[Spridgets] Lowering a rubber bumper 1500?

[Guy Weller]

The 1500 also had a great depth of metal in the front wings (fenders) above
the wheel arch to compensate for the raised ride height. If you use wide
front tyres then lowering may result in wing to tyre contact on hard
cornering.  Worth watching for.

Guy

-----Original Message-----
From: spridgets-bounces at autox.team.net
[mailto:spridgets-bounces at autox.team.net]On Behalf Of David Riker
Sent: 21 December 2008 22:56
To: Lee Fox; spridgets at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Spridgets] Lowering a rubber bumper 1500?


Lee:

The front spring swap will lower the front end to CB height.  Removing the
lift blocks from the rear springs will get you part of the way there in the
rear, but the RB springs still have more arch to them than the CB springs.
To truely get the CB height, you will need to change the rear springs as
well.  How it will look is your opinion.  I think they look good lowered
even farther than that.  You can do almost another inch lower than CB height
and the car will look well planted.  If you are replacing the springs
anyway, specify 1" lower height rear springs, and you can either use spring
pan spacers in the front with the CB springs, or get shorter/stiffer front
springs.  The handling, under normal driving is not noticably different.
You'll feel more difference from all new parts and correct alignment than
you will from a change in the ride height.  Odds are the negative camber
will go away if you replace all of the worn front suspension parts.  The
main drawback to lowering the car is that you will drag the exhaust pipe
over speed bumps more often.
David R.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Lee Fox" <lee.fox at sbcglobal.net>
To: <spridgets at autox.team.net>
Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2008 8:28 AM
Subject: [Spridgets] Lowering a rubber bumper 1500?


> One of my winter projects is to replace all the suspension bushings,
> front and rear, in my 1979 rubber bumper Midget.
>
> Is there any reason/advantage to lowering the ride height to A-series
> specs?
>
> Will it look stupid?
> Will it improve or hurt handling?
>
> What is involved?
> I have a set of front coils from a '69.
> I can remove the spacers at the front of the rear leaf springs.
> Anything else???
>
> I have a negative camber situation in the front that I'm going to try
> and fix with offset adjustable trunnion bushings from MiniMania, per
> Frank C.'s advice. I think I also will avoid poly bushings elsewhere, as
> I've not heard much in their favor, except at the track.
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