Suspension Lowering

So I think I want to lower my wagon. The key is.. HOW?

Is it ultra expensive to do an air bag/ride set up? Or should I just tweak down the torsion bars in the front and modify the leafs in the back?

What say you guys? Anybody done this? My ride is going to be themed kind of old school style... black satin (its just primer now), low profile tires and black stock wheels with poverty caps (once I replace my tires). Maybe some red pinstripe or something...

 

crank the torsion bars

 

I've never done it. Our snowbanks are too high! BUT! here's a few links to some options and tips:

http://www.aa1car.com/library/ride2h.htm

http://www.shox.com/

http://www.ridetech.com/

It's more difficult with the Torsion bars. But I think there are some kits around.

 

I know the feeling hahaha! My front bumper has been acting as a snowplow lately!

 

Kinda like this?

As for lowering it yes you can twist on the Torsion bars and maybe just use lowering blocks. I too have been looking at airbags and as best I can find the cheapest kits are $1000-$1200. And for that you will be doing most of the fabrication. I'll also bet there is no bolt in kit for your car.

 

Yep... a lot like that look... I just want to drop it a little to make it look meaner.

 

Naw, here's how ya do it!
http://www.tempotopaz.com/main/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=5370&highlight=

 

yep you can do like SS and stickman says and crank down the torsion bars and blocks in the back,,,,and i totally dig the black olds of stickmans and i think your pentastar barge will look bitchin black,,,,,,i reckon i,ll have to get off my arse and post pics of my malibu since i finished it in black with blue scallops and the requisit red wheels,, and if i get really motivated i,ll post pics of my 80 cutlass since its back on the road now

 

You know, my buddy always said his Tempo was good in the snow, he offered it t me for $900. Maybe that wasn't the worst deal in the world LOL, with only 6-,--- miles on it. I enjoy the looks of my wagon a lot more though!

 

"so let the snow.....snow, when ya got a tempo" - 1980's ford jingle
ya know at one point the tempo was offered in awd!

large barge, sharp wagon....i like the sublime green charger daytona in the garage too! i just sold an olds omega i was gonna do all that stuff to as well, bought the wagon so the olds had to go.

 

Yea, for now just crank down the torsions, and add either a 2 or 3" angled lowering block in the rear.

I've been doing custom air ride since 1994 and one of, if not the 1'st guy to be bagging cars in the Dallas Tx area.

To do bags correctly will cost a liitle bit to do it right. The cost will differ greatly depending on how low you want it as well. Plus, there is not, and will not, be a "kit" for your car. It will need to be custom built.

 

OK, so the cranking down of the torsions in the front is easy... can someone tell me more about the lowering blocks and how to do this - as many of you have mentioned for the back?? Seems economical as well right?

 

A lowering block is just a piece that goes in between the leaf springs, and the rearend, and come in diffrent heights from 1"-4" in most cases. You will have to use longer u-bolts as well.

The one issue is after installing them you will limit the amount of travel between the rearend and the frame. The only other real issue is the bigger the block the more axle wrap you could get on acceleration.

Also only use "angled" blocks as they will help keep your pinion correct. A set w/u-bolts might run you $40.

 

Insane1 is correct...there is NO set-up currently available for our C-body cars...but lowering it a bit is easy enough...make sure you find a good front end alignment shop that still knows how to set-up our old mopar front ends....look for a shop that's been around a long time and maybe has a few grey hairs around.

Also the rear lower blocks will do the trick as suggested.

Good luck...

 

Not to sound dumb..but how do u go about twistin the torsions????...and how low can u get the front to drop by doin that???