My drop ended up at 2-1/2" for some reason I needed 2 different polyethylene spacers to make mine level even tho it was level (side to side) before I started. I replaced my shocks after a month of driving with stock demension ones. Actually my ride is not much different, my car is a flatlander for the most part. I do like what it did for its looks along with the wheel change and I can put it back to stock quickly.

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

Probably should expect a harder ride & bump stop issues, 3-1/2" is quite a drop..


Paul

Ok fellas, this thread has been going for a while now and I'm thinkin most/all have had time to drive em. So if any of you changed out your shocks, (mine are stock replacement), what did you replace them with? Taking that much out, over 3", has me thinking I'm workin mine to hard.
Thanks in advance for the feedback,
Rowen

Rowen
55CV
Woodland, Ca

Very nice. Glad it all worked out.

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Well I put in the Areostar springs Saturday. Took about 2 hours using a tool my son has for splitting the ball joints. You loosen the bottom nut about 2 turns, place the tool between the 2 joint and screw the spreader and it pops loose. Like Rowen says "easy peazy". Hardest was remembering how the sway bar bushings went back. I did install a polyurethane spring spacer on top to replace the original. It is 1/2" thick. At the fender center it's the same as Rowens 55 Crown 24-3/4" so if I put in the original thin ones I could lower it 1/2" more.
 

I used American Racing 15" x 6" Torque Thrusts with 205-75 on the front and 215-75 on the rear. 225's would have fit with ease. 7" wide rims would have been close. The bump stop has 1" clearance so I'm sure it will need triming. I sure like way it looks and the ride so far is great. Thanks to all how chimed in.

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

I've got a set of those springs...my Desoto was too much for them. In SW VA. PM If interested.

After driving for a while on the aerostar sprigs I would say a cut standard spring is just as good if not preferable.. Ted just my opinion but I like the original whitewalls  [lowered a bit] over the torque thrusts.. 



"Came too close to dying to stop living now!"

Thanks miker. That tire is over 1" wider at the widest spot than the ones I'm looking at. With less than a 1/4" difference in the back spacing than stock so the leaf spring is not my worry with 7" AR Torque Thrust rim but the exhaust pipe is as it gets close aiming towards the back bumper exit tips which I want to keep. Removing the skirts gives me quite a bit of outside room. I like the 75 series tire and would use 78's if need be but not much selection. Thanks

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.

This is the link to my tire spec's , look at the section width. Mine are on 7" with 4" backspacing. I'm not sure these would clear the original leafs on the inside, and they are very tight on the outside. But I think the pass car has a little more space under the fender than the bird does.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=BFGoodrich&tireModel=Radial+T%2FA&partnum=36SR5RADTARWL2V2&vehicleSearch=false&fromCompare1=yes

miker
55 bird, 32 cabrio F code
Kent, WA
Tucson, AZ

Okiedokie. That's why I'm going ahead with doing it. The thread on the h.a.m.b. Is a great thing. Over 600 pages of what can help a guy see what a modification can look like before $$$is spent. The photos of the spring saddle spacer did not show up on this thread. Does somone else have any and will 7" rims with 3.75" back space be ok on the rear? My measuring says it will work with 75 width tires. Thanks

56 Vic, B'Ville 200 MPH Club Member, So Cal.