This may seem like a dumb question to you California boys, but how do you guys handle pot holes, speed bumps and other road hazards with permanetly lowered cars (cut springs, etc.)? I'm fixin' to lower my 59 Chevy which should see year-round driver duty IN CHICAGO which is full of nasty potholes and HUGE speedbumps. That car is long, and is really long behind the rear wheels with the gas tank hanging out back there. Any tricks? I was thinking of welding some swivel wheels to the rear of the frame where you couldn't really save them... but might help save the body, bumper and chrome.
The casters on the rear frame ends are an old school trick and will deffinetly help you coming and going out of driveways. Pot holes...don't drive into 'em. As far as how to get over speed bumps...drive over 'em sideways if you have to, or just find alternate routs or park outside the parking lot and walk to where it is ya' got to go. Hey no one said being cool was easy
just be alert and careful but be prepared to drag the **** out it. Doesn't hurt much as long as the frame is below the rocker panels and there is nothing critical that can be damaged. Dont hit potholes and drive over the speed bumps and into driveways on an angle.
ok, that's what i was thinking. Not sure about the frame and rockers, but probably ok. The speedbumps in my neighborhood are what concern me. They're WIDE, and teh street is so narrow that I wouldn't be able to get the 59 at much of an angle. Oh well, I guess I'll be avoiding that street!
Put some airshocks with an onboard compressor for speedbumps and driveways. Pretty cheap solution. Usually, the front is not a problem, just make sure nothing (exhaust, etc) is below the framerails and you're golden.
as they like to say in Cal. if you cant drag it your a ***got. most of those neighborhood bumps are not that bad. I drag my wagon alot and no issues frames are strong and it does not take much of any angle to keep the rear qtrs from touching
I'm going to be air-bagging my Riviera for just those reasons.... I can't go over 65 on the highway without feeling my car is going to fall apart.... s****e, scraaape, s****e, BAM..!!! then I have to look in the rear-view to make sure I didn't rip open the oil pan or ******.... plus I've had to repair my exhaust like 7 or 8 times.... (I've pretty much memorized the roads and driveways and speedbumps around town though....) But damn, I sure look good goin down the road..!!! hahahaha
[ QUOTE ] Two words-Air Bags. [/ QUOTE ] Drive it the way you want it to look all the time NOT lowering it at car shows or cruises !!! Nothing cooling than pulling in and s****ping the **** out it than while you are standin around talking here it comes spisssssssssssss someones bagged and look the other way !!!!
my 60 didn't have airbags at the time. I had 2 coils cut and 3" lowering blocks. I just went over speed bumps sideways. I'm sure your 59 is not much longer than mine.
I had planned for years on using airbags on the 47,but the more I looked at old photos and stuff here I decided that I could live without the h***le and problems of bagging it.I want a lead sled look not a lowrider look. And out here there aren't that many speed bumps to worry about,but I hope to find that magic hiegth of drivability and great looks.
i'm gonna be puttin some lowering blocks on the chevy soon..the front end is a mustang II so it sits pretty low..i just drive the hell out of it..if it's a speed bump,SLOW THE HELL DOWN,if it's a pothole,hold on!that's about the best advice i can give creepy
My advice is if you dont like draggin it then why the hell did u wanna lower it? i like it when my truck drags the club plaque and rear pan all the time it's marks are badges of umm i guess honor hehe.
Talking to a guy who used to work for Butch Bunn one day,and the how low can you go subject came up.He told me about a guy with a late 50s Mopar in their area who ran his car low as hell,but had put 1/4 and 3/8 plate under it..Guess he used countersunk bolts Best part was he drove it almost on the ground,looked good,and didn't give a **** what he ran over.Sounded good to me.If you use casters on the corners,don't use cheap,flimsy ****,look for 3" or so real steel wheels,and hide 'em so you can't see too much of them.
