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Lowering Spring Plates

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 9:10 pm
by Adam Wright
Anyone ever see anything like this before?

Re: Lowering Spring Plates

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 10:09 pm
by Martin Benade
No, but I bet that worked wonders for the toe-in.

Re: Lowering Spring Plates

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 10:16 pm
by Jay Darlington
If i'm looking at the picture right it looks like the dog leg bends are wrong. in on one side and out on the other. just a side note I installed some VW adjustable spring plates on mine. I wanted to lower it about an inch or so now I can adjust it were I want it. i did rotate the torsion bars 1 fine click up. i don't have it on the ground yet to see what its going to do i should have it on wheels next week.

Jay D.

Re: Lowering Spring Plates

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 11:15 pm
by Ron LaDow
Martin Benade wrote: Fri May 17, 2019 10:09 pm No, but I bet that worked wonders for the toe-in.
file.jpg
file.jpg (189.91 KiB) Viewed 1367 times
Like about that?
For that to correct the toe, I think the lower plate has to be the right side, and has to be rotated quite a bit on the T-bar.
If it is left side, you'd have raised the car and given it a lot of toe-out.
Not sure and not willing to spend the skull-job on it this evening.

Re: Lowering Spring Plates

Posted: Fri May 17, 2019 11:31 pm
by Don Gale
Aren't they tempered steel? I'd be concerned with welding them lest they be prone to cracking. Can't you accomplish the same effect by clocking the inner & outer splines?

Re: Lowering Spring Plates

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 12:10 am
by Norm Miller
I think it was a bad idea gone bad.
Shortening the wheelbase, increasing the toe-in, offsetting the centerline.
Welding spring steel.
What could possibly go wrong?

Re: Lowering Spring Plates

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 1:20 am
by Martin Benade
+1. Funny they are not presently being used.

Re: Lowering Spring Plates

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 2:05 am
by Greg Scallon
I think the offset you guys are seeing is an optical illusion and they are actually all in one plane, same as stock. It looks to me like they've simply been cut and re-welded. Adam?

-Greg

Re: Lowering Spring Plates

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 7:55 am
by Vic Skirmants
Norm Miller wrote: Sat May 18, 2019 12:10 am I think it was a bad idea gone bad.
Shortening the wheelbase, increasing the toe-in, offsetting the centerline.
Welding spring steel.
What could possibly go wrong?
Oh, yes.

Re: Lowering Spring Plates

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 9:35 am
by Jacques Lefriant
If they are shorter than stock it may be an accommodation for 901 short wheel base trailing arms

Re: Lowering Spring Plates

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 12:49 pm
by Spencer Harris
Looks like the surgery was performed on early spring plates. '53 plates have the three-bolt pattern while '55 plates have four-bolt pattern (not sure when the change occurred).
53 Spring Plates w/ 3-bolts
53 Spring Plates w/ 3-bolts
53 Rear Susp.jpg (324.89 KiB) Viewed 1242 times
55 Spring Plates w/ 4-bolts
55 Spring Plates w/ 4-bolts
55 Rear Susp.jpg (313.58 KiB) Viewed 1242 times

Re: Lowering Spring Plates

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 2:21 pm
by Martin Bruechle
Is this the set that was for sale on Samba or Pelican ?
The seller was re-listing them for months, can't find them for sale now.

Re: Lowering Spring Plates

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 2:26 pm
by Jim Liberty
This is one change I would never make. The cars are 60 years old, buy a 911. ……………….Jim.

Re: Lowering Spring Plates

Posted: Sat May 18, 2019 3:53 pm
by Al Zim
What you are looking at is a dune buggy deal. I recently purchased a 901 transmission that was butchered to fit and off road buggy. al zim

Re: Lowering Spring Plates

Posted: Sun May 19, 2019 6:24 pm
by Tim Berardelli
Adam,

Looks like you have two very unique "door stops"