slyder383

Hi corvette gurus. I'm an old MOPAR lover with a new project for my father. His 76 c3 is all jacked up. Seriously, looks like a four wheel drive. The car has been sitting for a few years, yet runs good. He has lung cancer and I want to get the car right for him. I apologize I dont know how to post pics. The rear is 6 inches from the top of the tire to the bottom of the fender. The front is 4 inches from the top of the tire to the bottom of the fender. There are 9 leafs in the rear pack, all are curved. This is a strange car. It has 3 to 4 different paint jobs under the black, but I dont see any crash damage. I cant find a fender tag. I have many more pics I can post if it would help. And I appreciate any help I can get. Thanks, from Tim.

rcread

The rear may be dropped by loosening the nuts at the ends of the leaf spring. If you are at the end of the bolt and still too high, get longer bolts. What size are the front tires? They should be about 27.1" in diameter.

bashcraft

Have the springs been replaced?

Easy Mike

There isn't one. The trim tag is on the driver's door hinge post and visible when you open the door. The VIN tag is on the driver's windshield post and visible from outside the car.

slyder383

I dont know whats going on with this car. It has four different colors under the black. I think it has been pieced together. Seriously, maybe a salvage? I have new spring end bushings and bolts from Ric's, but I dont think there is enough adjustment to lower it correctly. And the front will still be way high. Front tires are p215/60R15. Rear are P255/60R15. The rear is 4 inches from top of the tire to the fender lip. Front is 4 and 1/8 inch from top of tire to fender lip.
Looking at some of your pics of spring pack's has me really confused. This one has 9 leafs, all curved down? No straight/flat leafs.

Sunracer

Wrong tires for a start. Are the shocks frozen? Was it stored on a lift? Pull the shocks. Does it settle after being driven up and down over a driveway slope?

Richard Daugird

Four paint jobs on a 40 year old car isn't so strange. My '74 had up to FIFTEEN paint jobs in places when we stripped it to bare glass.

chazde3

I don't feel so bad now about the 3 my '68 had lol

slyder383

I have new shocks for the rear, they are 1.5 inches too short. The old shocks are longer and shot. that 1st pick is with shocks off sitting on springs, it is settled as much as it will.

slyder383

I just got home and got it on the lift. Is it possible someone torqued the suspension bolts down with the car off the ground? I'm going to soak all the susp bolts down, loosen them and set the car back down to see what it does. If it sets down i will let you know.

Richard Daugird

Couldn't hurt but don't expect a miracle.

Kubs

The front tire looks a little smaller in diameter with could contribute to the optical illusion, but it does look high. Like others have said it may need to settle. Just rolling it back and forth may not work, you need to go for a spirited drive.

When I bought my '71 it was stored on jack stands for 31 years. It too looked a bit high (especially in the back), but I changed the front springs to VanSteel big block 550lb lowering springs, and longer bolts in the rear spring. Now it sits nice, even with a slightly smaller tire diameter on all 4. They are 265/50R15. Don't mind the paint (or lack of), its still a work in progress.

Before:


Now:

slyder383

Update. I replaced all the rear bushings. Took the rear springs out and flipped them. Installed new spring links and bushings, 2in over rear shock's, and I'm done with the suspension for now. It's still high. New calipers, pads, shoes and hardware done. Thanks for all the advice. I'm on to the steering next with a new thread.