.........the Studebaker would drag it's "belly" over larger speed bunps. Going over one very slowly one day, I heard a noise, saw steam and smelled coolant. Seems the heater core is under the p***enger seat and the hoses running to it had worn through. Screwdriver and a pocket knife and I by-p***ed the heater core and was back on the road. Of course........I didn't have heat for a couple winters......
Drive at angles over speed bumps, and into/out of driveways. You gotta pay attention to the road a little more. As was already mentioned, make sure you don't have anything hanging below the frame. My exhaust is run along the inside of the frame. I don't have exhaust hangers, the brackets are welded onto the mufflers. Oh, and don't be in a hurry if you think you might drag. My car is 17' long, you'll get familiar with where you can and can't go. AND if you park next to a curb, make sure your p***enger knows to not open the door into it!! ~Scott
[ QUOTE ] Dirty2, I didnt understand a word you just wrote.... [/ QUOTE ] You must have bags !!! If you want the look, drive it that way, dont just bag it to look cool in front of people .
Hell where I live they speed bumped the whole street.And my 50 shoebox is way low.But it goes over them just fine with two heavy guys in it .We tested it at speed down the one street that has the bumps at about 25to30mph over the bumps.And it did good.If you can't fly low all the time than don't fly at all .hahahaha
Dirty2... is that your 56 Wagon? That car is killer! Actually, I dig the sedan, too. I am not sure I understand the whole dragging concept. Is it fun to damage frame rails? It makes sense to put plates on it if you're into dragging, but why is it fun to drag your car on the ground? Sorry for the confusion... Alec.
my 50 caddy is set low enough that if i take a sharp left hand turn the lake pipe will drag.(acts like a anti sway bar) cruising around at lead east all the gold chainers where cryng as i would drag the pipes with 7 people i9n the car. i found it funny
The only bags I can afford of the quarter variety and I can't even get away with that now... Could someone do some tech on installing plates? I imagine it would be different than brush guards on 4x4's-am I wrong?
[ QUOTE ] Dirty2... is that your 56 Wagon? That car is killer! Actually, I dig the sedan, too. I am not sure I understand the whole dragging concept. Is it fun to damage frame rails? It makes sense to put plates on it if you're into dragging, but why is it fun to drag your car on the ground? Sorry for the confusion... Alec. [/ QUOTE ] Yea they are both my cars. Its not about tearing you car up , its just an anti bag thing !! ( I really cant afford bags or the h***els) Its like saying " If you ever see my car on a trailer call 911 some one stole it"
[ QUOTE ] Put some airshocks with an onboard compressor for speedbumps and driveways. Pretty cheap solution. Usually, the front is not a problem, just make sure nothing (exhaust, etc) is below the framerails and you're golden. [/ QUOTE ] I plan on doing the airshock thing with my own ride..I have had people tell me its not such a great ride with them, but otherwise I wont be able to get my my driveway
On my cars, I weld or bolt a skidplate between the front and center crossmembers to protect the oil pan and trans. Anything that could get caught(fuel and brake lines, etc.) should be secured as high as possible, and well out of the way of a tree branch, or other road debris. Anything that can get punctured should be armored. Watch where you drive. You'll get so used to avioding problems in the road, you'll start doing it in every vehicle you drive. -Jeff
[ QUOTE ] my 50 caddy is set low enough that if i take a sharp left hand turn the lake pipe will drag.(acts like a anti sway bar) cruising around at lead east all the gold chainers where cryng as i would drag the pipes with 7 people i9n the car. i found it funny [/ QUOTE ] You ever had a flat tire when driving along at speed in your caddy? Do you reckon the gold chainers will laugh or cry if you rip off your sidepipes, because the car just dropped 4 inches on one corner?
The fact is: REAL LOWERED CARS DON'T HAVE AIR BAGS OR HYDRAULICS! There's nothing like the feeling of your *** hole puckering up as you approach a bump in the road at 65 MPH.
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