Re: IML: front end height question of 1960 Imp

["JIM LORENZEN" <jdlpdx@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Robert -

 

Here at long last are the measurements from my '60.  I took three: 2 measurements from under the bumper to the floor at a point from the center of each Parking Light. - and one from the under the center of the bumper to the floor behind the liscense plate. What I got was 12 inches (30.5 cm?) from bottom of bumper to floor at the center of the parking light on both the left and right sides and 11 3/8 (28.9 cm?) from the bottom of the bumper to the floor at the center point of the bumper behind the liscense plate.

Of course these are not what one would find in the FSM and the car is 47 years old and the two of us survived a head on collision together (the car better than me as it was the last time I didn't wear a seat belt) so I don't claim that these are correct. 

BUT, the way I read your request is that you wanted to get an average bumper height of  47 year old Imperials.  And I'll toss this in for free.  I've had this car since it was 10 years old and at these measurements the car still looks  right; a little higher in front than in back - like it's getting ready to "take off" even when it's standing still - and how your car looked  is what prompted your request in the first place.  Right?

Enjoy your Imperial -

 

Jim L. in OR
    '60 Crown 4dr Southampton
    '62 Crown 4dr Southampton

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: "Rob van der Es" <r.vdes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 12:16 AM

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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> 
> 
> 
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