ideas for Lowering a 55 special !!!!!!!!

[55special]

O.K., So ive decided to go for the 50's cal custom look and am going to lower this tank. Now i've seen all the different airbag suspensions and people using mustang II clips. But what i want to do is go more 50's era lowering. Lets face it, we don't all have money tree's in our back yards. So what i'm thinking is either cutting the rear coils or heating the piss out of them. Any pro's or cons to either? How much of the coil should i cut to get a 2-3 inch drop? I'm also not sure on how to do the front. Would i need drop spindles because i don't think i can cut the front springs and keep geometry between all the suspension parts. Any and all ideas are always welcome>>>>>>>>>> Not looking for extreme comfort just a Kool Kustom buick.
thanx, and as always
later
chad

[DualQuad55]

Heating the springs would be the true cheapo '50s way to lower the car. You can lower it that way but it will raise hell with the forn suspension, the tires will lose most of their travel and thecamber will be way off. You will chew through a set of tires in a season.
Cutting the springs affects the stiffness of them-the more you cut off, the stiffer they will ride. (also true for heating but to a slightly lesser degree.)

The 'big trick' to heating the springs (not that I would condone such practice) is to have cinder blocks or the likes under the frame just higher than you want the car to sit. Then heat the springs and let the car settle onto the blocks. Once the springs are cold, jack the car up and remove the blocks. This helps eep the car even from side to side and helps avoid dropping the car too much at one time.

I recommend dripped spindles for the front and new springs of the right height for the rear... I am sure this is not what you will do though. Just hea one coil at a time until you get it where you want it. This will take more than one attempt for sure. BE CAREFUL under there, if the car is not supported it can come right down on you!!!!!

[55special]

Thanks for chiming in, I'm not totally against going the "right" way. Does anyone know of a manufacturer that makes drop spindles and and rear springs? I might have to wait till next fall if the cost is too high..
late chad

[55buicksuper]

:Smarty: Before you go deciding on cutting your coils or cutting read these threads from another rat rod forum. I too have been thinking of dropping my 55 Buick and 41 Chevy using those methods, I have had the heating one done to a 72 Chevy Impala I had when I was younger, remember driving that thing at over a 120mph riding on 13x7...thinking back I am so lucky I never killed myself doing that, especially with having heated springs under it, although it was fun to see sparks fly from under my car as I drove it on the Los Angeles freeways, cars behind me would part like the red sea :laugh:

http://207.234.140.202/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=1;t=992

http://207.234.140.202/cgi-bin/forum/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=1;t=988

If you find a place that sells drop spindles for your 55 buick let me know, because I want to drom my 55 Super Riv as well. :grin:

[DualQuad55]

I think Fatman Fabrications sells them, I think they sell for about $325-350.
Pick up a copy of Street Rodder and you will have many advertisers to check through.
The springs can be bought through a good parts store that will let you check their spring dimension book. Measure yours first and figure how much lower you want to go.

[century]

Fatman does sell dropped spindles.You have to bend the tie rods to make them work. If you are going to shorten your springs, cut about 3/4 of a coil off. Use a grinder or cut-off wheel. Heating them will work, but is the worst way to do it.

[rockymoto]

I've also got a 55 buick and I went the easy way out and heated the coils to drop the car 2 inches front and back.

I knew when I did it it was a temporary solution until I could afford to piece together an air ride system.

I've been driving the car daily, and I do mean daily....back and forth to work, to the store even to church occasionally for almost a year now. And while it looks good it doesn't float down the street like I'd like for it to. I haven't notice any increased wear on my tires but that's probably cause its not dropped too much.

I So far all I've been able to buy are the rear bags and a tank. I'm still shopping for the rest as time and money permits.

My advice to you is if you got the money to go all out, then do it up right and mustang II the front end put the car on air all the way around. If you want to keep the car looking more stock underneath then get the dropped spindles and buy shorter springs. If you want it done cheap and done tonight clip the coils and get on down the road.

[67Wildcat2post]

I knew somebody that cut his springs on his Ford, and it worked fine. He kinda felt bad about cutting new ones though later on when he needed new ones.

[55buicksuper]

How hard would it be to put the mustang II front clip on a 55? So, if you put the mustang II front end and the lowered spindles and air bags...damn that would be cool low wouldn't it. Then you might as well add disc brakes while you're at it. I've been thinking of going this route as well but like it was said before as time and money permits. I've been wanting headers for the 322 in my ride but it's like searching for the holy grail, so I've thinking of swapping it out for a 401 or 425 since they make a sh#t load of performance parts and headers for those. Also that would allow me to get a different trans without having to buy an adapter, which are pricey. The only thing is that my 322 at the moment runs fine with the occasional lifter noise. Anyone have any idea's for a rear end? I was thinking maybe a later model camaro rear end, anyone know what year would work for it? What mods would be neaded if I went with the bigger motors? Would the later trans bolt right in, meaning a trans out of a car with the 401 or 425. :Brow: