Any one have Tips on lowering my stock 48 super six sedan
I just put a set of new Coker white wall bias ply tires on my 48' super six sedan. They look great but now my car sits over 10" off the ground. It looks like a 4x4! I was thinking of putting lowering blocks in the rear and shaving a couple of inches from the front springs but I am not sure if this is the way to go. Will this really stiffen the ride too much? Any kits available? Any advice? Thank you for your time, Finn
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Comments
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There is no real room to lower the front with stock suspension, there is less than 3 inches of travel to work with.If you try to lower front you will wind up riding on the a arm snubbers. They could be trimmed slightly but you will wind up with less travel. What size tires did Coker sell you? For bias they should be no bigger than 6.50 X 15. Are they mounted on stock 4 1/2 inch wide wheels? Lou Cote0
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I'm sorry to disagree, but the proper tire size for the '48 Super & Commodore series was 7:10 x 15
53jetman
Jerry0 -
53jetman wrote:I'm sorry to disagree, but the proper tire size for the '48 Super & Commodore series was 7:10 x 15
53jetman
Jerry
That's the correct standard size. Back in the sixties, when I drove Hudsons as a teenager, I frequently gave the 7:10s to my brother (Nash driver) and scrounged up 7:60s for myself. The 7:60x15 was the optional tire size for Husdons and I think they looked a lot better on the more substantial tire. Anyway, my point here is to say that even with a tire that was bigger than 7:10, the Hudson sat at a nominal height. Perhaps you've had some dreadfully low profile tires on your Hudson prior to now and are just seeing it at the correct height for the first time. Where are you measuring the 10"?0 -
Thanks for the input. When I bought the car it had the original wheels wrapped in 3 different radial tires. It's stance looked really good, it rode really bad. Now it rides great. I'm not sure which size Cokers I have at this moment but I believe they measured 28.5 inches in diameter. I measured the car sitting 10.5 " off the ground below the post where the ront and rear door meet. I will go out and get the tire size and post when I get back home in a few days. Also I have heard of a company that makes a replacement spring that will be 2" shorter but wont coil bind or create a really rough ride. If anyone has heard of or used this company please let me know. Thanks, Finn0
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Finn Magelssen wrote:
I went 4 link in the rear,C'd the frame and did a front clip with drop spindles and air ride suspension.It'll sit on the ground or ride 6" in the air.You can see it in my last posting.I just put a set of new Coker white wall bias ply tires on my 48' super six sedan. They look great but now my car sits over 10" off the ground. It looks like a 4x4! I was thinking of putting lowering blocks in the rear and shaving a couple of inches from the front springs but I am not sure if this is the way to go. Will this really stiffen the ride too much? Any kits available? Any advice? Thank you for your time, Finn0 -
Finn Magelssen wrote:Thanks for the input. When I bought the car it had the original wheels wrapped in 3 different radial tires. It's stance looked really good, it rode really bad. Now it rides great. I'm not sure which size Cokers I have at this moment but I believe they measured 28.5 inches in diameter. I measured the car sitting 10.5 " off the ground below the post where the ront and rear door meet. I will go out and get the tire size and post when I get back home in a few days. Also I have heard of a company that makes a replacement spring that will be 2" shorter but wont coil bind or create a really rough ride. If anyone has heard of or used this company please let me know. Thanks, Finn
Finn,
I thinka a bias ply tire is always going to have a higher profile because of the design and manufacture of the tire compared to a radial which flexes more and has a lower overall profile.
As far as the front springs go - any spring manufacturer should be able to make you an appropriate set of springs that have a shorter profile but near the same spring rate and handling characteristics - same could be said for the rear - leaf springs which could be re-arched or new built with a lower arch but similar spring rate.
But 1-1/2 " blocks in the rear will work - my advice wouldn't be to go any lower than that or you'll need an adjustable panhard bar
May I ask why you chose the bias ply over radials for your new whitewalls?0 -
Just put 1-1/2" blocks on mine this summer. Between these and the wifes
luggage:rolleyes: it really brought it down nice. I'd love to tell you that there
was NO adverse affects but the truth is its really tight now getting the rear
wheels off. Not a biggie,if I remove the shocks on the bottom I have plenty of room. This is probably caused by the wider rims(15x6) that the PO had made with
stock Hudson centers. Still the same great riding/driving car it ever was,just
a nicer stance now. Coker Classics,P235/75R15 1998 vintage.
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I cut 1 1/4 coil out of the front springs to lower my 52 sedan. I am at work and don't have a picture on this computer to post, but you can go to this link
http://chaosgraphics.smugmug.com/gallery/2814757#151272881
and see how the stance looks. The rear is at stock height in this picture. It does not ride as smooth as before, but I prefer the stance over a soft ride, besides, I already had a 4x4! (Tires are 215R15 front, 225R15 rear.)
Terry0 -
Thanks, The tires on my 48 are 7.10 x 15. Are there pre fabbed lowering blocks for the rear? Who makes them. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Finn0
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Finn,
Go to PEP Boys or Auto Zone or any of your national auto supplies and get the length you want. A 2" drop is normal though and doesn't cause any clearance problems. The only thing you will have to be sure of is the width of the axle since there are 2 different widths of U-bolts. That's easy enough! Just get under there and measure the width at the proper tie down area. My '51 Hudson has had both Companies' lowering blocks under it.
Peace,
Chaz0 -
I made my own 1" blocks from a piece of 1" flat bar. Used the stock U Bolts it makes my 49 sit level. It was very easy to do and still doesn't interfere with changeing the rear tires. I never did like a "rake" on a car, unless it was used for drags.
Dave w (FL)0 -
I installed 2" blocks in mine, but I think 1" would be best. 2" bottoms out occasionally on steep drives. I plan on swapping mine out.0
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right now im running 3" blocks with 2 leafs removed.. 4 link should be in this month..
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IF you want new springs you should be able to get them from Detroit Eaton Springs. I think they can make now ones front and back. NOt sure what the cost is though.0
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52 Kahuna-
That is just about the perfect proportions on your car. The front wheel just fills up the wheel well and you only see about 20-25% of the rear wheel past the skirt. The definition of stance.0
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