Well ok after peepin at the tax refund budget, im either goingto get a cheapo (not worth) set of airbag setup or hard slam it...

well i opt for hard slammin' bags are for little girls :rl:
i ordered the jc whitney "spring compressor" kit that squishes the coils together due to their odd shape. im going to be cutting the front coils and compressing the rear. ill be takin pictures and posting them up. if they ever get here lol
maybe i can find me a thicker sway bar from a junk yard, you never know...
more to come im stoked!:clap:
Raf

Well ok after peepin at the tax refund budget, im either goingto get a cheapo (not worth) set of airbag setup or hard slam it...

well i opt for hard slammin' bags are for little girls :rl:
i ordered the jc whitney "spring compressor" kit that squishes the coils together due to their odd shape. im going to be cutting the front coils and compressing the rear. ill be takin pictures and posting them up. if they ever get here lol
maybe i can find me a thicker sway bar from a junk yard, you never know...
more to come im stoked!:clap:
Raf

You've already got a 390 in there, right? You'd have to look at a model with a 430 or a car with AC, to get a stronger swaybar. Maybe a Mercury of the same vintage?

thanks for the info, but im not gonna find anything vintage around here...lol ill look for something similar though

well hoss why dont you just cut the rear springs?? if you just compress um that will make for a mighty funky ride,,,,,you can call benz spring in auburn and see how much they charge for some springs or,,,,,,,,,,go to coilsprings.com and they seem to be pretty reasonable for a full set of springs rated for your wagon with a drop,,, a lot cheaper than a cheep set of bags or cheep sunglasses and you get a better ride,,,a few hours and some wrenches, a few cervases and badda bim badda boom she,d be lookin kool ,,,,,there was an outfit on ebay that solld dropped springs i dont recall the name offhand,, but they listed a bazillion different applications and they weren,t priced too badly either,, i have the web address in here somewhere :bouncy:

thanks for the info, but im not gonna find anything vintage around here...lol ill look for something similar though

Have a look at the swaybars here.

http://shopping.yahoo.com/s:Suspension%20Components:4168-Brand=Ford;_ylt=AolZOO.k2PBlF51xKitkLAoYGhoF;_ylu= X3oDMTBmb2NoYW9qBHNlYwNzb3V0aGJyYW5kcw--?y=ggg

thanks for the info, but im not gonna find anything vintage around here...lol ill look for something similar though

This thread might help too:
http://www.fordmuscle.com/forums/torino-pages/460952-anyone-ever-installed-energy-susp-bushings-there-torino.html

....coil squishers??????????????...man....that aint right!!:biglaugh:
just pull the rear coils...cut what ya need off the top...set em back in place...the upper cup is the same diameter as the full coil.....and....wait for spring...(the season):bouncy:

i looked at the coils and they have that weird beehive shape to em' thats why i opted for the "squishers, but dont get me wrong if the top is the same, you know what im doin...
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb320/jaralu/5043.jpg

I have seen those springs squishers on cars and it seems to me that they put the springs in a bad bind

i have too but the kit comes with 4 ea. pieces, one on each side and what im going to do is completely squish them together, for maximum effect. of course if it looks unsafe you can forget it. but ill take pics, ill pencil it in the books for next mon or tues. more to come-

Measure the coils and see if they are the same as the newer double pigtails. Heck, I'm using circle track springs for a GM car on mine, front and rear work. The higher rates will make it handle better and have less of a chance of bottoming out. Look around speedway motors and stockcarproducts.com for springs.

oh yeah heres the pics of the product, ive seen the "hook" type of product but never the "loop" kind.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/wcsstore/jcwhitney/images/imagecache/G_15845G_SW_1.gif;pvffa5959d7db63c15

I was just cruisin' for an old article on the Jet-powered Isetta back in the late 60's on the Hotrod site and tried their Search with "Coil Springs" 476 results! Then I clicked on the Articles results (over 525). You could probably refine it and find stuff on specific brands or types or parts...

the hotrod site???
got a link?

the hotrod site???
got a link?

