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Technical => Steering & Suspension => Topic started by: boze on 2010-10-19 11:54

Title: Lowering the Front End
Post by: boze on 2010-10-19 11:54
have just taken delivery of a restored '57 custom with the y-block. i had disc brakes and 2 1/2" dropped spindles installed from drop n stop. the car now has, but not enough attitude for me. i want to have cut 1 coil to drop it another 2". any comments or suggestions?
Title: Re: Lowering the Front End
Post by: RICH MUISE on 2010-10-19 21:03
I belive the general opinion is cutting the coil springs can change steering geometry. Others have said no, and some have used aerostar springs to lower. Have you considered getting additional rake with different tire/wheel combinations? If you check thru the older posts I think you'll find more info. The guys at Eaton Sprin in Detroit told me it was best to lower with dropped spindles rather than altering springs.
Title: Re: Lowering the Front End
Post by: shopratwoody on 2010-10-20 00:16
Been cutting coils since the 50's. One coil can be made up with
shims for alignment. I would cut a coil if it was mine.
Title: Re: Lowering the Front End
Post by: KidKourier on 2010-10-20 00:49
       Like Rich stated--larger tires in back or you could try air shocks in back--as you add air pressure the back goes up the front goes down! KID
Title: Re: Lowering the Front End
Post by: boze on 2010-10-20 10:40
shopratwoody,

love the way your ranchero sits.

like you, i have also chopped one coil with dropped spindles on various past cars ('55 chev with a 350, '57 ford custom 300 with a 351 ford motor. they both sat just right with good attitude) whenever i had one coil cut i never had a problem with re-alignment. eaton springs which has a 2" lowering spring, for the '57, also told me one cut coil on a stock spring will give me the same drop, 2 inches, and stiffen the spring much like their spring. he wouldn't cut more than 1 coil, though, from the stock spring and they don't sell a lowering spring with more than 2 inch drop.

so, shopratwoody, how have you got your ranchero sitting so good?

boze
Title: Re: Lowering the Front End
Post by: shopratwoody on 2010-10-20 11:32
Torino spindles, cut coils and blocks in the rear.
I have a bro that's been in Parker for about 40 yrs. On the river
of course. My Ranchero lived at the River for awhile.
Ron
Title: Re: Lowering the Front End
Post by: Frankenstein57 on 2010-10-20 19:23
I've read a number of posts about using aerostar springs, the guys were getting some lowering,  without sacrificing ride. I have a article bookmarked that I saw on the HAMB, but I can't figure out how to forward it. Mark
Title: Re: Lowering the Front End
Post by: tarheel57 on 2010-10-20 21:22
Shopratwoody your ranchero sits great.how much did you cut from your coils? Do most people cut full rounds or can you cut 1/2 round at a time? Tarheel57 :burnout:
Title: Re: Lowering the Front End
Post by: deucekoop on 2010-10-21 01:14
 Hey im in the process of lowering my retractable front end. Can you tell. me where to get the dropped spindles
Title: Re: Lowering the Front End
Post by: RICH MUISE on 2010-10-21 09:16
Great to see a lot of new guys posting this week...welcome to all of you. Dropped spindles..Fatman makes dropped spindles for the 57's..there a welded ass'y and a little pricey imho. Most of the guys, including myself have done the dropped spindles at the same time as disc brake conversion. The kit is available thru drop 'n stop and you won't find a whole lot of difference in price between fatman's spindles and drop 'n stops complete kit including rotors and calipers.They use reworked Granada spindles. Dave at drop 'n stop is real good at answering questions.I have a pic posted in the Gallery..in "under construction" of the setup. Rich
Title: Re: Lowering the Front End
Post by: boze on 2010-10-21 09:21
deucekoop,

go to drop n stop   www.dropnstop.com    or fatman fabrications for dropped spindles.
in either case you're going to have to install disc brakes as that's what the spindles require.
the discs can be bought from both.
Title: Re: Lowering the Front End
Post by: Zapato on 2011-02-05 15:06
Do a search for Bob Lewis bracket racing on his site he covers the 75-80 Granada/Monarch spindle swap and has a complete list of parts needed to complete. I effectively drops the front 2 inches and is a disc brake conversion with easy to source parts at the same time.

Zap- :unitedstates:

Found it     http://home.comcast.net/~robert.lewis23/disc.htm