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View Full Version : Raising a FWD Chrysler



A.J.
02-09-2009, 09:05 PM
I was buying new tires and getting an alignment so now was a good time to inspect my struts. I wanted to dismantle them to make sure. If they're not leaking, in my opinion, it's the only way to do it. I bought them back in 2005 and figured they needed replacing. Nope! My KYB's were still good!

This works on all the FWD cars an vans. This is what is currently on my '88 Caravan to lift it the front. To see what I did to lift the rear, refer to my write up on my rear disc brake conversion. I also did this to an '87 Plymouth Caravelle I owned when I was living in NH. To lift the rear on that I used stock Jeep Cherokee front springs and put them in the rear. I then cut out coils to adjust the height.

I dismantled a couple of Chryslers when i was working for a junk yard and cut the strut towers out of them for the top and the bottom of the spacer. You can use a strong flat piece of metal. I chose this route because the strut towers are thin and strong. The metal inbetween the top and bottom is rolled to be round to match the shape of the spacer. My welder did that and welded it together.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0202-1.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0204.jpg

I had to elongate the studs on the strut caps. I bought some round aluminum stock from Ace. I used my drill press and drilled a hole in each end. I then tapped both ends and installed a stud in one end.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0203.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0209.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0210.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0211.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0215.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/DSCF0216.jpg

A.J.

87DaytonaPac
09-22-2009, 09:16 PM
That's clever. I was thinking of raising one of my Rampages for snow clearance in the winter. This fab might just fit the bill!

blk86trbo
09-22-2009, 10:44 PM
Great idea and nice pics...I've wondered how my turbowagon would look lifted with some 15" mudders on it :)

A.J.
09-23-2009, 01:13 AM
I'll see if I can dig up the one picture of my '87 Caravelle that I lifted.

A.J.

87DaytonaPac
10-29-2009, 11:24 PM
I'll see if I can dig up the one picture of my '87 Caravelle that I lifted.

A.J.

Yes, please do. I'd love to see it!

A.J.
11-01-2009, 04:53 PM
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/Caravelle1.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/Caravelle2.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/Caravelle3.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e301/thebest4/Caravelle4.jpg

These are the only pictures I have of the car. I cropped the first two pictures so the car would come up bigger. This car was awesome as a winter beater for a couple of reasons. The car was free. The engine to replace the blown one was free. Because it was free I didn't care if I hit anything with it.

The lift spacers for the front I think were only 1 1/2" tall, I think. I bought them from a wheel chair van modification company that lifted Dodge Caravans to lower the floors. And in the rear, I used front Jeep Cherokee springs. They were the same diameter and the fit in the spring seats perfectly. I cut them to level the car.

A.J.