I recently bought a 4" lowering spring kit for the rear of my 53 Bel Air Hardtop to replace the blocks and stock leafs. The front is lowered with springs and drop spindles. My concern is that the car won't sit much lower with the 4" drop leaves and I'm going to end up having to still run a block and risk it riding like hell. Originally I wanted to bag the car front and back, but it's too damn solid and complete a 53 to cut up the trunk and rear frame section. Has anyone run a 4" drop leaf on a 53-54? Wouldn't mind seeing that either. I've heard of people getting nice results with a 2 link air ride setup without cutting, but haven't seen too many cars with this setup. Jimenez Bros. seems to be the go to 2 link 'kit'. Just curious what else is out there and how low others have gotten without a step notch. I'm okay with a lil c notch in the frame. I just don't want to cut any of my sheetmetal. Just trying to figure out whether to sell this Jamco suspension and start putting together the parts I need for air or just running a static drop and calling it a day.
there are some pics on the jimenez bros website as well as an article in R&C and i think there are even some pics on here somewhere. another no cut option is the TCI bolt in 4 link. I ran de-arched springs with blocks in my 52 and it rode just fine.
Hey, what happened to the Jimenez Bros website? www.jimenezbroscustoms.com They didn't fold, did they? I was thinking about that 2- link setup too. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Usually what make cars ride "like hell" is the lack of suspension travel. If you have only a couple of inches before the rear bottoms out on the frame it wont matter what type of suspension you are running. You can stiffen up the spring rate but the actual travel will be the same.
I've seen a lot of people praising de-arching. Kind of wish I had just done that instead of buying lowered springs. Probably could have manipulated that set up more than a 'take what they give you' kit. I tried to call them a few times. Nobody ever answers the phone, but the machine still says JBC Customs. I assume they're just busy working! Very true Fierro. I'll likely do a lil C notch regardless of which direction I take the suspension.
those 4" springs and a 2" block will get the rear of the car sitting pretty depending on your definition of pretty. and it should ride just fine. this is how mine sat with springs and blocks out back spindles and springs up front. GassersGarage owns it now and he thinks it rides just fine.
Just checked again and the site is back up! Looks like it was just down for a re-design. Whew! Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Any new updates on people running 2-links? I'm thinking of going that route with caprice coil springs and a gambino notch instead of bags. If someone's using leaves, wouldn't a pipe style c-notch be a bad idea? Taking half of the vertical wall of the frame out would give you half the strength wouldn't it? The gambino notch keeps the vertical wall the same through the entire bend so strength is maintained (depending on who welds it of course ).
A "c" notch on a top hat frame will only get you about 1" or so more clearance, you really have to do a step notch . I have 3" posie springs and 2 3/4 blocks( 3" slightly cut down to not go below scrub line) . Car has a gambino step notch and the top of the rear wheel well sits about 18 1/2" from grade.
How are you liking the posies springs? Did you have to do anything to the rear seat area or the trans. tunnel to ride that low?
I'd like to see some as well, as I have a wagon and don't want to cut into the rear cargo area. I have it as low as I feel comfortable with now and I'd like it lower. A two link may be just what the doctor ordered.
Posie springs ride great, I did have to raise part of the trunk floor to make room for the top of the rear . I didn't have to mess with the trans tunnel or rear seat .
I also just remembered that I cut down the gambino notch about 1 1/2" in height because I knew I was never going to bag the car and wanted to raise the floor as little as possible.
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