Does a chicken have lips? :lolup:

http://www.hotrod.com/index.html

Once you're there, just type in what you want in the Search box, at the top/center of the page:

Swaybar
Coil springs
Suspension
Low rider

Then the results are separated into groups. Articles, Projects, etc. but the same Results page shows their Forum results, so you may want to right click and get the other categories first.

Does a chicken have lips? :lolup:

http://www.hotrod.com/index.html

Once you're there, just type in what you want in the Search box, at the top/center of the page:

Swaybar
Coil springs
Suspension
Low rider

Then the results are separated into groups. Articles, Projects, etc. but the same Results page shows their Forum results, so you may want to right click and get the other categories first.

A chicken have lips No!!! Stormin have Links Yes!!! Required reading Priceless :D

....coil squishers??????????????...man....that aint right!!:biglaugh:
just pull the rear coils...cut what ya need off the top...set em back in place...the upper cup is the same diameter as the full coil.....and....wait for spring...(the season):bouncy:

am i speaking a foreeen language??:rl:

heed what i say young Jedi...ive lowered more Fords....than...i dunno...
...whoever!!:biglaugh:

am i speaking a foreeen language??:rl:

heed what i say young Jedi...ive lowered more Fords....than...i dunno...
...whoever!!:biglaugh:

So when you lowered them, did you use mini-fender-skirts or just down to the nuts? :evilsmile: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:

So when you lowered them, did you use mini-fender-skirts or just down to the nuts? :evilsmile: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:

I just re-read my post and figured I'd reply for you!

"Up to you kilt!" :evilsmile: :)

Charlie Brown wouldn't say that, eh!

....coil squishers??????????????...man....that aint right!!:biglaugh:
just pull the rear coils...cut what ya need off the top...set em back in place...the upper cup is the same diameter as the full coil.....and....wait for spring...(the season):bouncy:

so wait, maybe afetr all these years working around engines left me a little deaf.
your saying even though the spring is piggy tailed to still cut it, at the top? man are you sure??? not that im doubting the great OOOBEEWON (o-B-juan) but seeing how theyre funny lookin coils might be a little harder to get.
but are you sure? cause im just crazy enough to do it. :thumbs2:

I replaced my two front coils because they were broken at the top by one turn and at the bottom by half a turn (the two small ends). I never noticed they were broken until I removed them with the cross-member, and niether did the mechanic when he did the Safety Certificate in 1999. But the breaks were really rusty from years of being like that.

I used the ones from the donor car. But I used the plastic caps from mine and they were still fine. The cuts didn't ruin them. So I'd guess that the Rev is spot on. My only concern would be that you'd grind off the ends to sit properly, like the original angle-cut, inside the caps. :)

i dunno fellas, i just crawled my shift working butt under " ye olde wagon" and this is what i found.
the bottom of the coil appears to have the same setup with a smaller cup at the to such as the bottom. call me "ye of little faith" but i dont think that will work......not very good pics but i saw it... :rofl3:
we shall see...
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb320/jaralu/7.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb320/jaralu/1.jpg

If there is enough room, you could alsways make adapters to fit the larger diameter spring in. Or you could make adapters and use coilover springs and perches.

I'm bowing out on that one. I'll watch and learn...:confused:

I'm bowing out on that one. I'll watch and learn...:confused:

Meh, just tubing and flat stock. Biggest PITA would be determining the proper rate spring.

Lemme do some poking around and see what I come up with.

Well, not much info. However...It's a double pigtail. Which is common. Measure the diameter. It might be the same generic dimensions as the later models. Even if the overall diameter of the larger part of the spring is larger, as long as the mounting pads are the same it should be easy to get springs for it.

Love the net...
Spring # Inside Dia Bar Dia Install Hght Load rt(lbs) Spring Rt(Lbs/in.) Free Hght
5043 5.560 0.640 10.00 1140 171.3 16.65"


I think late model street stock coils would work, and give you a good drop and better handling......

