Cadillac question............

[Cruiser]

No one in sales seems to answer emails so I'm asking my question here on the forum. I need to get up high enough in the rear to change my tires,the '49 Cadillac has low profile wheel well openings. Plus, I like the idea to be able to set it down at shows and the great ride quality. At this time there are parallel leafs in the rear and shockwaves in the front with a 3 gallon air tank. The front shockwaves allows me to get in and out of my drive way.

My question is will one of the shockwave rear setups help with my problem?

* I only need it to go up high to change a tire then back to ride high.

CRUISER :cool:

[Milkcrate]

I think that some Math is involved to help answer your questions.
1. What overall diameter wheel and tire are you running on the back?
2. What section width is the tire?
3. What width rim and backspace?
4. What typ of brakes?
5. With the fender skirt off, how far down (or up) is the center of the wheel
from the fender lip/skirt flange?

The leaf springs are going to limit how far down the the air springs will push the axle down to get a tire off. The wider the tire, the less "wiggle" room you'll have on getting it out. Brake size, wheel width and backspacing will also affect this.
My suggestion: Do the Air ride and go as low as you want. Buy a AAA membership and if you have a problem on the road, call them to help. With leaf springs, you may have to dis-assembly most of the rear suspension. If you changed to a Triangulated 4-bar or parallel 4-bar, you could just unhook the bags/shocks or Shockwaves once it's jacked up and swing the axle down as far as possible.

[Cruiser]

Milkcrate,

I think you have the right idea's to my problem. My main concern was to find a better way then my present setup. Right now in order to remove the tires, I have to take the top bolt out of the shocks and the bolt out of the rear shackle drop it down and change the tire. I have AAA will call for a flat- bed if needed. I have some of the stop leak stuff too that the tire guys hate.
I'm running 15's with a 7" wheels, back spacing is 4, tire height is 26.3, tread width 6.8, 9" Ford rear, drum brakes, #5 can't answer at this time. I'm in Japan tell late October.
Seems a four bar setup would make it a little easier with only the shockwave to unbolt and the ability to sit it down at shows.. I'll call Air Ride when I'm back in the states and see what happens. Let me know what you think.



Thank you for you advice

CRUIER :cool:

[Milkcrate]

I have a can of "Fix-a-Flat" in all my vehicles, just in case. :D

Even with a 4-bar, you'll probably have to unbolt a few parts.

Low and easy to work on just don't seem to go together. Sometimes you just have to work a little harder to be cool.

FYI, A larger diameter wheel help getting it wiggled off the brakes. On this car, I personally would still have with 15" steelies, hubcaps and wide whites. Someday, I'd like to have a 54 Caddy, as low as I could build it, 500 Caddy motor and black with white interior. Something about those I like.

[Cruiser]

Milkcrate,

I guess, I'll live with being cool and working harder. When, I purchased my '49 Caddy it had 16" billet rims and 2" white walls. The billet rims had to go, I changed them to traditional red steelie wheels, '57 Caddy hub caps and 3 1/4"
white walls. Four bar would mean two bolts to undo and leaf springs would mean four bolts. Most likely the cost to put the four bar on isn't worth it, after all often to you get a flat with radials. I'll have to think long and hard about changing, thanks again for your help.

CRUISER :cool: