car_designer

I am considering lowering my Cutlass (at some point), and am wondering if anyone has lowered their 68-72 Cutlass/442. I am thinking of lowering it by 1-1.5". I have seen spring sets with 1" or 1.3" drops.

Does anyone have any pics of their lowered Cutlass? I would like to get an idea of what it would look like lowered in that range.

If I got a set of lowering springs, with either a 1" or 1.3" drop, would I need any other parts, like different shocks, or would the springs be all I would need?

I don't want to go crazy, I just want to give it a nice stance.

Shizzy

I would toss a fresh set of shocks in there while you are at it. Also, put a set of polyurethane sway bar bushings and end links on it.

here is my heap. I have the Hotchkiss springs under it.

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oldzy

Shizzy... are they the Hotchkis 1901's @ http://www.hotchkis.net/6772_gm_abod..._4_1_drop.html ?

I have the same springs (actually the complete TVS kit at present - uninstalled b/c I am back and forth whether to use some or all parts), and was wondering what they would look like on a '72 CS. What size tires/rims in the pics? Any more side shot pics?

Shizzy

I bought them about 10 or so years ago before there were multiple part numbers so I cant help you on that. I belive it was a 1.5" drop. the current tires are 245/60/15 in the rear and 225/60/15 up front. the car sits completley level, but due to the shape of the car it always looks like the rear is lower then the front. I can say it was a wonderful addition to the car. it goes where I point it.

I dont have many pictures since Yesterday was its first time out of dry dock in 8 years.

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oldzy

They seem to sit a little lower than I thought they would, but 10 years is a while though (and also being 1.5" as you say). Did you ever have any 'vibration' issues in the driveshaft?

I have a Cobalt that is lowered on Eibach Sportlines, and the thing vibrates/shudders at low acceleration.

oldzy

Here are a few more lowered pics (from this site IIRC)...

Shizzy

no vibration issues at all. no tire rubbing. you will loose a little bit of traction from a dead start though.

GoodOldsGuyDougie

I vote against it in everyway.

Aceshigh

The ONLY true benefit you gain from this is less body roll in a turn.
So unless you're going to be road racing around a track, it's purely for aesthetic purposes only.

It will make your ride a bit harder too.
I know, I did it to my pro-touring 78z28 I put an LS1 in with the entire Hotchkis TVS system.
It dropped my car 1.5-2" all around. Car corners like one mean MF'r but the suspension is basically really stiff.

I personally think the tucked in rim look is pretty gay myself. I absolutely hate it.
I want the ENTIRE profile of the tire showing. So if you can close the gap to keep it right
at the fender line, that's my perfect sweet spot. To each their own though obviously.
I hate the "DUBS" look......horrible. This is an example....

oldzy

How stiff? I have the complete TVS system also (uninstalled) until I get to those parts of my resto. I also have the Hotchkis HPS1000 Bilstein shocks.

EDIT: ok... 'really' stiff LOL. I assume it is the Hotchkis shocks that contribute more to that?

In re to TVS system, I was going to sell it, then not going to, then going to, then not... now it is in limbo.

Aceshigh

It's stiff.......stiffer then a vette IMO.
Plus I put sidepipes on my car......so I scrape the curb EVERYTIME I come off my driveway.

I also have the HPS1000's which are revalved Bilsteins.
I also have SC&C upper control arms that are adjustable for the track.
C5 Corvette braking system as well.

This is the best shot I have of how it sits. It sits waaaaaaaay lower then my 442 wannabe.
Side by side it sits like 6-7" lower then my Olds. I just verified it. This is NOT just because of the TVS kit tho.

oldzy

One thing I was confused on about the TVS system (or the Hotchkis springs separately), is that is says 1" drop from factory.

Well IIRC, the 442 had 1" lower springs than std... so are they talking aboot lower than the std Olds... or the 442?

I want my entire rim showing, and preferably the whole top of the tire.

oldzy

Interesting. I don't want too stiff, but I don't want a boat ride either.

Also, when you go loww, it is kinda like a unwritten rule that you gotta get rimzzzzz. LOL. Personally, I think rimzzz look kinda gay on an Olds (well 68-72 anyway), and prefer the Olds rallye look.

car_designer

I have been thinking more about this, and I think I would like something similar to what Aceshigh said, close the gap above the tire, but not have the top of the tire hidden.

Here is how the my Cutlass sits right now. I do not know the condition of the springs, but assuming they are not sagging too much, I think a 1.3" or 1.5" drop would close the gap just enough.

oldzy

You want it lower than that? It looks good to me.

car_designer

I wouldn't mind just a little lower. But probably no more than 1-1.5". I may not lower it at all, but just wanted to get an idea of what a 1-1.5" drop looks like.

Aceshigh

1" won't be really noticable IMO.
But it really depends on the rims you choose. Factory SSII's.....probably okay.

Here's my aftermarket Foose Legend rims from the side on my 442 wannabe.
I am pretty sure this is the factory height too. As you can see, my profile of my tire is 100% visible
and its' right at the fender line. This for me is perfect, and that is the factory ride height I'm pretty sure.

I forget the front tire size but the rears are 285/40/18 rims are 18x10" IIRC
Front's are 17" , because I wanted a staggered look. My front end needs a 1" drop though.
So basically you can see the difference between the rear and the front which is 1" higher then the sweet spot.

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June25thnewrims3.jpg

scr8p

this is a 68 f-85 we finished middle of last year. it has complete hotchkis suspension front and rear. i know the rear was a one inch drop, but i don't recall where we set the front end. the lower control arms have spacer plates to adjust ride height. the rims are billet specialties..... 17x8 is i remember correctly. 255/55-17 in the rear (slight rub though and were eventually changed), 235/55-17 up front.


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highlander

hers mine it lowered a little

Aceshigh

You know something, I forgot that I put in all aluminum body bushings for the front frame attachment too. (Camaro)

That probably contributes to my very stiff ride.