C-2 riding to high

[Jeremy Hedges]

The front end of my '65 Coupe is about 3 inches to high. The coil springs are the original(and correct) ones (small block). They are also positioned correctly into the shock tower and lower A-arm. I have done a frame off on this car. I had heard somewhere not to tighten up some of the chassis as the chassis will settle when the body is lowered onto it. I tightned up everything to specs on the chassis before the body drop, my mistake? Could this be causing the height problem, and if so where do I need to adjust (loosen) the chasis to allow it to settle to correct height. And is there some other way to lower the front end? Please note, the bumpers, grill, windsheild, and seats are not installed, but I don't think that the installation of these components would make the car go down 3 inches, could it? Any input would help.

Thanks

Jeremy Hedges

[Wayne W.]

Re: C-2 riding to high

Just loosen the end caps on the front bushings. New springs and new liners etc. have a tendency to make em high. Loading it and driving a little should shake it down.

[Duke W.]

Re: C-2 riding to high

Tightening the bushing bolts at other than ride height will not affect ride
height. If you install the lower control arm, for example, and tighten the bushings at approximately normal ride height, you can move the control arm through its full range of motion with you hand, but you will feel slight resistance. The reason for tightening the bushing bolts at ride height is to prevent the bushing rubber from being pre-stained in the normal ride height position, which is where they will spend most of their life.

When the suspension is at full droop with the car in the air you will notice that both front and rear wheels have noticeable positive camber. When you drop it down this camber causes the suspension to "lock up" because the tires will not slide sideways to allow the car to assume normal ride height. Driving the car a short distant will cause the suspension to normalize.

If you can't drive it, try rolling it back and forth several times while turning the steering wheel back and forth, and you should notice that the suspension will start to settle.

Suggest you loosen the bushing bolts, then retorque them to spec when the suspension settles.

Duke

[Dick W.]

Re: C-2 riding to high

If you install front suspension and tighten control arm bushings, with frame in the air, the car will look like a frog getting ready to jump. Been thar, done that. Suspension needs to be fully loaded before bushings are tightened. You need to wait several days (weeks) before you attempt alignment, that way allowing the car to settle.