Jeff Trahan Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 I posted this in a more general forum and received no replies so I'm re-posting here.I'm restoring a 1955 Roadmaster sedan and recently installed the rebuilt engine. With the engine installed, the car is still riding high. The upper support arms are squishing the bumpers on the top part of the front suspension. Is that because the car sat for so long without the engine in it that the coil springs have expanded temporarily? Will it eventually return to the normal height?Thanks for the help.Jeff T. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
55 SURVIVOR Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 Is something rusted (suspension component) stuck? Is the transmission installed too?The car springs without the engine (flex) sitting A long time will not matter. Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted July 3, 2014 Share Posted July 3, 2014 In addition to the transmission, if the fenders, hood and bumpers are installed it should be at normal height. If not remove the front shocks...I saw a 54 with frozen shock that would not move. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Trahan Posted July 4, 2014 Author Share Posted July 4, 2014 Thanks for the posts. Everything is on the car except the interior and the chrome. I don't think anything on the suspension is "stuck". The funny thing is I'm also restoring a 1947 Cadillac and it is also riding high, even with new shocks in the front. It also doesn't have the chrome or interior installed yet so maybe that is the reason.Jeff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old-tank Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Report back when all is attached or installed . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Falabella Posted July 4, 2014 Share Posted July 4, 2014 Having just played with front end chrome,I can tell you it's probably a couple hundred pounds,brackets and all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD1956 Posted July 5, 2014 Share Posted July 5, 2014 I posted this in a more general forum and received no replies so I'm re-posting here.I'm restoring a 1955 Roadmaster sedan and recently installed the rebuilt engine. With the engine installed, the car is still riding high. The upper support arms are squishing the bumpers on the top part of the front suspension. Is that because the car sat for so long without the engine in it that the coil springs have expanded temporarily? Will it eventually return to the normal height?Thanks for the help.Jeff T.Jeff, In my opinion, even without the engine the front suspension "A" frames should not be squishing the rubber bumpers. If the engine is in the car then no, the car will not return to normal height. It sounds like either:The wrong springs ( too many turns or the wrong thickness)Or the springs are not set in their pocket correctly.If the car is sitting on it's tires, can you bounce it at all? If not, something is definitely assembled incorrectly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smartin Posted July 5, 2014 Share Posted July 5, 2014 Is the car completely assembled or not? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Trahan Posted July 9, 2014 Author Share Posted July 9, 2014 I can get it to bounce a little. The bumpers and interior are not installed yet. When they are back on, maybe it will be enough weight to return the car to the normal height. Thanks to everyone who replied. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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