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Lowering a '57 Plymouth ? #935390
02/23/11 11:06 AM
02/23/11 11:06 AM
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Fort Morgan
1OFNONE Offline OP
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Fat Man Fab had 2" drop spindles as does Magnum Force, but they are for disc brakes. We want to run stock drums do to the fact it is just a cruiser.
Anyone with info on how this is done? We already turned the torsion bars down.


So the bartender says to the horse " Gee, Why the long face?"
Re: Lowering a '57 Plymouth ? [Re: 1OFNONE] #935391
02/25/11 10:58 PM
02/25/11 10:58 PM
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Posts: 10,528
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline
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Might be "just a cruiser", but if someone pulls out in front of you, you still have to stop 3500 lbs of car. Personally, I'd do the disc brakes in a heartbeat, and never look back.

That said, it probably would be easier to adapt the lowered aftermarket spindles to accept the drum brakes then it would be to build a lowering spindle for your drum brakes. You really only need to find a way to mount the drum backing plate and have clearance for the brake hose to pass safely through everything with the suspension travel and with the spindle turning right to left. The drum, like the rotor, won't care at what height it is attached to the spindle, it only has to clear things as it spins. Gene

Re: Lowering a '57 Plymouth ? [Re: poorboy] #935392
02/27/11 03:50 PM
02/27/11 03:50 PM
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Fort Morgan
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Very good point Gene. The car had disc brakes on it but had bump steer like a mother. Put stock drums and spindles on and no more bump steer.
Thats why we were thinking to stay with drums.

Time to do more research.

Thanks.


So the bartender says to the horse " Gee, Why the long face?"
Re: Lowering a '57 Plymouth ? [Re: 1OFNONE] #935393
02/28/11 10:43 PM
02/28/11 10:43 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,528
Freeport IL USA
poorboy Offline
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Sorry, but it just doesn't make sense to me that just adding disc brakes also added bump steer. Did you change spindles or steering arms along with adding the disc brakes? Most disc brake setups I've seen simply add a bracket to hold the caliper to the drum brake spindle. The only thing I know of that produces bump steer is by changing the tie rods and suspension pivots to a different angles then they were originally designed to do, don't see how a disc brake setup would change those angles.
Please educate me. Gene

Re: Lowering a '57 Plymouth ? [Re: poorboy] #935394
03/02/11 09:18 AM
03/02/11 09:18 AM
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The Netherlands
BigBlockMopar Offline
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Just chose a discbrake conversion system which uses the original spindles.

However, and although I've never done it this way myself, dropspindles are the proper way to lower a car, but I would make sure the Fatman spindles have the same dimension as the stock spindles. I would like to know aswell if that's the case.

Re: Lowering a '57 Plymouth ? [Re: BigBlockMopar] #935395
03/02/11 12:41 PM
03/02/11 12:41 PM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,832
Fort Morgan
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I think I found out where the bump steer came from.
The '57 had disc brakes when purchased. Who knows what they came from. When he found original spindles and drum brakes the spindle needed reamed out to allow the upper control arm ball joint to drop in and seat properly. The upper control arms had been changed also.
Who knows what they had as a donor car for the disc set up.
I may be able to take a photo for ID.
Anyone up for a mystery ? LOL !


So the bartender says to the horse " Gee, Why the long face?"
Re: Lowering a '57 Plymouth ? [Re: 1OFNONE] #935396
03/02/11 08:47 PM
03/02/11 08:47 PM
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The Netherlands
BigBlockMopar Offline
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Don't think you can surprise me much.
I've had a '65 Chrysler 300 where someone had managed to install a 4-pistoncalipers discbrake system from a Corvette on.
But that's not all.... They also were really determined to get 4.5" boltcircle Mopar wheels onto the 4.75" GM rotors...

Re: Lowering a '57 Plymouth ? [Re: BigBlockMopar] #935397
03/02/11 10:17 PM
03/02/11 10:17 PM
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Fort Morgan
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Fort Morgan
I cant believe that more people are not customizing these cars. They are super cool. Everyone puts them back to stock or a Christine clone. They all have their place but dang these mid to late 50's car are something special that are over looked.

6506817-Brakes085.JPG (104 downloads)

So the bartender says to the horse " Gee, Why the long face?"
Re: Lowering a '57 Plymouth ? [Re: 1OFNONE] #935398
03/03/11 07:14 AM
03/03/11 07:14 AM
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The Netherlands
BigBlockMopar Offline
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I lowered my '57 Chrysler by just turning down the torsionbars and put 3" lowering blocks under the rearaxle.
With a good set of shocks all around I don't have many problems driving around with it.
I will probably put an extra leaf or 2 in the rear springpacks to stiffen up the springs just a bit.

I've also got a '57 4dr HT Plymouth Belvedere waiting as a project. I will be lowered the same way as most of my cars have been done.
The car has great patina, which I would like to preserve fro the time being...



Re: Lowering a '57 Plymouth ? [Re: BigBlockMopar] #935399
03/03/11 06:07 PM
03/03/11 06:07 PM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,832
Fort Morgan
1OFNONE Offline OP
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Fort Morgan
Cool !


