linenbaugh Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 I have been working on my -47 dodge for 6 years and are slowly puttin it back together.I think it is looking too high,I have had everything in the front end apart and sandblasted and painted.I wonder if i had done something wrong when i asembled the front end ,i have the old springs and the same hardware that was used from the factory.The car has been lifted on a hoist and has not been driven ,will it be lower when it gets out on the road and the front end gets settled.What kind of springs can be used to get it lower. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casper50 Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Looks as if there's no engine and transmission in it. Is there? If not something is wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linenbaugh Posted October 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Yes that is why i am concerned, what can be wrong as the engine and transmission is in the car Any sugestions or clues are greatly appreciated. Anders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Jump up and down a few times on the front bumper to settle the suspension. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casper50 Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 How tight did you tighten everything when you put it back together? Not too many ways it can be put back wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reg Evans Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Maybe it'll settle down more after the front bumper & brackets, grill, lights, etc are installed. Is the radiator in and full of water ? After they are installed then you can jump on the bumper as Don suggested 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linenbaugh Posted October 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Thanks for your reply i have tried this and it does not make a big difference i have looked in my shop manual and ca not see that anythimg is wrong. The wheels are leaning inwards at the top so the wheel angles look really wrong.Even if i stand on the bumper the car looks funny. Anders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonaldSmith Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Those hood ornaments are heavier that you would imagine. Seriously ,the wheels do tilt inward when the car is raised, like when you jack the car up, so the tilting should not be not a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Haymond Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 ...These cars drove on many rural lanes and dirt roads in the forties when it was good to have ground clearance. They sat higher than today's cars. When I still weighed 150 I could squeeze under the frame to work on the transmission or driveshaft of my P15 Plymouth. ...I can't tell if your car is too high from your photo. Maybe we can get someone to measure their car, from the ground to the bottom of the frame and you can compare that height to yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Coatney Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 Thanks for your reply i have tried this and it does not make a big difference i have looked in my shop manual and ca not see that anythimg is wrong. The wheels are leaning inwards at the top so the wheel angles look really wrong.Even if i stand on the bumper the car looks funny. Anders You must do more than stand on the bumper. Jump up and down to relax the suspension and eliminate the inward leaning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Young Ed Posted October 6, 2015 Report Share Posted October 6, 2015 You must do more than stand on the bumper. Jump up and down to relax the suspension and eliminate the inward leaning. What bumper 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
40plyrod Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 Check to see that the coil spring is "clocked" on the lower spring pocket in the A-arm properly. One of the times I was installing I didn't have the tail of the coil spring sitting in the lower pocket right and it made the car sit higher. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhm1mc13 Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 I had a shock lock in the fully extended position when jacked up but both shocks would be even more unusual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soth122003 Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 Hey linenbaugh, I've got a 48 P-15 and it sits like yours does. I believe it has the original suspension except foe the shocks. The size of the tires can make it look like it sits high. It came with a set of 235 75 15 tires that made it look right, but I had to change them out due to dry rot. I put a set of 205 75 15 on it and now it sits like yours does. I am thinking about cutting a coil out of the springs to lower down about 2 inches, but we'll see. Other than that it drives great. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linenbaugh Posted October 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 Thanks for your input i will check the location of the springs in the lower arms other than that i really dont know what to look at.Is there springs from a modern vehichle you can use to make it lower,i have heard of ford aerostar but does it make it lower. Anders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JD luxury liner Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 i also had a spring out of place in the lower a arm. i used a spring compressor and a hammer. i could tell in my situation because the other side looked different. also roll the car back & forth while trying to settle the suspension. you might want to drive it a bit before lowering it. JD 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
58prostreet Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 Did u have the body off frame? Rear looks a bit high also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobT-47P15 Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 Just curious....what size tires are on the car? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linenbaugh Posted October 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 Yes the body has been off the frame and i have changed the rear end to a cherokee 3,55.The rear does not bother me but i do defenitly not like the height of the front.I will put everything together and take it out for a testdrive and see if something changes.The wheels are 235/55/17. Anders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casper50 Posted October 7, 2015 Report Share Posted October 7, 2015 should not be 17" wheels, my 47 came with 16" and later 47's came with 15" I'm told. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CoronetGuy Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Going by that pic, it looks like the car is sitting level, which would make me think there is nothing wrong with your frontend. But I agree, it looks too tall, but then again I like lowered cars. Personally, I would lower that car 2 inches minimum. Does that new wheel/tire combo have an overall shorter height than the original combo? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linenbaugh Posted October 8, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 Thank you, this was the answer i wanted,I agree the car need to come closer to the ground.These wheels is about the same height as the stock steel rims which i allso have .I like the look of the car whith these wheels.As no one has answerd my question about springs that will make the car lower i guess that i have to take a trip to the junkyard and see what i can find that can be used. Anders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg g Posted October 8, 2015 Report Share Posted October 8, 2015 http://www.springsnthings.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YukonJack Posted October 9, 2015 Report Share Posted October 9, 2015 I have had my front springs out a couple of times. The top of the spring also has to fit properly into the frame. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linenbaugh Posted October 10, 2015 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2015 Took the old clunker out for a little testrun today ,i guess the suspension got settled and it looks a little bit lower but in my opinion too high. Anders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.