Rear Suspension Measurement Needed

[David Green]

I'm still trying to sort out the rear suspension on my 1953 coupe and we've now figured out that when static on the wheels the rear shocks are fully compressed thus I have no rear suspension movement. I have the original shocks and new Koni's, both with the same compressed mount distance so I'm guessing the radius arms were installed with the car too low.
It would be a big help if someone with a Pre-A could post a measurement from the center of the rear axel to the bottom of the fender opening so I have a good starting point.
Thanks in advance,
David

[Phil Planck]

Is your lower shock mount bracket installed correctly? This is a 55:

[Alan Hall]

My '53 Cab has a distance of about 7.5 inches from center of wheel to lower edge of rear fender, but I recall it might have been slightly de-cambered about 50 years ago! Your car does not look like it is sitting too low, suspect a problem with shocks or mounts.

[Martin Benade]

Your car does not look low to me either. Does it have several inches more travel with the shocks off?

[Jack Stenner]

Roughly 7.5" on my '53 coupe, too. Viewed perpendicular to the axle, the edge of the fender is tangent to the edge of the 16" rim (if that makes sense to you). To me, based on your photo, your car is close...maybe a little bit high. HTH

[Jim Karaba]

Does your car have the correct Pre-A shocks/ The rear shocks on a Pre-A are shorter than other cars. Even VW shocks are longer.

[Spencer Harris]

...so I'm guessing the radius arms were installed with the car too low...

David, In case you don't have the '54 shop manual...

[David Green]

Thank you all for the measurements and suggestions and to Phil to have me check the shock mounts: problem solved! It appears that sometime during the car's decades of storage the left and right lower shock mounts were removed and installed reversed. It's now a normal drivable car.
David

[James Davies]

Fantastic! How does it drive?

[David Green]

I took off the bias tires and original rims after driving on them for 100 miles during Monterey Car Week and plan to use them only for future display. I'm now driving on Avon Turbosteel radials, 165/80/R16 on Concept-1 repro 16x3.25 rims. The ride is firm, but not too hard, the steering light and the car understeers quite a bit before turning in. I know I can have the stub axels modified but don't want to modernize anything that I can avoid. I also removed the original but functioning shocks and installed a new set of Konis set to full soft and hope they soften up a bit more with use. The 55 hp car is peppier than I expected and I'm now comfortable driving at 60-65 mph short distances across town on the local freeway. The exhaust sounds terrific and mellows out when cruising. I'm still feeling may way with this car and suspect I'll ratchet it up a notch with time - but it's old and rare, so not too much.
My '59 A coupe by comparison is a modern car by every measure.
David

[James Davies]

Fantastic!