Re: IML: front end height question of 1960 Imp

["Rob van der Es" <r.vdes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your clear answer (as always)!

You have made me think twice if the sitation has always been there, and the 
whole situ is just my imagination..

The car sure handles great, even on bumpy roads so I am sure nothing is 
broken, and since the car is still equal left and right it would be a very 
strange thing that both anchor bolts are at fault at the same time.

It wouldn't drive and handle like it does, which is perfect, on bumpy roads 
if something mechanical was wrong I think.
I only think the front end is lower then it was when it came from the 
factory and when I bought it 2 years ago.

Maybe you and others on the list with a 60 can give me some measurements of 
their cars front bumper: when you look at the lowest point of the front 
bumper (where the license plate is attached), how far is it actually from 
the floor??

Then I will know for sure if my front end is really too low, maybe we should 
measure at some other specific points too (on a flat road ofcourse) to be 
sure if the height is correct or not.

I must admit however that  the rear is a little too high at the moment..
The previous CA owner of the car has fitted Monroe Max Air shocks 
(http://www.monroe.com/products/mp_detail.asp?cat=0&detail=Max%20Air

I have raised the pressure a little too much maybe, just to compensate the 
weight of the two propane (LPG) tanks that are fitted in the trunk. I don't 
have any vibrations btw at any speeds.

So I hope that the 60 owners on the list can give me some good measurements 
at specific points to determine how far their front bumper is away from the 
floor.

Thanks in advance,

Robert




----- Original Message ----- 
From: <randalpark@xxxxxxx>
To: <mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, June 21, 2007 2:33 AM
Subject: Re: IML: front end height question of 1960 Imp


> Nothing about what you did to jack up the car should have effected the 
> height. If anything, it should have sat a little high at first, and then 
> settled once it sat for a while or was driven.
>
> I am concerned about this change, since these things don't happen by 
> themselves. If the front end is bottomed out, it is possible the the 
> Torsion Bar Anchors have broken. I wouldn't think they both do it at the 
> same time, but I guess anything is possible on a 47 year old car. The 
> anchors are at the cross member under the transmission. If you are able, 
> you should read the FSM Front Suspension section thoroughly.
>
> I had this experience with my '65 Imperial back in the late '70s, but it 
> only happened on one side. You should be able to tell if your front 
> suspension is working by driving the car and feeling how to reacts to dips 
> in the road way. I have no trouble myself determining this when it happens 
> to my own cars, but without driving your car, I can not diagnose this for 
> sure.
>
> Are you positive that the car wasn't at this level before? If the rear end 
> height is too high in relation to the front, you may also notice a 
> vibration at around 35 mph due to improper drive shaft angle. If there is 
> a vibration now and there wasn't before, then something definitely has 
> changed.
>
> The torsion bars are adjustable, but that can only be done if the anchors 
> are in good condition.
>
> Keep us posted on this Robert!
>
> Paul W.
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rob van der Es <r.vdes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> To: mailing-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Wed, 20 Jun 2007 1:55 pm
> Subject: IML: front end height question of 1960 Imp
>
>
>
> Hello fellow Imperialists,
>
>
> Apart from wrestling with some electric gremlins lately, I am a little
> worried about one other thing.
> When I looked closely to my car today I found that the front end was too
> close to the floor.
> It never drawed my attention before and I guess something must have
> happend when the car was on jack stands for almost a week with the front
> wheels free of the ground.
>
> Ofcourse I did not place the stands or the jack right under the torsion
> bars, the stands where placed under the wide frame members (left and
> right).
>
> I was working then on the driver side cilinderhead, trying to get rid of
> some broken exhaust manifold studs.
> When I succeeded this job, I lowered the car and was too happy to notice
> the fact that the front end was lower then before.
>
> When I walked around the car today, I can not get rid of the idea that
> something has happenend.. The car's front end is definetely a couple of
> inches lower then before.
>
> What is happening here? And more important, how do I correct this 
> situation.
>
> I know there must be some adjusters but can I simply turn them to get the
> front end up again?
> Btw, the car's front end height is equal when you compare left and right,
> it is just that the total front end (especially the lowest point of the
> front bumper) is way too low to the ground.
>
> Does anyone has an idea here?
>
> THanks a lot,
>
> Robert
>
>
>
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