The stock replacement PN's can be found on autozone.com or partsamerica.com.
This has the specs for the springs http://bbb-carb.com/moog_Coil_Springs.htm

(the moog and Mcquay norris and duralast all use the same basic PNs)

Well, not much info. However...It's a double pigtail. Which is common. Measure the diameter. It might be the same generic dimensions as the later models. Even if the overall diameter of the larger part of the spring is larger, as long as the mounting pads are the same it should be easy to get springs for it.

So Raf needs to provide some tech info:

What's the loaded weight?

Will you be hauling a trailer? No more than 400 lbs on the hitch?
Will the inlaws and outlaws all get in the back? :rofl2: Especially la Suegra!!!

How much do you want to drop it? Enough to clear the mini-fender-skirts?

The edited post above has most of the info....

The edited post above has most of the info....

With all that, the rest is time and money. :)

I just found a straight article on doing this job:

http://www.automedia.com/Replacing-Coil-Springs/res20020501cs/1

After reading that (has good pictorial detail), mine was simpler. ;)

Usually is. Rears are super easy. I've done mine in 30 minutes. Fronts are a bit more involved, but if you are using lowering springs, the reassembly is way easier. (no compressor needed)

Usually is. Rears are super easy. I've done mine in 30 minutes. Fronts are a bit more involved, but if you are using lowering springs, the reassembly is way easier. (no compressor needed)

Well, if they're shorter, do you use clips or some hardware bits to hold them in place or just use shocks with less travel?

Just for future reference, here's a couple more sites with both Coil and Leaf types, Stock and Lowered.

http://www.cmwauto.com/MainMenu/ChassisMenu/CoilSprings/CoilSprings.htm

http://www.springworks.com/faq.html

Ride Height measurement guide:
http://www.aa1car.com/library/ride2h.htm

When I added the hitch for my trailer to move our stuff from Mexico to Canada, I bought some Spring tensioners to raise the rear a bit, and I never noticed any issues on the tires or the ride. So this may help me get the suspension without gadgets and wedges. Thanks.:drink:

wow fellas you guys sure do know yo' $h!t....
well i was assuming it could be that easy, but it was just a theory.
so just measure the cups and get a new spring. but now the only thing left. where am i gonna get the scratch to buy new springs.... I GOT IT! ill sell one of the twins. hell i got two of em' its like having a spare right?!?? lol
No no no ill never make it inside the house without the 2nd sneaky ninja (cause they get into everything)
well i sure do like the help fellas, but withought the scratch i guess ill run the compressors till the dinero comes in.
and i wont be towing alot but there might be a chance. and no outlaws they can walk.. LOL just the chillens.
we shall see what happens fellas.
thanks-
Rafa

Just for future reference, here's a couple more sites with both Coil and Leaf types, Stock and Lowered.

http://www.cmwauto.com/MainMenu/ChassisMenu/CoilSprings/CoilSprings.htm

http://www.springworks.com/faq.html

Ride Height measurement guide:
http://www.aa1car.com/library/ride2h.htm

When I added the hitch for my trailer to move our stuff from Mexico to Canada, I bought some Spring tensioners to raise the rear a bit, and I never noticed any issues on the tires or the ride. So this may help me get the suspension without gadgets and wedges. Thanks.:drink:

This might help too:
http://www.stockcarproducts.com/spgtech.htm

$arge, didn't you say it was coils in the back too? Why not look for some from a heavier Mercury, TBird or Lincoln at the yards? As long as the cross section is thicker and the height is about what you want? Wouldn't that work? We're talking a full-size wagon. So its got to come close to the heavier Ford products. Some of those links have the specs. I don't know, but it might make it cheaper and simpler. :49:

$arge, Eaton Spring were the original manufacturers for Ford and GM, and they've got a list you can download. If you look at the prices for the 65 to 74 models for Fords, mercs, 'birds, the Galaxie 500, Lincolns and Birds are all the same. I'll bet you could get a good set to fit from the scrapyards. Plus they've got lots of pictorial and tech articles from online Magazines.

