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Lowering a '79

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Old May 27, 2005 | 09:18 PM
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Default Lowering a '79

I have a '79 that sits waaaay too high. First off i want to lower the front end 3 1/2" and the back 3" to make it sit where i want it. I would like 17's on the front and 18's on the rear. I really like the look of the c5 style 5 spoke wheels. Is there any manufactureres out there that make something similar that will bolt up with no adaptors or spacers. I would like the easiest and preferably cheapest way to lower it approx that much. I don't want to "punk" it out or whatever, i just want it to sit lower, and bigger wheels handle better.
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Old May 27, 2005 | 09:22 PM
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Originally Posted by corvetteatv7
I have a '79 that sits waaaay too high. First off i want to lower the front end 3 1/2" and the back 3" to make it sit where i want it. I would like 17's on the front and 18's on the rear. I really like the look of the c5 style 5 spoke wheels. Is there any manufactureres out there that make something similar that will bolt up with no adaptors or spacers. I would like the easiest and preferably cheapest way to lower it approx that much. I don't want to "punk" it out or whatever, i just want it to sit lower, and bigger wheels handle better.

get the 550 front springs and a 5 leaf steel rear spring. That will lower it.

Mid America sells the 5 spoke 17" wheels 8" wide that are a direct bolt on. Reasonable price too.
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Old May 27, 2005 | 09:30 PM
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Originally Posted by turtlevette
get the 550 front springs and a 5 leaf steel rear spring. That will lower it.

Mid America sells the 5 spoke 17" wheels 8" wide that are a direct bolt on. Reasonable price too.
Do you have a link to the page? How much will the springs lower it?
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Old May 27, 2005 | 10:03 PM
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Bigger wheels do NOT handle better. Get a copy of the VB&P catalog to find out what it REALLY takes to make a C3 handle properly.
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Old May 27, 2005 | 10:38 PM
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Originally Posted by page62
Bigger wheels do NOT handle better. Get a copy of the VB&P catalog to find out what it REALLY takes to make a C3 handle properly.

yeah, and make it good and low so you can scrape off all those curbs and speed bumps so i won't have to worry about 'em.
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Old May 27, 2005 | 10:42 PM
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Originally Posted by greyghost79
yeah, and make it good and low so you can scrape off all those curbs and speed bumps so i won't have to worry about 'em.
That's what I did.

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Old May 27, 2005 | 11:45 PM
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your ride needs to look like red73.....sweeeet...
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Old May 27, 2005 | 11:47 PM
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Originally Posted by Red73
That's what I did.

See that looks sweet. Now how did you lower it that much and what size, brands, specs, are your tires and wheels.
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Old May 28, 2005 | 12:41 AM
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What speed bumps:



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Old May 28, 2005 | 08:19 AM
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Here's some good info about springs and ride height:

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...6&forum_id=119


http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...772&forum_id=3
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Old May 28, 2005 | 09:30 AM
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Originally Posted by rihwoods
What speed bumps:



Some would say that is too low, look at how the car crushed that pack of cigarettes!
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Old May 28, 2005 | 10:30 AM
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That looks good. Thanks for the info redbad. Mine sits at 29" wheel to fender at the center of the wheel in front and 28.5 in back. I would like it to be about 26 in front and about 26.5-27 in the back. If i bought the 550 springs that would drop it to what about 27 ish? Then i would have to cut a little of to hit 26, right? And the back i would like to go to a fiberglass spring, so what should i get there? I would still have to go to longer bolts w/ the new spring? And i still want 17x9 in front and 18x9 in back. I think they would still fit. I am running the stock 15x8's now with 275/60's all the way around. They only hit turning full lock to the left and only a little. Thanks again for the info.
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Old May 28, 2005 | 10:53 AM
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Can anyone tell me if these wheels http://www.aewheel.com/wheels_detail.cfm?id=71 will fit my '79. BS and offset and all that mumbo jumbo. I want the 17x9 and 18x9's but don't know if they come in the right bolt pattern and so on. Another one i like is these. http://www.billetwheel.com/cgi/wheel...es&img=13&tn=1 Same questions.

Last edited by corvetteatv7; May 28, 2005 at 10:57 AM.
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Old May 28, 2005 | 10:55 AM
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red that's pure carporn Awesome picture
As for lowering, just cut the stock springs. It's easy to gauge how much has to come off, those springs have settled already and the rate will go up if you cut them.
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Old May 28, 2005 | 10:58 AM
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Originally Posted by Twin_Turbo
red that's pure carporn Awesome picture
As for lowering, just cut the stock springs. It's easy to gauge how much has to come off, those springs have settled already and the rate will go up if you cut them.
I will have to try this first then if i am not happy i will just buy the springs. They are only 80 bucks. WHere can i find 10" bolts for the rear. Vbandp only shows 8's which idk if they will be long enough. By the way Red73 you got a bada** car. I love the way it sits, low, big wheels, nice pipes. I looks sweet.

Last edited by corvetteatv7; May 28, 2005 at 12:47 PM.
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Old May 28, 2005 | 04:34 PM
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anyone have a link to where I can get 550 front springs and a 5 leaf steel rear spring?
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Old May 28, 2005 | 05:28 PM
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www.vbandp.com They are a supporting vendor to this site so i believe you will get a discount but i am not sure. They are pretty much the best for that type of stuff
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Old May 29, 2005 | 12:06 PM
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Can anyone tell me if these wheels http://www.aewheel.com/wheels_detail.cfm?id=71 will fit my '79. BS and offset and all that mumbo jumbo. I want the 17x9 and 18x9's but don't know if they come in the right bolt pattern and so on.
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