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leadsled_van · Post by **leadsled_van** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:15 am

thanks vintageholden, i thought about that for a bit then decided to get the nut welded back on, it would be to difficult to get inside the spring to stop one end of it spinning.
here's an update pic, i've put some lower profile tyres on the front and an adjustment of the front springs dropping the height about 60mm. also taken a leaf out of the back to soften the ride, that dropped it 30mm, i plan to flip the eyes on the springs and put some blocks in the back and drop the front another inch once mods plates and Qld rego is sorted.

leadsled_van · Post by **leadsled_van** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:36 am

after a little lowering it's still riding like a tractor, got the 80's rake

leadsled_van · Post by **leadsled_van** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:56 am

i'm thinking about making some changes to the floor above the diff to give it more travel once lowered (instead of sitting on the bump stops) anyone have any advice on this?
also where can i get a solenoid kit to make the top tailgate remote opening and smoothed door buttons so i can remove the handles but still have it QLD legal.
does anybody know if an FB steering wheel will fit on a VL commodore column or how to make one fit?
can anyone reccomend a good springworks in QLD to make up a new top leaf spring with reversed eyes, i saw there's someone good in maryborough but not sure of the business name?
thanks

FB MAD · Post by **FB MAD** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 10:12 am

What hit the front right indicator/grill??

If you are on the bump stops at rear already you can shorten the rear bump stops to gain some more suspension travel but it is illegal to do so in most,if not all states

.

To modify the rear you would have to cut into and modify the rear rails which is a large structural member so as far as I know most states again won't allow it ?? although I think Gary's ( V8EK4us ) EK sedan was allowed rear rail mods in N.T ??

I'm guessing the front end is HR?? and if so the best ,still legal in most states ( except bloody NSW now

) way of lowering the front end safely is to use dropped front axles available from a few companies and if you are still not happy with the stance then you can fit lowered front coils to drop it even further.

In theory, dropped HR stubs with 2 inch lowered heavy duty front coils can get you a 4 inch drop from standard ride height.

leadsled_van · Post by **leadsled_van** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 11:10 am

thanks FB MAD,
the damage is from a wallaby i hit on the way up from vic, i was asleep in the back about 1hr north of dubbo and woke up at 3am almost suffering hypathermia, i had to get the heater going so got back on the road heading home, this fat bastard appeared in the headlights and i couldn't avoid him. now i'm trying to find parts to have it repaired.

the front end is torana and still has about 3" of travel before hitting the bump stops, thats with what i'm guessing is HQ stubs and V8 springs with 1 coil removed, i'm considering 6cyl lowered springs (once i decide on the height) to soften the ride and want to drop the spring height about half an inch and drop another inch with torana drop stubs. the rear has about 3" of clearance between the diff and bump stops but i'm wanting to go about 4" and looking at some load assist airbags or air shocks. i read somewhere airbags are illegal in QLD if they are replacing springs and controlled from in the cabin and i want to keep it pretty legal.

thropzed · Post by **thropzed** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 12:28 pm

Hey Ben, with my Panno, we took the rear bump stops and threw them away! Reset leaf springs, lowered front coils and was beuatiful to drive. You can get airbags for your leaf springs that sit between the spring and chassis rail. Reduce your number of leafs and the bag takes all the pounding.
Man that guard is nothing like what I thought it would be like! Just have it beaten, no need to replace it. looks an easy repair. I still got those grill bars when you need em and the indicator fitting.
Looking real Kool!!!!
Keep that Panno running but not on empty!!! lol lol
Cheers Theo Z.......................

leadsled_van · Post by **leadsled_van** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 1:24 pm

thanks Theo,
the wallaby damage doesn't look too bad in these pics but the indicator is pushed through the guard and the impact has bent up the side of the guard and its all cracked over the arch and crunched near the drivers door. has cracked the eyebrow above the indicator and pushed that part of the guard up to the headlight and a little damage to the bonnet chrome. hopefully get a few other things done while its at the beaters.

thropzed · Post by **thropzed** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 2:00 pm

Ben, Reset springs to 2 inch below standard cost $130 I supplied the springs and refitted. Mayne Springworks

I did a similar thing but with a driveway bolard!! I pulled the guard and took it to the beaters, They fixed it up great but the painter must have been colour blind and couldn't match the paint!
Let me now when you need the bits for the grill and i'll get em to ya!
Cheers Theo Z................

Trev · Post by **Trev** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 5:37 pm

leadsled_van wrote:i'm thinking about making some changes to the floor above the diff to give it more travel once lowered (instead of sitting on the bump stops) anyone have any advice on this?

I think you would be wasting your time modifying the chassis above the bump stops, the tail shaft will hit the floor as-well so it would need to be modified too, Trev

.

BLOWN EK · Post by **BLOWN EK** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 6:32 pm

my ek ute has had the rear springs reset to inches lower and i added 2 inch blocks springs cost 160 they took out and refitted them.Front end has stubtech dropped spindles with two inch lowered coils .Rides real good minifb has driven it steve jackson has driven it not harsh over bumps
regards blown ek

leadsled_van · Post by **leadsled_van** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 7:28 pm

I think you would be wasting your time modifying the chassis above the bump stops, the tail shaft will hit the floor as-well so it would need to be modified too, Trev

hey Trev, i agree on the tailshaft tubbing.

damage is similar to yours on the side Theo, same dent above the wheel arch, my special badge snapped in half from it. your hub caps are real cool, where did ya find them?

hey Blown Ek, who did the reset, sounds like good value if they fitted them to, where can i see some pics of your ute?

Trev · Post by **Trev** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 8:54 pm

My car has HR front with heavy duty lowered springs with 1 coil cut off and the rear is the old 1 leaf turned upside down and 1.5" lowering blocks, I load myself the wife and 4 kids plus a boot chokers full of luggage and it doesn't bottom out Too much, only over big bumps

, Trev

.

leadsled_van · Post by **leadsled_van** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 9:21 pm

[quote="Trev"]My car has HR front with heavy duty lowered springs with 1 coil cut off and the rear is the old 1 leaf turned upside down and 1.5" lowering blocks, I load myself the wife and 4 kids plus a boot chokers full of luggage and it doesn't bottom out Too much, only over big bumps

, Trev

.

yeah, that sits real nice Trev. i did the same thing in my fc wagon and i really liked how it handled and it sat just right with 6 blokes in it, but i read somewhere that you can bust a leaf like that and thought if it was the main leaf and you were doing 100km it could end up messy and insurance wouldn't be real cool about it.

Grimbo · Post by **Grimbo** » Tue Aug 25, 2009 11:19 pm

Bloody nice van, but your fc wagon is really sweet. Any more pics of it?

thropzed · Post by **thropzed** » Wed Aug 26, 2009 9:44 am

Ben,
My caps are '52 1/2 Cadillac. Couldn't believe it when I won them on evilbay US. Thought for sure some local guy in pennsylvania would snipe me. Got em for US$65 and AUS$55 postage. I had to modify the grippers and now run the original Caddy emblems. Wheel package, Tyres, Rims, Flappers and Caps all up $435.......Bargain for the look I was chasing.
Cheers Theo Z.....................