Boy! I love this. Free schooling!:)

http://www.eatonsprings.com/index.html

am i speaking a foreeen language??:rl:

heed what i say young Jedi...ive lowered more Fords....than...i dunno...
...whoever!!:biglaugh:

young jedi listen to obie jaun get the gas axe or die grinder with a cut off wheel or a cut off wheel for a 4 1/2 grinder,, cut the coils and make us proud,,,,and i told ya once before you got the cervases i got the torch so now you aint got no scuses,,,,,,:49:

young jedi listen to obie jaun get the gas axe or die grinder with a cut off wheel or a cut off wheel for a 4 1/2 grinder,, cut the coils and make us proud,,,,and i told ya once before you got the cervases i got the torch so now you aint got no scuses,,,,,,:49:

Gas Axe? What do you feed it - Beans? Oh, the imagination just runs away! :evilsmile: :biglaugh: The smell cuts like a knife. :D

I think its probably like you say too. The worst that could happen is a sagging corner until you picked up another spring.

What a clutz I am! I was in LA at an Electronics show with my uncle in 1985. He decided to rent a car and go into Mexico on a Thursday evening, stay overnight and shop for shoes on Friday.

We went through Tijuana and down to Escondido by Friday. Well, Friday evening in Escondido is Low Rider Cruise night. My uncle is talking with some wholesalers in a nice cantina at the hotel, and I decide to go visit the town on my own. Don't speak one word of Spanish - NADA!

But, I meet up with a couple of Mexican guys who speak French and Spanish, and we go strolling the streets (very narrow 2 laners) and all these awesome cars are cruising. My friends are telling the other guys that I'm a Canadian, and I'm handed a beer by a local cop. My jaw is stuck down to my toes. Those cars are awesome! Huge hydraulics, the lights underneath, and nobody doing more than walking speed.

So Rafa, I have a gift for you Amigo! Por toda el amistad de la gente en Escondido, te doy ese ligua de los maestros de los Low Riders. Dios mio, no te va a faltar informacion o recursos! :D

http://www.automotive-links.com/ent/low/low.htm

I didn't count how many Latin Low-rider sites there are here, but I'm sure you'll get more ideas.

so wait, maybe afetr all these years working around engines left me a little deaf.
your saying even though the spring is piggy tailed to still cut it, at the top? man are you sure??? not that im doubting the great OOOBEEWON (o-B-juan) but seeing how theyre funny lookin coils might be a little harder to get.
but are you sure? cause im just crazy enough to do it. :thumbs2:

oy....yes!!:jumping:

just dont forget....coils are easy to shorten....but they'r hell to lengthen!!:)

Hey Rev, How do you measure 1 coil. I never done this too.Want to make sure I get it right.

ok bubba i have dropped only pretty near half as many cars as the rev ,,,fords and non fords so heres the deal,,,,,,go one full round of the coil and stop........ cut and check,,,you like all good,,,,you no like ,,,,, go one more,,,,,,,ya get it ,,,,,like da rev ses its hell ta lenghten go a little at a time,,,,,back in the olden days when i was young and dumb ,,,,now i,m old and stupid,, i used ta lower cars fer beer money ,,,,,i actually used ta cut the coils on the car and fish em out with out taken em out of the a arms ,,,,quicker to the beer joint ,,,time is money errr beer ya know,,,,funny story a buddy of mine i went ta school with had a v-6 chevrolet monza and we got a wild hair ta drop it one night,, so far so good right,,,,,,,well his dad a car guy and all and a surroget dad if you will to me seen the car the next day and was pissed ,,,,he would,nt talk to me fer a month he he he,,,stupid kids what in the heck were ya think yada yada yada :evilsmile:

