Nut Draggin Wagons

Who out there has lowered their wagon? If so how did you do it and lets see some pics (before and after) if ya got em. Ive been thinking about lowering mine but i wanted to see if anyone else has and how they have gone about doing it. Every picture i see of a classic station wagon that i really like its ALWAYS lowered. Lets see what ya got!

 

Unfortunetly don't have a real "before" picture but here's two pics one lifted one laid out. This particular car is on hydraulics, not the "hoppy" type, I run something called accumulators on my pumps which work a lot like shocks. Gives the car the big floaty ride much like the original, but with the added feature of about 10" of adjustability.

 

Here's mine:

Before:

And after a 1" drop:

I used BMR lowering springs. Also rebuilt the front end and new rear control bushings and added a heavy duty sway bar to the front and rear. The car rides and handles great. Before it just seemed to "wallow" around and did not feel precise. Now it's tight .This was a great improvement for me.

 

When I rebuilt the front suspension in my '77 LTD II, I lowered the front by cutting 3/4 coil from the original front springs. Some people say not to do it. I've cut springs on a few cars, and never had a problem. But, I wouldn't cut more than a coil.

There are several companies that can custom made coil springs to your specifications. When I was researching, prices seemed to range from $400 to $1000 for a set of four.

My rear springs are what they call "pig-tail" springs, meaning both the bottom and top are tapered. So I couldn't cut them.

You'll need to verify whether you have coil springs or leaf springs to determine what you'll need in order to lower it.

Before & After pics.

 

I like the looks of them all - especially Dewey's.

 

Thanks Mr. Savage!!! I like them all too!

 

Me too. I think they all look great, especially lowered.
Deweys looks like the grass grew 6".
My 55 Chevy is not really low. We did swap to 2" lowered springs on front.
Not a great picture.

 

Lowered wagons - my favorite type! Here's mine before:

and after:


3" drop, via new coil springs up front and new leaf springs in the rear. I also have air shocks on the rear when I want to raise it up a bit.

 

Great looks and stances all, and again, special props to Dewey!

 

I love a wagon with an altitude adjustment...definitely not everyones cup of tea on the forum. I realize mine is an extreme example too, but the improvement in looks and handling alone is worth it in my opinion. All these wagons look great!

 

Thanks Merc! Wasn't an easy feat with this land yacht, but many times have come out of the store to have a crowd of guys standing around her having a look. Got cheers and clapping once when I fired her up (deep rumble) then boosted her into the air and drove away...for me, that made all the hard work worth it.

 

Too fun Dewey! Glad to finally see some closer-up shots.

 

With my '76 Montego wagon, I plan to save up for lowering springs. I definitely like the dropped look. Here's a pic of it on the transport truck, ratched down for the trip. Not sure I want it this low. But we'll see...

 

That's strange n2fordmuscle. I was told you tie down on the suspension not the body. The first car I hauled to Florida when we moved was the wagon. I had it tied down using the bumper brackets. By the time I got several hundred miles and checked it the straps had worked loose. A trucker saw me tightening it down again and was the first of many to tell me to use the axles, A-frames, etc. So I did from then on. No more loose straps.
Yet yours was hauled by a pro and tied with the body supports.

 

Personally, I think it depends on the wagon, and what the factory spec is. Some are too high, that's for sure. Others, though, are just right from the factory. If I do end up with a 79 or up Country Squire or Colony Park eventually, it will get the 351 Trailer Tow package springs and shocks, which will actually raise it by about 3/4 of an inch. Because of the stiffer spring rates, though, it will handle better than the 'normal' wagon. Having had 4 of the late-70s 'Torino-Birds', I would use the Thunderbird springs on any late 70s midsized Ford, as any lower and there will be interference problems with the ground. As is, at factory height the T-Birds can and do hit bottom fairly regularly. Don't forget that a lot of wagons also have a lot of rear overhang, and that compounds the problem. I would sooner have the car sitting a touch high rather than damaging a back bumper because it hits the ground one time too many. There is one other consideration here, and that is what bumpers are designed to do; absorb impacts. If your car is at the wrong height or rake, you will find that there is a lot more damage done in the event of a collision, and that is especially true when a wagon with a rake is rear ended. The car behind can go way under yours, and that can to serious damage as there are all sorts of fragile things under there, including the fuel tank that is suddenly taking the brunt of the other car's bumper. Not quite what I want happening to my wagon.