??? just got a 60 belvedere 2 door hdtp. sits kinda low in the front. wondering if new front shocks would bring it up or do i have to adjust torsion bars or both. where would i get those shocks, they look awful short to me. also its a 318 with a powerflite. didn't know they did that but looks to original drive train. thanks boys appreciate the help.
Boy, that is a big finned car! Looks good.
I recall from the time I was trying to fix the front end of my parent's 63 Plymouth (back in about 1973) that the torsion bars are easily adjusted by cranking on a bolt some place around the torsion bar. Don't remember the exact details but I do recall the factory service manual was pretty clear on how to make the adjustment and how to measure/set the height. I'd suggest finding a copy of the factory service manual, it will tell you what you need to know.
Plymouths is correct.
I had the driver's side torsion bar snap on my (former) '79 St. Regis.
Regards,
Pat O'Connor
i have the manual and have read on adjusting the torsion bars. seems pretty simple if and only if nothing snaps. it seems like it has to come up about three inches and that makes me nervous. i guess by turning that adjuster you are putting tension on that torsion bar increasing its spring rate (or making it tauter) and i really have no way to guage how much torque it will take. how could they get less tense to bring the front down over time and they are not broke as they are even. i was hoping someone would say just put the shocks iin it and that will bring it up but i havent heard that so far. also was wondering if anybody knows where to get the shocks. rears are readily available but im not having much luck with the fronts.any help greatly appreciated . since i took that picture i did get the "toilet seat" on and the six side spears on the quarters. looks good but got to get the front up on this "jet plane"
Putting new shocks will not bring up your front at all! Shocks (properly called suspension dampers) are there only to dampen out unwanted spring oscillations when the vehicle travels over uneven ground. Also, I don't see any problem with re-tensioning the torsion bars. It's quite possible that a previous owner reduced the tension to deliberately lower the front end.
Brian
thanks brian, i figured it wouldnt bring it up but i was a little leary of torking on those bars but pv blasted them and did a little at a time and " voila" up it came. got it nice now and it drives much better so im a happy guy. now ive got a tranny leak (powerflite). looked like it was coming out of the converter cover but i took it off and the converter is dry. cleaned it off and i let it sit and see if i can figure where its coming from. hope its the pan gasket. think i heard a kind of whistle when i discovered the leak so maybe somthing is plugged up and building up pressure. tomorrows another day.
okay back to this powerflite. cleaned it off and does not leak when sitting but figure when its running it builds up pressure it pisses out pretty good. i will have to try that this afternoon and maybe i can spot where its leaking from. any ideas anyone.
Is the leak in the area of the bellhousing, or the pan?
From what little I've read, you may very well have a leaking front pump seal.
When the engine is running the pump and torque converter are under a great deal of pressure.
Please give out a bit more informaton or show us a picture, as that would be more helpful.
it appears to be the front pump seal. looked like the bolt heads were wet, everything else looked ok. i was able to tighten the bolts and then ran it on the stands. doesn't seem to be leaking now but i havent gave it a good test, thougt i do the brakes while its on the stands. suprisingly as much as it was peein out it didnt need fluid. hoping it was a combination of overfilled and loose bolts, but i think i will probably have to replace front pump seal but that will heve to go on the lift and i kinda got that tied up right now. thanks for your help.
How is your car running today? Yes I know it's been a long time, but still, I am curious.