|
|
Expert
Posts: 2932
   
Location: Lemoore CA | I finally got some proper tires on my 57. I think they look pretty good, but, although they are the reccomended size, I feel they have raised the cars ride height by too much. If someone dosen't buy the car soon, my next project will be to lower it about 2 and a half inches. Any suggestions on the best way to do that?
 (dodge white tire 001.jpg)
 (dodge white tire 002.jpg)
 (dodge white tire 003.jpg)
 (dodge white tire 006.jpg)
 (dodge white tire 013.jpg)
Attachments
----------------
 dodge white tire 001.jpg (49KB - 87 downloads)
dodge white tire 002.jpg (46KB - 88 downloads)
dodge white tire 003.jpg (43KB - 90 downloads)
dodge white tire 006.jpg (56KB - 88 downloads)
dodge white tire 013.jpg (51KB - 92 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3577
Location: Blythewood, SC | Torsion bar adjustment in the front. You can use lowering blocks in the rear, but it looks to me like the front is the only thing that's off. |
|
| |
|
Location: Parts Unknown | OK, ..... what are those tail light bezels off of ???? ! |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1918
Location: Hell's Outhouse - a.k.a. Buckeye, Arizona | Wow!
5859, I do believe that you were being modest as hell when you described this car to me a few weeks ago - Nice looker!!!
Sitting kind of high though, isn't she? |
|
| |
|
| James,
Nice 57!! Cranking down the torsion bars to lower it isn't a big deal at all, just realize it will mess up your alignment and will need realigned. Your rear springs must be in very good shape, have they been replaced? I agree with Brian, I'd try adjusting the front first, it's funny sometimes how that can seem to bring the whole car down. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 2932
Location: Lemoore CA | OK, I will start with the front, from what I have read here the best way to get them even is to pick a spot on the body, and measure to the ground on each side, and then crank them down until they are even and at the desired height? If that's wrong feel free to correct me, I would like to do it right the first time. Doctor D, I would very much like to know what those bezels came off of myself. They were in place when I bought the car. I believe they are using the stock Dodge tailight lenses, and they look like they have been made for the car. That leads me to believe maybe an aftrmarket source like JC Whitney? At first I thought Pontiac, but have since looked at some of those and found they are differen't. Anyone have any thoughts as to what they might have come off of? |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 5139
Location: cornpatch county, Southwest IOA | When you crank the torsion bars down, every couple of turns, I would bounce the front of the car so that nothing in the suspention-tires is "binding" therefor showing you the changed ride heigth, befor further adjustment.............................MO
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 3577
Location: Blythewood, SC | I agree with Steve.
The FSM will tell you the correct factory ride height. it is measured from the lower control arm bushing to the ground. I would start by setting the car at that height and going from there. I don't have a Dodge FSM, but I will be glad to give you the Plymouth specs. |
|
| |
|
Expert 5K+
Posts: 7425
Location: northern germany | wow, great car, great tires and wheels (wheelcovers)!!! i realy like the tailight bezels too. looks better than stock, imo.
when cranking down the t bars the weight should be off the front wheels, also clean/oil the exposed threads. and, IMPORTANT, after each completed turn of the t bar bolt turn it back 1/2 turn.
Edited by 1960fury 2007-08-30 7:36 AM
|
|
| |
|
Veteran
Posts: 208
Location: Fargo, ND | I have had my '65 Polara at various heights over the years. At one point I had two-inch lowering blocks in the rear as well as turning down the torsion bars. When my son messes with torsion bars he just puts the impact wrench on and starts spinning them up or down. I'm a little more picky. I turn them up or down by hand and I count each turn of the wrench and do both sides the same number of times. Either way works. I have never had a handling or tire wear problem. The lower you go however, the less shock travel you have and the ride gets harsher. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 709
Location: Poznan, Poland, Europe | Ablue and white 4 door hardtop...perfection on wheels and 8th wonder of the world :D |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 2932
Location: Lemoore CA | Thanks everyone for the nice comments, and the direction on the lowering. |
|
| |
|
Location: Parts Unknown | Back when I did more of this stuff, this is how I did it ....
I typically had the car in the air to crank the T-bars, as even I cannot easily squeeze under a car like this, but I would give the nut a good ten turns and drop it down to see where it sat. Didn't like it ? Jack it up and give a few twirls accordingly. Bounce the nose to get it to find its natural stance. This operation WILL throw your camber out and given the price of correct wide whites, a trip to the alignment rack will be in order shortly.
Putting in lowering blocks is a bit more involved, but really no great shakes. Back in the day, I pulled these blocks out of many a parts car and still have a box of them in various thicknesses. They can still be purchased through auto parts stores.
A survey of existing conditions is the first order of business. If you have enough threaded shank beyond the U-bolt nuts to allow the addition of the desired block size, then all is a go. If not, new U-bolts will be needed. Again, a good parts store will have these.
Raise the rear end and place car on stands. Loosen all nuts on the U-bolts. Advisable to lube all threads prior to work. With U-bolts loosened, jack rear end (not REAR OF CAR) to separate rear end from springs. Once clear, locate blocks on centering pins and carefully lower rear end back down to mate with pins on blocks. Once mated, cinch to desired torque and you are off to the rodeo. Just that easy. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 1172
Location: bradenton florida | how about a good close up of the tail lights so we can try to figure what they came off of. |
|
| |
|
Location: Parts Unknown | They kinda look like senior model 55-56 Pontiac bezels and / or tail lights. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 2932
Location: Lemoore CA | I thought Pontiac too when I first saw them, I used to have a 56, but going back and looking at close up pictures of Pontiac tailights, they are nothing like these. The ones on my Dodge appear to use stock Dodge tailight lenses. I would post some close up pictures, but my camera is on the blink, if I get another one, I will try to post pictures. |
|
| |
Finally got some proper tires on my 57 but...........
