Height Adjustment Torsion Bars

mickmate · #1 (**permalink**) 05-01-2014, 07:49 PM

I've copied an e-mail I just did to a customer with a couple of tips to help make this task a little less onerous.
I just put the car I have here back to stock set up for height and torsion bar settings. CCX manual calls for a 16-3/4" centre to centre distance on the shock eyes for the BB Ford (and BB Chebby) powered cars. Small blocks should be 16-1/4" centre to centre. Heavy duty torsion bars have different settings.
If anyone needs the manual or a different setting let me know.
It will need the top (it's easier) of the shock disconnecting to get that distance. The manual calls for a spacer bar to be made up to that length but a second pair of hands and a bar through the lower arm works just as well measuring the shock eye distance with a tape measure. Then its simply a matter of keep indexing the torsion bar till it slides into both front and back splines at the same time. I found with the back plate undone you can slide the front in then slide the back plate on and see how it aligns with the bolt holes. I use 3/8" fine thread grade 8 bolts and lock washers with a mechanical locking nut, not a nyloc. Make sure the small screw lines up with the groove in the front spline before you start locking things in place. The screw must go back in at the front spline or the torsion bar will rattle right out of there. That will ultimately drop the nose on the ground. You think your oil cooler scoop is scratched on the bottom now?!
It will probably need the lower control arm jacking up to make enough room to get the nut in the top for the retaining screw. Just like the manual says reassembly is a reversal of removal.

rlrileysr · #2 (**permalink**) 05-02-2014, 11:55 AM

Mick,

I'm lazy....rather than searching the manual, how do measure the rear ride height? How do you set dual shocks/coil-overs?

haven't touch the car since October. Been back in Tucson since end of January; decided to buy an additional garage with a 4 bedroom house attached. Should close and move by end of June and then back to Wisconsin for summer. Back in October?