Re: IML: front end height question of 1960 Imp

[randalpark@xxxxxxx]

The front is suppose to be slightly higher than the rear, but most 
folks don't leave it that way. Also, most owners install new springs 
and reverse the arch, which makes the rear end sit too high.

If you don't get any vibration, and the car feels right over the road, 
I'd leave it alone. You may raise it a couple of inches (and not 
compromise any of the other adjustments) to level it out. I am happy to 
measure both of my '60s the way you ask. The trouble is that the one 
that is running at this time is the Custom Sedan, and I know that it is 
non-standard. My dad replaced the rear leaf springs and had an extra 
leaf added. It also has the rear air shocks. I have the rear adjusted 
as low as it can be with the front raised to be in the correct position 
relative to the rear. It all looks extremely healthy with an excellent 
profile, but the measurements would be off from the standard car.

My '60 LeBaron is still stock height, but it isn't in a spot where I 
could take an accurate measurement. The '65 is going in the shop today 
for work on the emergency brake cables. The '60 LeBaron is next. If you 
haven't sorted this out by then, I will get good measurements for you 
once the LeBaron is moveable again

It really is difficult to find a car the correct height after all these 
years wear and tear, and the repairs that have been made to most of 
them. My shop has the correct measurements in their books, and I was 
thinking that information is also in the FSM.

Paul W.

-----Original Message-----
From: Rob van der Es <r.vdes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wed, 20 Jun 2007 11:16 pm
Subject: Re: IML: front end height question of 1960 Imp


Hi Paul, 
 
Thanks for your clear answer (as always)! 
 
You have made me think twice if the sitation has always been there, and 
the whole situ is just my imagination.. 
 
The car sure handles great, even on bumpy roads so I am sure nothing is 
broken, and since the car is still equal left and right it would be a 
very strange thing that both anchor bolts are at fault at the same 
time. 
 
It wouldn't drive and handle like it does, which is perfect, on bumpy 
roads if something mechanical was wrong I think. 
I only think the front end is lower then it was when it came from the 
factory and when I bought it 2 years ago. 
 
Maybe you and others on the list with a 60 can give me some 
measurements of their cars front bumper: when you look at the lowest 
point of the front bumper (where the license plate is attached), how 
far is it actually from the floor?? 
 
Then I will know for sure if my front end is really too low, maybe we 
should measure at some other specific points too (on a flat road 
ofcourse) to be sure if the height is correct or not. 
 
I must admit however that the rear is a little too high at the moment.. 
The previous CA owner of the car has fitted Monroe Max Air shocks 
(http://www.monroe.com/products/mp_detail.asp?cat=0&detail=Max%20Air ;
 
I have raised the pressure a little too much maybe, just to compensate 
the weight of the two propane (LPG) tanks that are fitted in the trunk. 
I don't have any vibrations btw at any speeds. 
 
So I hope that the 60 owners on the list can give me some good 
measurements at specific points to determine how far their front bumper 
is away from the floor. 
 
Thanks in advance, 
 
Robert 
 
 
----- Original Message ----- From: <randalpark@xxxxxxx> 
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 2:33 AM 
Subject: Re: IML: front end height question of 1960 Imp 
 
> Nothing about what you did to jack up the car should have effected 
the > height. If anything, it should have sat a little high at first, 
and then > settled once it sat for a while or was driven. 
>  
> I am concerned about this change, since these things don't happen by 
> themselves. If the front end is bottomed out, it is possible the the 
> Torsion Bar Anchors have broken. I wouldn't think they both do it at 
the > same time, but I guess anything is possible on a 47 year old car. 
The > anchors are at the cross member under the transmission. If you 
are able, > you should read the FSM Front Suspension section 
thoroughly. 
>  
> I had this experience with my '65 Imperial back in the late '70s, but 
it > only happened on one side. You should be able to tell if your 
front > suspension is working by driving the car and feeling how to 
reacts to dips > in the road way. I have no trouble myself determining 
this when it happens > to my own cars, but without driving your car, I 
can not diagnose this for > sure. 
>  
> Are you positive that the car wasn't at this level before? If the 
rear end > height is too high in relation to the front, you may also 
notice a > vibration at around 35 mph due to improper drive shaft 
angle. If there is > a vibration now and there wasn't before, then 
something definitely has > changed. 
>  
> The torsion bars are adjustable, but that can only be done if the 
anchors > are in good condition. 
>  
> Keep us posted on this Robert! 
>  
> Paul W. 
>  
>  
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: Rob van der Es <r.vdes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> Sent: Wed, 20 Jun 2007 1:55 pm 
> Subject: IML: front end height question of 1960 Imp 
>  
>  
>  
> Hello fellow Imperialists, 
>  
>  
> Apart from wrestling with some electric gremlins lately, I am a 
little 
> worried about one other thing. 
> When I looked closely to my car today I found that the front end was 
too 
> close to the floor. 
> It never drawed my attention before and I guess something must have 
> happend when the car was on jack stands for almost a week with the 
front 
> wheels free of the ground. 
>  
> Ofcourse I did not place the stands or the jack right under the 
torsion 
> bars, the stands where placed under the wide frame members (left and 
> right). 
>  
> I was working then on the driver side cilinderhead, trying to get rid 
of 
> some broken exhaust manifold studs. 
> When I succeeded this job, I lowered the car and was too happy to 
notice 
> the fact that the front end was lower then before. 
>  
> When I walked around the car today, I can not get rid of the idea 
that 
> something has happenend.. The car's front end is definetely a couple 
of 
> inches lower then before. 
>  
> What is happening here? And more important, how do I correct this > 
situation. 
>  
> I know there must be some adjusters but can I simply turn them to get 
the 
> front end up again? 
> Btw, the car's front end height is equal when you compare left and 
right, 
> it is just that the total front end (especially the lowest point of 
the 
> front bumper) is way too low to the ground. 
>  
> Does anyone has an idea here? 
>  
> THanks a lot, 
>  
> Robert 
>  
>  
>  
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