The Official 356Talk Forum

Hello guys I need your help on this.
How can I lower the front of my 55 coupe?
2 inches would be great.
Thanks

Hi Greg,

There was a discussion of this a few weeks ago that I think might be of interest to you, see "notching the front beam" at http://356registry.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=20390

Barry

gregory gauthier wrote:Hello guys I need your help on this.
How can I lower the front of my 55 coupe?
2 inches would be great.
Thanks

Thanks Barry I'll have a look on this thread.

You can install VW dropped spindles. Less impact on the beam.

maybe you want to start here:
http://356registry.com/forum/viewtopic. ... t=lowering

do a search "lowering" in the TALK list and you'll find lots to learn.

Barry, his 1955 has the VW setup of the center anchors being in front, with no adjustment.
However, if he notched the tubes DOWNWARD, that would lower the car. The same ratio of amount notched-to-inches lowered would be correct.

Vic is right, i don't have adjustments on my 55. I'll see if i can install vw modified spindles

The spindles will give you a different off-set in the front: the wheels will come out more. You have to decide if you like that look.

Check out this bug (see I wouldn't do something like this to a 356 ) I lowered with 2 1/2" drop spindles a few years ago ... if you compare front and rear, you'll see there is something odd about the stance of the front wheels in the fenders. The picture from the front shows it the best:

Two inches is a ton of adjustment. First thing to do is look to see if you have
an adjustment parts in the center of the tube. The usual range is about 1 inch.


Alan

gregory gauthier wrote:

Hello guys I need your help on this.
How can I lower the front of my 55 coupe?
2 inches would be great.
Thanks

Post generated using Mail2Forum via email.

Dirk Heinrich wrote:The spindles will give you a different off-set in the front: the wheels will come out more. You have to decide if you like that look.

Check out this bug (see I wouldn't do something like this to a 356 ) I lowered with 2 1/2" drop spindles a few years ago ... if you compare front and rear, you'll see there is something odd about the stance of the front wheels in the fenders. The picture from the front shows it the best:

Could you balance out the back by installing spacers? Not sure how much room is back there as my car is a long way from being on four wheels. Seems like a slightly wider track would be beneficial if the you could still steer w/o hitting the wheel wells.

you might try removing the the leaf springs (torsion bars) and install some 356A springs. this worked great for my 53. you could change one or two depending on how low you want. i think your car should still have the thick five leaf spring and the later cars have six leaf spring also they are sliced so you have 12 little pieces welded at each end . jim b. would have the leaf springs. its something to think about.

garry

The "divots" in the center are on the wrong side. You could grind new divots.
Remember, the cornering loads are resisted strictly by the center anchors!

opps i forgot to say drill or grind a very small dimple on the other side of the spring sorry. now will it work vic?


garry

hey greg

how is the pre a '55 doing. i really miss my old coupe.
please send me some pics.
thank you

Garry,
Yep, now it will work. Have to do that on the Sway-Away bars when installing them in a 356.