So the bartender says to the horse " Gee, Why the long face?"
Re: Lowering a '57 Plymouth ? [Re: 1OFNONE] #935400
03/04/11 04:09 PM
03/04/11 04:09 PM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,832
Fort Morgan
1OFNONE Offline OP
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Fort Morgan
I would like to see a side by side photo of a standard b-body spindle and a '57 Plymouth spindle. That would tell alot.


So the bartender says to the horse " Gee, Why the long face?"
Re: Lowering a '57 Plymouth ? [Re: 1OFNONE] #935401
03/18/11 02:19 PM
03/18/11 02:19 PM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 120
North Seattle, Washington. USA
U code RR Offline
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Quote:

I cant believe that more people are not customizing these cars. They are super cool. Everyone puts them back to stock or a Christine clone. They all have their place but dang these mid to late 50's car are something special that are over looked.



I agree! And apparently they are finally starting to receive some high profile attention! I can't say I like the tire and wheel combo but good to see the early Mopars getting some attention.

6536514-db_P22659831.jpg (96 downloads)

When seconds count... The Police are only minutes away. Smith and Wesson are your friends.
Re: Lowering a '57 Plymouth ? [Re: 1OFNONE] #935402
03/18/11 02:24 PM
03/18/11 02:24 PM
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 120
North Seattle, Washington. USA
U code RR Offline
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Quote:

I cant believe that more people are not customizing these cars. They are super cool. Everyone puts them back to stock or a Christine clone. They all have their place but dang these mid to late 50's car are something special that are over looked.



Another example.


When seconds count... The Police are only minutes away. Smith and Wesson are your friends.
Re: Lowering a '57 Plymouth ? [Re: U code RR] #935403
03/18/11 10:41 PM
03/18/11 10:41 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 457
NC
R
rj72cuda Offline
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NC
add me to the list i just brought home my 57 dodge 2 door coupe

Re: Lowering a '57 Plymouth ? [Re: 1OFNONE] #935404
03/19/11 12:38 AM
03/19/11 12:38 AM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 802
Maysville, Kentucky
Apollo 13 Offline
super stock
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Posts: 802
Maysville, Kentucky
Quote:

I cant believe that more people are not customizing these cars. They are super cool. Everyone puts them back to stock or a Christine clone. They all have their place but dang these mid to late 50's car are something special that are over looked.




Not to offend, but here are your reasons and it is not becasue they are over looked....

1.Super Rare
2.Expensive to buy
3.Hard to find parts for
4.When selling, stock brings in way more money
5.Dripped "cool" from the Show Room...no need

Take a 58 Corvette for instance. They had a unique set of body panels from the factory. Were offered that way for one year. If you ever see one with a bunch of aftermarket modifications you can know to about 99% assurity that the car was a complete wreck when they started or the owner has a lot of money and doesn't care about resell value.

Now, that is painting with a broad brush. You may be a millionaire or poor as Jobe's turkey and just want your car they way you want YOUR car regardless of resell or history. That is fine by me, go for it. But consider this, Check out the Classic cars ads...auto trader, hemnings, etc and see what stock vs. custom will bring price wise. Also ask around the MoPar world and see which one sells faster.

The Devils Advocate in me also says look at a well done custom vs. a stock at the shows and see who gets the most attention? Different reaction to the same cars, just the question is asked from a different direction. So it does even out depending on where you stand on the subject.

The bottom line is do what you want as long as YOU are having fun. Being that we are both MoPar guys I will leave you with this..... The Camaro guys HAVE to customize their cars so they can find it when it's time to go home.


If you don't start it , you don't have to end it.
Re: Lowering a '57 Plymouth ? [Re: 1OFNONE] #935405
03/23/11 01:57 AM
03/23/11 01:57 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 543
Indiana, Just Off I-70
BradD Offline
mopar
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Indiana, Just Off I-70
I believe Fat Man has fabbed original style drum dropped spindles for the 57. He was making them long before doing the late model disc spindle.
Brad


Check out the Dorn's 69 Barracuda "Switchblade" in the Nov.2010 MCG
Check out the Dorn's refurbished 36 Ford in the Feb.2011 Street Rodder
Re: Lowering a '57 Plymouth ? [Re: BradD] #935406
03/24/11 08:19 PM
03/24/11 08:19 PM
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,832
Fort Morgan
1OFNONE Offline OP
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Fort Morgan
Ooooo, Time for a phone call.

Thanks man.

6547603-71.jpg (100 downloads)

So the bartender says to the horse " Gee, Why the long face?"
Re: Lowering a '57 Plymouth ? [Re: 1OFNONE] #935407
04/03/11 06:23 PM
04/03/11 06:23 PM
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,696
jersey
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jersey
Quote:

I would like to see a side by side photo of a standard b-body spindle and a '57 Plymouth spindle. That would tell alot.



The 57 isn't a b body. It's considered a c body.


526 cubes of angry wedge, pushbutton shifted, 9 passenger killer!






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