Pre-war (up to 1942) Body On Frame W/ Engine Car Is Still WAY to High Springs Won't Settle '37 Coupe

[carlhungness]

   I've read of this problem previously and the title states my problem. I have dis-assembled and re-assembled all of the front end on my '37 LaSalle coupe, installed my 1976 Eldorado Engine, turbo 400 trans, 9" Ford Rear, no mods to the frame, steering, shocks, springs, etc. I replaced the rubber 'towers' with ones from Steele (and they're a lot shorter than originals!). Now the top A arms are depressed all the way and smashing the new rubber towers, if that is a term we can understand.
    The problem is the car is WAY too high. After calling Eaton Springs and asking about new coils for the front end I learned they no longer make them. My idea was to replace the stock coils and lower the car in front two inches, then have the rear springs re-arched to lower it another two inches in the rear.
    My original plan was to use the stock springs fore and aft, then later thought I'd like to lower the whole car, properly a couple of inches.
    Now after installing the body yesterday I was sure hoping the chassis would at least go back to stock height and it's far from it.
    Kim at Eaton says she's heard of the problem before and the solution was to assemble the whole car, drive it a couple hundred miles and see if it settles.
     On previous post a couple of years back I recall another member with the same problem.
     The whole dog-house assembly weighs, how much? Fifty to sixty pounds per fender,50-60 or so for the grill and shell and maybe 35-40 for the hood. That's not much total, maybe 200 lbs.
     Now I'm changing my mind. I'll settle for stock height if I can get back to it. First, the Ford 9" rear end has been narrowed to same width as the stock LaSalle, and it is just sitting on the LaSalle brackets I surgically removed from the stock rear end. I have to get all of the weight on the car in order to set the pinion angle, then weld the rear end brackets in place. Secondly, since they can't make me new springs for the front I won't cut a couple of coils out of the originals as the originals have 'square' bottoms, they will stand up straight if removed. If I cut the coils I'll be changing the angle of the springs (which would probably work). Next, if they re-arch the rear springs there is no guarantee the old metal won't break.
     So I'll settle for stock height and wondering who else may have re-assembled a car and experienced the same problem. As I recall a photo of the car I referred to appeared on the forum and it looked absolutely horrible..it was sitting many inches above ride height.
     The frame is finished, body is in primer, and the whole plot is dis-assembled. So the plan was to paint the parts, with cockpit on the car, paint the parts, assemble and then drive it. I really don't want to assemble the whole thing again before paint. I did so upon dis-assembly...I put the front end on to check fit, was satisfied and believe it is ready for paint.
     Suggestions solicited.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

Not sure if this may be the issue, but isn't the '37 engine, a lot heavier than the 500 that comes in at between 595 and 625 Lbs.?   I don't have any figures on the LaSalle engine, or either transmissions.   But, the LaSalle transmission with the bellhousing, flywheel, clutch and pressure plate will most likely be more that the TH400.

This loss of weight will make a have difference to the ride height using original springs.

I have done a lot of engine and transmission transplants, and have had to take a lot into account when selecting suspensions.

Bruce.

[V63]

Yes, the flathead was boat anchor heavy.

[harvey b]

200 pounds? put it together and it will weigh a lot more then you think,radiator and water in it,all the little brackets and stuff,you will be suprised how much it will drop.If it has sidemounts thats at least 125 pounds more easy.That is good advice to wait and see,it may be too low with the old springs in it.  harveyb

[carlhungness]

The Flathead was almost 700 lbs and the Eldordo engine is 600, so there is 100 lbs difference. But I imagine the turbo 400 weighs more than the three speed original trans. Will get the whole plot bolted together and see how it turns out.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

As I said, don't forget the added mass when you include the bellhousing, Manual Flywheel and Clutch and Pressure Plate of the original car.

Bruce.

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Cars sitting too high have been a  problem for years!!! WHY?? Vendors copied the heaviest cars
springs. If you look at spring choices in 1941, they show 75 series cars.  Put them in a 62 series car & it sets to high, They say done to factory specs. That's a lie. I think you get out the flaming wrench and lower them. There are guys that can do it. Check the low rider community. And... that're NEVER gonna settle down.
Bob

[Tom Beaver]

Carl, the weight of the 48 flathead engine and radiator is listed as 992.4 lbs.  This does not include    the weight of the generator, fan assembly, carburetor and linkages.

When I assembled my LaSalle with body, engine and drive train all bolted in place the upper A-arms completely compressed the rubber bumpers.  I removed the rubber bumpers temporarily to keep from damaging them.  When I installed the front fenders, radiator, grill shell and hood the upper A-arms were very close to the rubber bumpers and the front of the car rode too high.  When I finally got to drive it on the road, the front end was now too low, with the original stock springs.  I had new springs made to the original factory specifications, based on the part numbers on the springs.  The car now rides like it was supposed to. 

With that appreciably lighter Cadillac engine you have you may find that the front of your car will ride to high.  But I think, as others have suggested, that you need to completely assemble the car and find out for sure.   

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Tom,
Please re-read my post. Have you noticed how many cars of all makes riding WAY too high. Like I said it's been  a problem for years. Surely you've noticed?? Maybe Carl needs to put a 100 # of sand on each front fender & report the results!! Any vendor that says the springs will settle is lying. !! OEM springs should look like factory fresh.
Bob

[bcroe]

I have had new springs settle a lot in a relatively
few miles.  Do drive it some, then torch the springs. 
Bruce Roe

[Abe Lugo]

Carl
Perhaps find a local spring shop that does truck springs and have them work in your springs. 
On one of our vintage cars we rebuild old spring s and had them rearched and added a heavier spring for overall strength.
I would say if you have your project towed to the print shop make sure it has all the weight it will have while in the road.  Also the correct final tires.
Setting the suspension height via a catalog is never accurate. It had to be done in person. 

[Cape Cod Fleetwood]

Assuming they were installed correctly, and were the correct springs for the car, new springs have to settle. I found this out. After the weight of the car has been on them for about a year, and especially driving it, you'll be fine.

[V63]

I ran into the quagmire with a coil spring 57 brougham I further modified. I must say the beauty of air suspension is your ability to control the ride height.

I made significant weight reductions, and I had your problem. There is largely unappreciated engineering into coil springs. If I remember correct I finally ordered front coils from a 77 Buick sedan, and the brougham was still too high. Ultimately i cut the springs.

An added problem to the brougham was converting to coils was operationally not ideal and that is why the brougham was air suspended To achieve desired ride height. Coils were "ok"  but would bottom out too readily.

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

The major problem with cutting coils is that by removing any amount of the coil, the capability of the spring to hold up the car during suspension travel is lessened, hence the harder ride.

A coil spring is the same as a leaf spring, in that the shorter the length, the less able the spring is able to properly work.

Bruce.

[V63]

Agreed, but the car actually rode fine, but the limited spring travel to achieve ride height caused the springs to bottom out. The selection of air suspension was as much a styling accomplishment than anything.

[Bob Hoffmann CLC#96]

Guys,
 I don't believe the settle theory. I've seen many jacked up cars YEARS later. New cars sit perfectly correct when sold. The problem is with the supposed OEM manufactures. They don't make them correctly & they're most always high & NEVER low. I always use factory springs when possible. I & many other people prefer a car that's  a LITTLE low rather than jacked up. Don't you???
 Bob