rear shackle interchange~stepdown

dougson
dougson Senior Contributor
edited November -1 in HUDSON
I am considering dropping the rear of my '54 a bit and the easiest way to go would be to shorten the rear shackle. Has anyone experimented with or found other hudson rear shackles that are a bit shorter than the stock stepdown?

Comments

  • hudsonguy
    hudsonguy Senior Contributor
    Best keep the shackles all Hudson, they're not a simple bracket like on some other makes.

    I think the easiest way to lower the back end is with lowering blocks between your springs and rear axle. I know others on the forum have done this successfully, so hopefully they'll chime in.
  • Richie
    Richie Senior Contributor
    I put lowering blocks on the 49 Super Six I used to have and took them off about a week later. The car rode really smooth and soft before the blocks were put in. The car rode so hard after the blocks were in I didn't like it. It looked great but I couldn't sacrifice the great original ride. Just my opinion. Richie.
  • russmaas
    russmaas Senior Contributor
    Shackles to the terraplanes were about 1 inch shorter I believe in length. Might work,I dont know. Takes the same bushings
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    I think the best way is to go to a good spring shop and have them modify the original leaves to get the amount of drop you want. It's the best way to get the lowered stance while retaining a decent ride quality.
  • TwinH
    TwinH Senior Contributor
    I put lowering blocks on my 49 and didn't notice any ride or handling

    degradation. I want to say they were 1 1/2" but they might have been 2".

    Anyway,with the wifes luggage in the trunk it easily doubles whatever the

    blocks are and still have never bottomed it out. Only drawback at all for me

    is having to remove the lower shock to get the axle to drop down enough

    to get the 235/75 tires on 15X6 wheels out of the fenderwell, and really

    its just not that big a deal.Granted I have not attempted this on the side

    of the road but with the wifes luggage mentioned earlier,I don't have room

    for a spare anyway.;)



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  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    dougson wrote:
    I am considering dropping the rear of my '54 a bit and the easiest way to go would be to shorten the rear shackle. Has anyone experimented with or found other hudson rear shackles that are a bit shorter than the stock stepdown?
    These people don't realize that they are throwing the drive line out of line. Take it on a long trip and there goes the universal joints. Every notice, the kids with raised Chevy's, sitting on the side of the road with the drive shaft on the ground. Leave that part factory setting. Walt.
  • TwinH
    TwinH Senior Contributor
    walt's garage-53 wrote:
    These people don't realize that they are throwing the drive line out of line. Take it on a long trip and there goes the universal joints. Every notice, the kids with raised Chevy's, sitting on the side of the road with the drive shaft on the ground. Leave that part factory setting. Walt.





    See,there you go Walt, calling me out for my jacked-up Chevy. I am sure I

    must have worked for you in my youth because this lecture sounds so familiar.

    At least you could have given me and my driveshaft a ride back to town. Do

    you realize how embarrassing it was having to hike all the way with said

    driveshaft slung over my shoulder?



    Here's proof that with enough tools and junk in the back it wasn't really

    all that bad.

    scan-10.jpg





    Walt, I hope you realize that I'm just having some fun with you and very

    much value your knowledge and experience. Its what makes this board so

    great and will hopefully guide me to bring my recently acquired 30 Essex

    Coupe back to an acceptable FACTORY condition. Thanks, Jeff Lynn
  • dougson
    dougson Senior Contributor
    When I built my '56 Corvette, I removed about 1/2" from each shackle (the Corvette used a two piece style on either side of the spring eye) and it actually decreased the angle of the drive shaft, which ordinarilly is at a pretty steep angle. I would think that with the two piece drive shaft, dropping the rear a bit would decrease the angle at the center bearing a bit, especially considering that these cars tended to nose down with all the iron in the front end. I'll look into the terreplane shackle.
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    I lowered my 49 by making 1" lowering blocks out of a piece of 1"bar stock. Very simple AND you can use the stock U bolts. All you have to do, is loosen the nuts and slide the bar in. The ride is no different and nothing is compromised. It leveled the car no more than having a couple of adults in the back seat. It was perfectly level until I replaced the front springs, now it is slightly lower, but not a tail dragger either..
  • faustmb
    faustmb Senior Contributor
    I put lowering blocks in a few years ago. I think they are 2". The ride quality did go down, especially when loaded with people and luggage. I plan to go to a 1" block, it's just low on the priority list. Pretty easy to do, the kit I bought included blocks and longer U bolts for around $20.
  • bob ward
    bob ward Senior Contributor
    dougson wrote:
    I am considering dropping the rear of my '54 a bit and the easiest way to go would be to shorten the rear shackle. Has anyone experimented with or found other hudson rear shackles that are a bit shorter than the stock stepdown?



    I've just stuck my head under the rear of my 53 Hornet, no one in the car, not too much junk in the boot (trunk), and there is 1 1/4" to 1 1/2" clearance from the top of the spring eye to the underside of the chassis rail.



    That clearance will decrease when the car is loaded and/or as it goes over bumps.



    Sooo, 1" shorter shackles will lower the car by 1/2" and let your spring ends thump on the underside of the chassis.
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    From a shade tree mechanics point of view...The spring becomes longer as it compresses. That is one of the functions of the shackle..Shortening the spring shackle would increase the spring rate..In fact would likely cause a big increase towards the end of it's limited travel. Most likely would result in a harsh ride and perhaps some damaged springs. I betcha Ole Racer can tell us all about it. I always raced coil spring cars, so I can't speak first hand.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    dougson wrote:
    I am considering dropping the rear of my '54 a bit and the easiest way to go would be to shorten the rear shackle. Has anyone experimented with or found other hudson rear shackles that are a bit shorter than the stock stepdown?
    The rear drive shaft moves in and out as the rear bounces. Lower the rear and you remove some travel area and center drive shaft knocks together. You can do as you wish, but for me and my 53, I'll leave the rear as is. With my style of traveling, lowered rear, I would of had to replace universals 10 times. I have 130,000 miles on them and still quiet, no clang when put in gear. Walt.
  • dougson
    dougson Senior Contributor
    Thanks for input all. Maybe I will go with a thin block (1/2"), maybe not.
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