ground on dips..
NEVER HEAT THE COILS!!!! #1 you don't have any control over the amount you heat. #2 it weakens the coils,makes them brittle #3 it's neanderthol !!! You can cut,if you don't cut more than 1 1/2 coils. Me and Bugger used some of those Aerostar coils on his 50 Merc. It works great and the ride is great too. They were about $65 bucks or something. Chicagoslacker,can't believe you would say that! Interesting....
Damn Rocky that thing was LOWWW. Would have loved to see that with 15" steels and wide whites to really do comparison on how low it was....but its hard to make 14's look low. I had them on a shoebox and the car looked a mile high no matter what I did.
What can I say I am a slacker and it was fast and easy. But I am updateing my front suspensionin a few weeks so I really did not care.
Since we are on the shoebox topic any one know were to get reproduction bumpers for them. Let me know
Another coil you can use is 2000,Chevy S 10 coils. You need to cut two coils off though. Makes it nice and firm,but still rides nice. I think I paid $40 at the auto salvage. Chicagoslacker. There's a guy here in Hunington Beach,Ca,called Papke. He has all kinds of Merc and shoebox parts. Check Papkeent.com 714-843-6969. Not sure about his prices though.
yes thats what I was talking about....I can't say how much drop you get for sure (it's been a long time since my buddy did his and now it's bagged) but I think it drops 2-3 inches...if not you can still cut a loop off.
You can call Hot Rod and Custom Supply (1-800-741-4687) They sell a bolt on kit that lowers it 2 1/2" and you keep the good ride and handling for $62.95.
After reading the post by Fairlane Dave I bought a pair of Aerostar springs. My '50 was lowered by both cutting and heating springs and then when the ride height was off on one side the former owner added those 1/4 turn spacers to bring it level. The ride is much better now with springs that have some travel.
i know this is just a shot in the dark, but does anyone possibly know if the aerostar springs will work on my '50 dodge??thanks.
The Jalopy Journal