ok bubba i have dropped only pretty near half as many cars as the rev ,,,fords and non fords so heres the deal,,,,,,go one full round of the coil and stop........ cut and check,,,you like all good,,,,you no like ,,,,, go one more,,,,,,,ya get it ,,,,,like da rev ses its hell ta lenghten go a little at a time,,,,,back in the olden days when i was young and dumb ,,,,now i,m old and stupid,, i used ta lower cars fer beer money ,,,,,i actually used ta cut the coils on the car and fish em out with out taken em out of the a arms ,,,,quicker to the beer joint ,,,time is money errr beer ya know,,,,funny story a buddy of mine i went ta school with had a v-6 chevrolet monza and we got a wild hair ta drop it one night,, so far so good right,,,,,,,well his dad a car guy and all and a surroget dad if you will to me seen the car the next day and was pissed ,,,,he would,nt talk to me fer a month he he he,,,stupid kids what in the heck were ya think yada yada yada :evilsmile:

Have you got a picture I can go by?

Have you got a picture I can go by?

it just aint that easy!
i've been lowering and such for about 25 years..and theres no real good way to describe how...not in type anyhoo:)

all i can say is...on the front(if it isnt sagged too much)..then 1 full coil off the bottom is about 1inch...but then 1&1/2 could drop you almost 2

..as for the back...most cars have dual pigtails...but the upper perch(in frame) is designed to accept the 'full' outside diameter of the coil

general rule...overall...1 coil out of front...then 1&1/2 out of rear..but after that...1/2 off front and 1/2 off rear......till desired "hammeredness":D

Footnote: Fords are much easier than GM's

Looks like I need to leave them springs alone.

young jedi listen to obie jaun get the gas axe or die grinder with a cut off wheel or a cut off wheel for a 4 1/2 grinder,, cut the coils and make us proud,,,,and i told ya once before you got the cervases i got the torch so now you aint got no scuses,,,,,,:49:

where you at homie??

Gracias amigo por el link...

ok if you say lob the top of the coil and it will accept the larger diameter, how do you count one coil on the pigtails? those are different than standard wones. im working nights so come monday the dealie o is gonna be done. im problably going to go to the junkyard to find some springs that will be direct fit... but after the holidays of course.

holy crap i just saw a preview on late night tv for "who wants to marry a u.s. citizen" LMFAO!!!!!
:lolup:
thanks for the help so far...

oh yea, heres a pic of where to cut the spring, notice the cut mark is more or less beneath the end of the beginning of the coil... so you end up cutting one "loop" off i wouldnt go more than one loop at first then go at half loops. i mean i havent done this yet but i did a crapload of searchin. :)
Rafa
http://fwdmopar.50megs.com/spring2.jpg

oh yea, heres a pic of where to cut the spring, notice the cut mark is more or less beneath the end of the beginning of the coil... so you end up cutting one "loop" off i wouldnt go more than one loop at first then go at half loops. i mean i havent done this yet but i did a crapload of searchin. :)
Rafa
http://fwdmopar.50megs.com/spring2.jpg

Good! More bounce to the ounce! :evilsmile:

those arent mine bud, just a random pic. lol
im waiting on it to get to a blazin 40 degrees to start crackalackin we shall see. how this goes!
Rafa-

those arent mine bud, just a random pic. lol
im waiting on it to get to a blazin 40 degrees to start crackalackin we shall see. how this goes!
Rafa-

I figured it was from some of your Detective work on the web, but now it looks like it's gonna happen! :)

ooohh yeah i can promise you that, im thinking im will try the squishers first, and i do appreciate the advice, but from what i gathered from here its easy to cut off but not to add :) so i will see how far those get me, then measure and search for some in a junk yard. if not cut the existing ones. yeeaaahhh buddy!

