Marshmallow drop...

As mentioned in the other thread, I finished up on the lowering of the Marshmallow today. Thanks to Doug and Anthony, the Vogtlands got installed yesterday with the stock isolators. Tim gave me a hand with the front shocks. I used Gabriel HD 9C1 package shocks up front. In the rear, I decided to keep the stock air shocks for now, as they were still holding air. Here's the low low...

First, I popped the stock adjuster arm off the auto-level sensor for the rear air ride. Then I hit a hobby shop and got the biggest turnbuckle ends I could find.


Then I threaded the ends on and made it about 1/4" shorter than the stock one.


The ends weren't quite big enough, so I snipped them at then ends so they could open a lil. Turns out they opened a LOT. Oops. Hopefully it'll stick together this week until I can come up with something else. The factory one had a broken end, so I can't use threaded rod with the stock ends. I think. I'll see what I can figure out with that. I still need to shorten it some anyways, because when I took it off the stands, the compressor actually kicked on and raised it some.

Next, I installed my Addco rear bar. It installs by securing a plate to the LCA and then mounting the bar to the plate. There are 3/4" or so round spacers on the bolts between the arms to keep them from collapsing when tightened. I actually had to so some drilling, to to get them mounted. Luckily, there was a set of holes in the front of the arm (towards the nose of the car) already, which I only had to open up to 3/8" with a drill. For the rear holes, there was already a 3/8" hole in the right place, but there wasn't one opposite it, so I had to drill those completely. No biggie! My 1973 Crapman was up to the task! Here's a few shots of the bar...






When I put it down off the stands, it measured 27 1/4" to the front lip from the ground and 20 5/8" to the rear skirt. I didn't measure it after the test drive, because I didn't pull it back onto the level concrete, but it did drop some more in the 5 mile or so test drive. Here are the lowered pics:







I think it looks just about perfect! The rear needs to come down another inch or so, and I think that once I figure out what I need to do with the adjuster rod, I can get it where I want it.

How'd it ride? NICE! Not near as firm as the SS, with the Hotchkis and Bilsteins, but firmed up a lot. And that rear bar? Wow! No more roll! I didn't push it at all or anything, but it is noticeable even at the 30-40MPH I was doing on my test loop. Very happy. Thanks to all that helped with the install! I am really happy with the way it turned out.

I still plan to install the rear Gabriel HD shocks and put Airlift bags in the coils hooked into the stock auto-level though. That will be the cat's bananas. Or something.

Looks like it has a sick rake, which is probably due to the leveling system. The front stance is awesome.

cant wait to see it when the springs settle completely

the front sits perfect.
the back, umm not so much.

but you already know that.
good luck on the auto level fix.

Looks kick ass Bill.

The wheels without the caps look cool too.
I think the stance looks good too.

so what the news on the auto level fix?
did you get it to sit more level?
inquiring minds want to know....

laidlow91 wrote:

so what the news on the auto level fix?
did you get it to sit more level?
inquiring minds want to know....

I have a shorter linkage made up, and it's "adjustable" but I haven't installed it yet. It'll work though.

I used the stock ends and some threaded 10/24 rod and some Gorilla glue. It's ugly. But it should work!

Bobby came over today and gave me a hand installing my hood, too. She's coming along! Thanks again Bobby!

How did you paint the hood?

All white? Did you leave the intake holes black?

Pics please!

White93ltz wrote:

How did you paint the hood?

All white? Did you leave the intake holes black?

Pics please!

I did what I thought was the smart thing and had a body shop paint it. Boy, what a friggin mistake THAT was! Wrong color. Runs. Looks like ASS!!!! And he had it TWO WEEKS!!!! Grrrrr...

I shoulda stuck with my instinct and sprayed it myself. For CHEAPER!

I'll snap some pics in a few. I'm watchin the baby right now.

OK, so here's a couple pics. I will probably black out the "nostrils" at some point. But I'm kinda diggin the all white. We'll see. Anyways....

Fancy new grille that still looks chrome! Thanks Timmah!


The "looks ok, but really needs to come down a 1/2" @ the hinge" shot...


The "I'm a playah cuz I takes picz like this, yo!" shot...


Yes. I know. I'm lazy. Jr can clean them.


The "Ok asshoal, what's wrong with a stock hood" shot...


I also pulled all the black rubber trim and spent about 2 hours with a razor blade (like 40 actually) and goo gone, then 2 hours with chrome polish and steel wool over the period of about a week. I think it looks good. It better. Cuz it's stayin that way!


It'll look really good if I can squeeze the chrome rims on there that I want to!

So... She's coming along.... Slowly but surely. (Yes. I am serious. )

hood looks great.
nice work on the rubber trim removal.

paint the nostrils black!

Nice grill!

Lookin' NIce

I like it. But it is missing something.

I guess you got the hood on.

Buy a can of flat black. Don't use that satin stuff!

IMPALADAKID wrote:

I like it. But it is missing something.

TINT! Hopefully this week.

toomanytoyz wrote:

IMPALADAKID wrote:

I like it. But it is missing something.

TINT! Hopefully this week.

No. I mean the hood. I think IMO it needs some buick GS hood stripes.

I dunno. Maybe. I think the "dome" would look pretty cool blacked out, too. But I don't think I want any stripes or anything on this car. We'll see.

IMPALADAKID wrote:

I like it. But it is missing something.

White corners!






If you are not going to put the rubber strips back on you could always sand that area with some 180/200 grit for a brushed look. I did that to one side of my car (between crappy weather and hectic military scheduling I have yet to finish the other side) with the intention of spraying it with satin black and I liked the contrast so much that I left it like that.

Looks awesome, Bill, nice work! You are one bad modification MoFo!!

FUN-9C1 wrote:

Looks awesome, Bill, nice work! You are one bad modification MoFo!!

Thanks Rob!

We gonna see you at the drag day?

That is a definite maybe! I still need to install the radiator which I will get tomorrow (no big deal) and get a new windshield. I need to get off my ass and make an appointment for the windshield as I'm not sure how long the waiting period is. Then I need to convince Kim that spending a day at the drags is a wise investment of time and money that we have neither of! But I suppose I really SHOULD get in some practice before I go there for "Westinghouse Drag Day".... Seriously, though, maybe since there's very little interest here at work for a drag day, the few of us that are interested could go the same day as this one, and I could combine the two if I'm done in time... hmmm.....