I have 69 chevelle that has all new bushing and shocks on the front end.
My son was lifting on the header panel and it styed up about 4 inches from where it was sitting. He pushed down and it went down. I said it was probably the bushings in the a arms and that once it gets on the road it will loosen up enough to settle where it should be. Am I right?

Did you tighten everything down with the weight on the ground? Maybe it thinks its nuetral is elevated. Have a Camaro and where the sway bar bolts to the frame was pinching the bar real hard. Very stiff front end. I installed washers between the frame and the bracket, and that loosened things up real well. Just trying to throw some suggestions out there for you.

Poly or rubber bushings?

oem rubber. the car was on jack stands for a while.

I'd break the nuts/bolts loose (just enought to get them loose) on the upper and lower a-arms and then let the car sit in it's normal position on the ground. Then re-torque the bolts with it sitting level.

I had this problem with my Chevelle. I installed bushings and torqued everything down prior to the engine being installed. After installing engine and front fenders, hood, etc. it sat about 3 inches too high. After doing what I described above it was perfect.

Good Luck!

Oh yeah, make sure the springs are correctly seated in the pockets of the a-arms and in the frame...

Is the engine in? you really should have all the weight on them when you retorque them....

Yes the egine is in. It wasn't when we redid the bushings. the only thing that's not on is the hood.
I'll do what you mentioned

Thanks
Dave

We were running the engine and went to shift through the gears to get the trans fluid level set and when it was putr into reverse with the brake on, the front end came up and stayed there about 4 inches. when we put it drive the opposite happened. I haven't loosened the a arms yet. I'm hoping this is the reason.

Must be one HEALTHY motor!!!!! Wants to pull the wheels off the ground just by putting it in gear! :D

Dave. If you torqued the bushings with the engine out and the car on stands, The bushings are "preloaded" do as others have suggested. Loosen everything up then set it on the ground and retorque.

We loosened the a arms and it didn't make a difference. We can still lift up on the header panel and still stays up. The bolts are loose yet. My son thinks it's the shocks. I think everything will settle in the right level once it's on the road.

pictures??

Shocks are just for rebound control. Shouldn't affect the height of the car.

That's what I said. I'll try loosening the bolts more.