Lowering rear on 32 roadster

[draggin49]

Was trying to find out some options to lower the rear of my 32 roadster.
I’m gonna switch to 750x16’s in the back to add some more tire height (currently 650x16 in rear )Would like to get it more like the 2nd picture

 

[Phil Gillespie]

i would think going from 650's to 750's will raise the rear of your 32 roadster?
Thats my observations from "Down Under'
Phil NZ

 

[tubman]

Unless we have a more specific idea of what the suspension looks like now, I think it will be pretty difficult to come up with any solid suggestions. For all we know, it may have coil-overs in it now (though I highly doubt it because of the style of the car). Nice lookin' car though, and I can see why you want to bring the rear down some. Don't discount the possibility that if you can get the rear where you want it, you may have to do something about the front.

 

[rich b]

Flattened rear crossmember.

 

[revkev6]

First off, your car is pretty killer. To get the car as low as shown requires a few things. Flat xmember. Reversed eye springs and probably putting a c-notch over the axle. I lowered my 32 as much as I could without putting the c notch in it. I also plan on 750 x 16s. I will load a pic of it shortly...

Couple other notes..
With a stock 40 spring i have 3 7/8 clearance to the axle without everything in the car... still mocked up.

 

[TomT/Williamsburg]

For my avatar I removed upper leaves until I was happy with it. Of course, I carry boatloads of extra parts as I go long distance with it. I am also using a 40 rear spring that I have notched to clear the stock rear 32 crossmember. I believe I removed the top 4-5 leaves. I am running 235/85-R16 tires @ 32" tall ..

 

[TJ]

I would talk with a good spring shop. I lowered the rear of my 40 coupe by using longer shackle plates and had a spring shop de-arch the rear spring. It came down 2 1/2" and rides great.

 

[jagnweiner]

i would think going from 650's to 750's will raise the rear of your 32 roadster?
Thats my observations from "Down Under'
Phil NZ

I think what he is saying is he wants to increase the tire size, which will only exacerbate the height issue, so he wants to know what to do to the suspension to bring it down.

 

[revkev6]

For my avatar I removed upper leaves until I was happy with it. Of course, I carry boatloads of extra parts as I go long distance with it. I am also using a 40 rear spring that I have notched to clear the stock rear 32 crossmember. I believe I removed the top 4-5 leaves. I am running 235/85-R16 tires @ 32" tall ..

tom, what is your clearance between the frame and rear axle? no C-notch? i'm going to run 7.50x16's as well which will add about 1.75" to the height of the tire so the distance from the reveal wont look so goofy.

 

[draggin49]

Sorry guys I forgot to mention in the original post that the car is currently run the all stock rear setup it had from 32

 

[JSeery]

The old standards for lowering (already posted), reversed eyes on the spring, longer shackles, removing spring leaves, etc. Axle frame clearance and spring axle clearance will be the limiting factors.

 

[Strick]

1941 Ford shackles are the ones to use.

 

[Newc]

Hi; I have 2 '32's that I used a '33/34 rear crossmember with '32 ends welded on it to use the stock frame mount holes in both stock type frames. I used a home made jig to hold parts during weld up. About a 2" rear drop with a stock '32 rear diff. Newc

 

[TomT/Williamsburg]

tom, what is your clearance between the frame and rear axle? no C-notch? i'm going to run 7.50x16's as well which will add about 1.75" to the height of the tire so the distance from the reveal wont look so goofy.

No C notch and I do have axle snubbers installed for the occasional times I bottom out and I run gas shocks. I do carry a lot of extra parts in my trunk, floor jack, jack stands, tools, and I am running a 16 gallon tank. That adds a lot of extra pounds out back to keep the rear down. I have another 32 build going on now where I am running a 40 Ford front spring out back which is great for a roadster but that would be too much of a change right now for you.

Longer shackles, reversed eye main leaf, and remove about 4-5 of the upper leaves and give it time to settle. I also run Austone tires up front with a dropped axle and they are a 5.75 -16 - British taxi cab radial tires. Nicer rake vs the 600-16 normally used up front.

I took me a while to get the *** end ride height dialed in - take your time and have fun doing it ....