Rubber bumper B - Best way to lower ride height

[boxofparts]

I have seen lowered spindles, shorter springs, use a pre 74 cross member... Has anybody just cut off the raised pads on the existing rubber bumper cross member. I have a nice rust free crossmember and hate to get an old one and have to clean it all up and such and also worry about a new rack.

 

[boxofparts]

May I add ..best meaning the most correct without destoying the handling of the vehicle.

 

[kennypinkerton]

With the prerequisite of not wanting an earlier crossmember, I'd go with lowered springs (not cut stock ones), and a proper front end alignment... But I have to ask - why do you want it any lower? Mine is stock hight for a '77 model, and drags over speed bumps and sometimes when driving on potholed roads. I guess I can understand if it's a 1975-1976 model that doesn't have swaybars... But then I'd just want swaybars. My 77 can corner with the best of them... even if it sits a whole inch or so higher.

 

[tony barnhill]

If you cut off the raised pads, you basically have a chrome beam...then, your late steering rack won't work & you'll have to change it!

 

[boxofparts]

the lowered car look better as the wheels fill their openings.

 

[Bret]

The proper way is to use an early cross member up front. But if you’re worried about it looking old you can always clean it up & paint it before swapping it out. Otherwise you can just go with the lowering springs. In the rear you have two options and for a street car either are fine – a lowering kit (blocks) or lowering leaf springs.

Me? I went with springs up front and some new leafs with lowering blocks in the rear to give my B a ~2” drop up front & ~1.5” in the rear.

I also added some Polyurethane bushings all around & some up rated brakes components (pads, slotted/X-drilled roters & SS brake lines) and a set of sticky 195/60R14s. Couple those modifications with the front & rear swaybars of the later Bs - should make an otherwise well maintained rubber bumper B handle as good if not better than most any chrome bumper B with the same modifications.

Not for everyone but I like it. My only regret is in parking lots. I always make the folks behind me upset when I have to creep over those “monstrous” speed bumps. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif

 

[100DashSix]

Re: Rubber bumper B - Best way to lower ride heigh

Whenever I approach one of those mountains of pavement they ironically call "speed bumps" the people behind me only see my reverse lights coming on! I like my exhaust just how it is--attached to my car.

 

[jlaird]

Re: Rubber bumper B - Best way to lower ride heigh

Durn, that's a fine looking set of wheels Bret. Go over the speed bumps at an angle if possible.