Jan 30/2015
Subject: Chevy Lowrider Car, Truck or Lead
Sled
I posted this Lowrider Chevy Tattoo on my site several weeks ago
and noticed that a greater explanation and some examples of the actual vehicles
needed to be explained. By the way , this sign is located in Las Vegas Nevada and says welcome to Las Vegas.
A Better Explanation of These Types of Cars and Modifications:
So here
it is in a Nutshell.
I noticed these types
of Modifications many years ago. Specifically a friend of mine did a half mod
where he lowered the rear only and lifted the front end. The car was a Pontiac
Lemans T37. Engine was a 350cu in Chevy Engine with a 2barrel Carb and 250 hp.
What he did was drop the rear and Raise the front by changing the
front coil springs from a heavier vehicle, so the front was actually about 5
inches higher. Anyways this was his attempt.
Lowriders speak about using hydraulics and thus these hydraulic
cylinders would be located in an area that could change the height differential
in the front and rear suspension of the vehicles. The unique thing about these
mods is that you could literally make the car jump a couple of feet in the air
from the ground when using the remote controls which are connected to the
hydraulics.
You could make it lift any side of the car you wanted. There are
competitions to see which vehicle goes the highest. I have seen these on TV.
When i think about lowriders, i am brought to the time when long
bodied cars were modified , customized in some other way such as paint,
chopping the roof line several inches or more and of course modifying the
engine for more hp. Lead Sled is another term which maybe older than the term
lowrider.
So let’s talk about how to drop an older car and make it into a
lowrider. Lowrider, lead sled is not an exact science, so pretty much anything
goes, just as long as it works and the visual effect is there once it is
completed.
Let’s start with the new term in the dictionary which my tattoo
picture has a direct link to it. The car would be using hydraulics to lower and
raise the car. I read this setup was first taken from hydraulics used on airplanes.
Somehow it was custom made to tailor it for automotive use. These cylinders
would be placed somewhere in between the control arms and or the frame and the
suspension.
Probable locations could be between the solid axle on the rear
inside the coils springs and in-between the front coil springs. There are other
ways these days to make a lowrider and that is by using air bags with
pumps as a lift kit. I think this kit is more economical, but of course I don’t
know how it would compete with a hydraulic version. I heard that you cannot
drive the vehicle with it lowered too much or the air bags will fail early.The hydraulic
version would definitely be harder to install and set up in comparison to costs
involved with an air bag version. I've seen the air bag lowering kits
advertised for about $400 dollars for the front and rear. But this is just the
cost of these parts. There may be other costs involved when all things are
taken into the equation.
Remember that if you are not doing it yourself, the labor costs
will probably be more than the cost of the kit. I once installed a gabriel hijacker’s
air shocks kit on one of my cars and I really liked the way it came out. This
was not a lowrider, but a lift kit. This was necessary because I bought some
big monster rear tires and had to clear the wheel wells.
Dropped spindles are available and many engineered lower coil
springs are used every day by the enthusiasts to get the look they desire. If
you use these by themselves you could get up to a 3 inch drop or combine them
with a spindle or control arm and you could get more drop. Be aware that when
you drop the springs, you will lose travel and thus ride quality and must use
different shocks to compensate for the changes in travel.
Don't forget to check clearances for the exhaust system, wheel
wells, and pinch points on hoses for brake lines and fuel lines. The older
vehicles which had I beam construction for the front end and rear leaf springs
could be lowered simply by changing the position of the rear axle tube and
instead of the tube riding on top of the springs in the rears, the tube would
be put on top of the springs and thus an immediate 4 to 5 inch drop could be realized.
Some people have even just changed the arc in the leaf springs, so as not to
have that much of a curve and instead be more straight.
Again as mentioned above, many things would have to be looked at
to make this a safe lowering of the vehicle. My motto always is and has been
SAFETY FIRST. And if you are using old parts and they look worn out , then, when
in doubt, throw it out. Not to mention, who would want to go through all the
trouble to get at something in a bad spot for the sake of using an old part and
saving a few dollars.
Remember, these are things that I have seen , done and heard of
doing. When doing this by yourself, do your research on the subject first, look
at examples , get professional advice .These days there are many things that
can be done and depending on your budget and how mechanically inclined your
are, then this should be quite an experience for you.
Good Luck,
and Stay Safe.
www.gwansoonleetattoo.com
www.gwansoonleetattoo.com
