borbas209customs Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 wow ive never seen this crazy torsion bar setup until now how would i go about lowering this vehicle the way it is and my ultimate goal is to add an air bag suspension i have the bags now i need someone to tell me what to do from their on this crazy thing thanks guys im new at this..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 55_Clipper Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Your suspension works on the "teeter-totter" principle. Adding an air bag suspension will cause the torsion level system to cylcle endlessly. The ride height is adjustable but like an algebreic equasion, what you do to the front, must be done to the rear(the ground clearence from the rear front wheel well should be within 1/4" of the ground clearence of the front rear wheel well. The rear shocks on a torsion level system are asymetrical- long on trounce, short on bounce. I'll look up the proceedure for adjusting the ride height in my service manual. BTW- road test your Clipper on the freeway at speed. You'll find that the ride is better than any air suspension made- bar none.You may want to keep your suspension "as is". <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrpushbutton Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 I think what's going on here is that he wants to lower the car "ala Mexicano", which is going to be a little difficult given the nature of the Torsion-Level suspension. They made Clippers with front coil springs and rear longitudinal leafs, but the whole chassis is different. Those would be much easier to lower. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Randy Berger Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 The best advice I can give you is to go buy a Chevy or Ford. The only way to lower the overall height of a T/L system is to change the front links to a shorter version. These links come in five lengths indicated by the number of rings on the links. Trust me, we've had people in here before who kept asking the same question and the T/L system cannot be altered in the usual manner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borbas209customs Posted March 20, 2007 Author Share Posted March 20, 2007 ok so if i dont go with an air system how do i lower the front and rear end can i just cut and weld the bar infront where the coil spring is and in the rear do i just use lowering blocks in between the rearend and the torsion bar? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Packard8 Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 I won?t say it is impossible, but I think you will find that it is not practical. It is a very interdependent system front to rear and doesn?t lend itself to modification. We?ve had a few custom guys on here try it with not much success. Some 14? wheels with low profile tires is your best bet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Randy Berger Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 I don't know your name so will call you 209. If you look you will see that there is NO coil spring in front, so that you can't cut it. The main torsion bar on each side of a Clipper vehicle is 106 inches long. It is one long torsion bar. I don't know how I can make this any more plain than what I've already stated. And we're not being short with you - it's just that we've done this several times in the recent past with people who don't understand the Packard T/L system. I'm going to use capital letters here for emphasis, not that I'm shouting at you, OK? <span style="text-decoration: underline">YOU CAN'T DO THAT. THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM CANNOT BE MODIFIED TO DO WHAT YOU WANT.</span> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BigKev Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 With the amount of modfications you would have to do to make it work on bags, it would be cheaper to buy a non-torsion level 55 Clipper and work with that.Even with a rear leaf spring suspension, you would still need to come up with a trailing arm type setup to make it work on bags. The problem is that there are no outside supsension companies with kits to make this work on a Packard. Everything would have to be custom designed and built.I ran across a picture of a very customized '56 that a guy has sitting in the weeds, but he took the radiacal approach of channeling the body over the frame.That being said, if you had a conventional '55, then you could use shorted front springs and lowereing blocks. While that will give you a couple inches of drop, you may find that the ride quality is now horrible. Also you may have an issue with the Differential clearing the trunk floor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borbas209customs Posted March 20, 2007 Author Share Posted March 20, 2007 so then are you saying their is no possible way of lowering this vehicle without channeling over the frame? i dont care about bags thats nothing but i just want to lower it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BigKev Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Well there is always a way. It just comes down to how much you can afford to spend. On conventional suspension system the front and back systems are not connected. But on the torsion system as others has said they are. So if you drop the front, the back is going to raise, etc. The torsion bar platform is not really an ideal canidate for getting that low stance you are looking for. But it is one of the best comfort, and riding suspension ever designed.The 55/56 Packard are so different and unqiue compared to the Fords and Chevys from the same time period that you dont have to slam them to get attention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brainfrz Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Call Oz @ Oz Kustoms in Northern Cali. He is very friendly and did a full lowering on the John D Agostino's 56 Packard. See attached.Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Randy Berger Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 Someone pointed out that POC to me a good while ago. They called it a "Caribbean". Blasphemy in pink might be a better title <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> That may be a standard suspension Clipper - not sure. But then again - who cares? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loyd Smith Posted March 22, 2007 Share Posted March 22, 2007 Randy - I was waiting for someone else to make that point. I didn't want to be first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1956Packard Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Don't be so harsh - that's terribly attractive.Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borbas209customs Posted March 23, 2007 Author Share Posted March 23, 2007 thats probly one of the best looking packards ive ever seen they look so old man all origional hot rods are made to express the owners personality and thats why you customize it you your liking cause anyone can restore a car thats boaring ive restored 35 different model a's and t's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brainfrz Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 BH,to answer your observations:The car has also been sectioned to increase the visual length. The chop and section and low stance makes this packard look really long. I think its interesting that people will knock a well done custom (one that retains the original look) but will be just be fine with someone "Hot Rodding" an original. (Like the talk on replacing the trannys with more modern alternatives, or hopping up the engine) Just my thoughts. I love a good restoration, but also enjoy someones new take on a classic. The car did not receive 22" DUBS (Large rims) and a rake stance. It was kustomized. What would you think about the same custom Packard in a more subdued paint scheme like black and white (like the original)? Would it change the the minds of purists? Just a question?Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 1956Packard Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 I don't mean to be too critical, but does this car actually exist? That picture looks too much like someone's photoshop homework to me....? and I don't just mean the colour.Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
borbas209customs Posted March 23, 2007 Author Share Posted March 23, 2007 yeah the car really does exsist i have a few more pics of that same one and actually i have an orange 55 packard that looks even better. but it wont let me upload cause its a bitmap Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 55_Clipper Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 save it as a .jpeg file. That customization doesn't look all that bad...... the paint, well that is personal preference. <span style="font-style: italic">I</span> would never do such a thing to my 55, but then again it is my car. 209, you would definately be better off with a non torsion level car for that type of customization. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Randy Berger Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Anyone can restore a car? Maybe you can do that with A's and T's where they make almost every part as a repro and those are very basic cars, but restoring an automobile takes considerably more time, skill and dedication than creating a custom. On a "custom" you can paint it S__t brindle brown because you mixed up the wrong paint and then say "That's the way I wanted it". Finding the original upholstery, duplicating the proper color(s), rebuilding mechanical components to perform like new and just finding a quality plater and then investing the money required to bring all that chrome back to its original appearance takes time, patience and some amount of dedication. So please don't come on these forums and insult our intelligence. You asked for our advice and we gave it willingly. Just because you don't like the answer, don't attack the messenger. You're not showing us anything new. We've seen it all years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Packard enthus. Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 humpf....and to think you guys "rag" on me because I changed my rear axle ratio ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6219_Rules Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Simple, Mr. H. Do as I do not as I say. <img src="http://forums.aaca.org/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Gariepy Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 Same car - different photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Gariepy Posted March 23, 2007 Share Posted March 23, 2007 See all of the Dangostino customs at:http://www.johndagostinokustomkars.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Gariepy Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 B.H.I didnt realize "you guys" ment you? hmmmmmm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Packard enthus. Posted March 24, 2007 Share Posted March 24, 2007 Hey BH - listen up..I dont want to make your little circle of buddies work so hard and having to repeating themselves..take better notes !One more time - I confess..I am the WORST guy in the world - I hate ALL cars except my own. I think everyone else's car should be sent to the "crusher". I come in here ONLY to irritate YOU, look for trouble, and pick on guys who dont have a car EXACTLY like mine. Got it now ?P.S. - Seriously - I agree with you - while it is interesting to see what buckets of money can do in the hands of really competent, artistic shops, yes - you're right...me too, I am much more impressed when I see a car owned by an individual who has loved it all up with his OWN hands. Yup..even if it is a custom or hot rod !P.S. - thought I explained to you guys why I wanted a higher rear axle ratio (lower numerically), and how I did it to preserve the authentic rear axle housings, backing plates, spring perches, brakes, axles, etc. If you are or anyone else is seriously interested in the "high gear axle ratio" issue, perhaps we should start a separate "thread" - I dont want to be the guy who gets too off base . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brainfrz Posted March 28, 2007 Share Posted March 28, 2007 Thanks for posting the links to Carl's "New" version of old Packard designs. Thats really cool that someone was able to take the old drawings and make a full car out of them. Sounds like customizing to me. the true art of customizing is taking what you see and making improvements to the Style, lines, or features to improve from stock. I'm sure a lot of cool styled cars from all the makers ended up on the cutting room floor or the back vault due to the perception of "General Public" desires.Jon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now