..., but from what i gathered from here its easy to cut off but not to add :)

:biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh: :rl: :rl: but not to add... :rl: :rl: :slap:

You've been in the Forces. They've got Prop Wash, Brass magnets, and probably "Add-A-Coil" kits! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Estoy muriendo de risa! :thumbsup:

my favorite is K9P (dog wizz) or ID-10t form... (idiot) LOL or the keys to the jet...(NO SUCH THING) mensos los muchachos me creen todo lo que les digo! silly newbies.

my favorite is K9P (dog wizz) or ID-10t form... (idiot) LOL or the keys to the jet...(NO SUCH THING) mensos los muchachos me creen todo lo que les digo! silly newbies.

Now you just have to work on the rookie Officers!

I had a Master Corporal who got demoted from a Master Warrant Officer, with a huge chip on his shoulder for one rookie Lieutenant. He would embarrass that guy, every chance he got. Finally, he got him so pi$$ed, that the officer tried to attack him on the Parade Square on the base Kernel's inspection (3,000 soldiers at ease). The administrative and civvy staff always watched from the Admin offices. The rookie got sent to work in the base Military Museum, after getting a lesson about messing with an NCO. It took him 3 weeks to heal up, after that clock-cleaning instructional.

Well, i installed the squishers.
more jamma then slamma. its not really hammered at all! it dropped it about 2 to 2.5 in the back at the rocker it measures 10'' in the back and 11'' in the front. tailpipes are about 4'' off of the ground. im still wanting more though.it almost doesnt look like i did anything besides freeze my huevitos off on the concrete. i need new springs in the back, some non-pig tailed kind so i can cut. i could cut the exhisting ones like 80 cutlass says but how would i attatch them?????
im editing the pics and will post them soon.
im kinda disapointed in the lack of hammerdness :(
ill post pics to show you fellas thanks for ythe help, back to the drawing board.
Rafa

:banghead3::banghead3: :banghead3: :banghead3: disapointing WAAAAAAA :slap: :beaten: :49: :banghead3: :banghead3:
or it also could be that ive been up 28 hrs staright!!! LOL
i dont even think the front is worth lowering yet.
the thing handles great though.
Rafa



http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb320/jaralu/after.jpg

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb320/jaralu/before.jpg

Are you gonna install the lake-pipes along the rocker panels? It looks good, but it looks like a tough challenge. I'll keep watching?

One way to get that low-rider look is to drive on our snow-covered roads. :)

id like some bellflower tips....
man immm sooo dissapointed it aint even funny, im gonna get some shut eye and dream about it...
oh and i know iknow you told me so....
:lolup:

id like some bellflower tips....
man immm sooo dissapointed it aint even funny, im gonna get some shut eye and dream about it...
oh and i know iknow you told me so....
:lolup:

No pain, no gain! One old prof used to say, "New ideas come from new ways of doing what didn't work before."

only upside is that it handles as the ford engineers dreamed of. maybe ill try stopping by the hobby shop and using pneumatic tools to compress the hell outta them...
rafa

But your wagon looks great!!!

:biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh: :rl: :rl: but not to add... :rl: :rl: :slap:

You've been in the Forces. They've got Prop Wash, Brass magnets, and probably "Add-A-Coil" kits! :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Estoy muriendo de risa! :thumbsup:
well you see it,s ,,hold on i,m lookin for some flight line ,,it,s in here somewhere,,,, oh dang i think i found it but now i need a bin stretcher ta git it out :jumping: and i apologize my bad i over generalized the lowering thing in an earlier post,,,go ONE,,, CHECK AND GO A HALF at a time after wards,,,,,whew i hope no one went out and lopped too much off and now their wagons sittin on the ground :bawling:

Geez Sarge....wait till spring and i'll come down and do it for ya...or at least the new year and find somewhere warm to work on it!!

i'm sure i could figure out how to kill 3 birds...maybe buy something?at the same time!?;)

:rofl:

ha ha ha... no im the kind of guy that keeps scratchin his ass till i figure it out. I WILL NOT BE BEATEN.....! i think i fingered it out with the help of the Hamb and 80 cutlass...
this is a crude pic but it should work. or just go find new springs....LOL

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb320/jaralu/untitled-3.jpg

ya...thats kinda it!:D