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#21
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So measurement is taken at 32" front & 23" rear from the wheel centerline?
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68 GTO 4-spd Convertible 78 S/E Trans am L78, WS6 Auto 78 S/E Trans am W72, WS6 Auto 79 10th aniv W72 Trans am 80 Indy pace car Trans am 89 Trans am GTA |
#22
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The more accurate way is from the rocker panel and the preferred method.
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#23
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I don't recall where I originally measured mine. That was 4 years ago already. Edit: Guessing those measurements put it pretty close to the edges of the rockers front & rear though. I feel like thats all I did?
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68 GTO 4-spd Convertible 78 S/E Trans am L78, WS6 Auto 78 S/E Trans am W72, WS6 Auto 79 10th aniv W72 Trans am 80 Indy pace car Trans am 89 Trans am GTA |
#24
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If you look at the chart that shows the ride height, there are several variances depending on car and options. Those heights vary from 7-8-9 inches etc... Those are taken from the rocker panel.
Each car is a little different in the instruction manual but you first measure inward from a fixed point, down the rocker panel to find the location the measurement is taken from. That fixed point could be the centerline of the wheel or at the edge of the rocker panel itself. The same procedure is done at the front of the rocker and at the rear of the rocker. It's important to find that fixed point the measurement is taken from on the rocker for an accurate measurement, because moving up and down the rocker any distance will change that measurement. Hope that makes sense. |
#25
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Is L.W.B. and S.W.B. four door and two door?
If so, looks like the rear measurement is taken 19" in front of the rear wheel centerline. Sent from my moto g stylus (2021) using Tapatalk
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Greg Reid Palmetto, Georgia |
#26
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Did you tighten up all the suspension bushings with the car in the air?
If so, loosen them up and let the suspension settle with the weight of the car on it.
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I'm World's Best Hyperbolist !! |
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#27
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These are the measurements I was questioning last night. I just didn't recall using them as the point to measure from. I should have explained my question a little better as I didn't recall that being part of the measuring process. I looked at my 68 this morning & The rockers start at +/- 18" & 29" I squeezed the caster from negative to slightly positive in the wheel alignment though, so my front wheels are back just a fuzz from where they should be if my alignment was to spec.
Looking at the car though I remember now that I did not use those measurements, I just measured about 1" in from each starting edge. At the end of the day this is splitting hairs as far as the heights goes though. heck, tire pressure I'm sure effects the height more than were you start from the center line of the wheels I am also curious what the L.W.B. and S.W.B. is for. Guessing long wheel base, short wheel base? What about "276"
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68 GTO 4-spd Convertible 78 S/E Trans am L78, WS6 Auto 78 S/E Trans am W72, WS6 Auto 79 10th aniv W72 Trans am 80 Indy pace car Trans am 89 Trans am GTA Last edited by 68ragtop; 07-19-2023 at 06:47 AM. |
#28
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Yes tire pressure plays a roll, and of course these measurements in the book are with stock bias ply tires in place as well.
I'd have to look but pretty sure that is all explained in the assembly manual because even the same type of car had different tire options for that particular model with different tire heights and different pressures, so the measurements change as a result. As an example, I know when looking at the assembly manual for our 69Z, they had a specific tire that no other 69 camaro used (E70-15 wide tread Goodyear or E70-15 Firestone Sport Car 200's) and they are taller, yet the 69 Z/28 had a lower ride height than any other 69 camaro. |
#29
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None of the suspension was tightened as the body was off when I installed them 8 years ago . What application would take such a spring - dump truck ?
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When I wore a younger man's clothes |
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#30
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Since I put my new motor in, my car looks a little bit like a gasser. Today I put the radiator in and the front bumper back on thinking for sure it would bring the front down. Not by much and 69 LeMans front bumpers could be used for bench press by Olympic athletes! I still have to put the hood on, so there’s what, 100 lbs? I can’t imagine that the aluminum heads, intake and headers lightened it up that much? . So yeah I’m in the same boat, front end is sitting high but I like it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
#31
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Here’s an interesting pic I found from 2 years ago when I had my cast iron everything 350 cu in motor in my car (the green one). Note the front fender well height. The front springs in my car were replaced by the previous owner, I believe they are Moog stock replacement springs with ACDelco shocks. The white Judge tribute car just behind sits more like mine does now with the lighter aluminum engine parts. Maybe this will help shed some light on the subject. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
#32
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My 69 GTO sits exactly the same with the front end high like yours. If your car was a factory air car heavy front coil springs were installed instead of the standard coil springs. And if you now don’t have the factory air in the car you’ve taken a lot of weight off the front end. Also if you now have an aluminum intake and headers instead of the cast iron intake and exhaust manifolds you have shaved more weight off of the front end. Also do you have 14 or 15 inch tires? 15 inch tires would fill up s little more space inside the wheel well. For me I’m going to put air shocks in the rear to raise the rear end to to balance it out. For me the front end being high is good for when you go over a bump or big dip in the road you’re less likely to bottom out. I suppose you can get new coil springs that will lower the front end. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
#33
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These kinds of problems occuring is precisely why I have steered away from replacing my coil springs.
So, when does one feel that it is necessary to replace the coil springs? If the car sits unlevel or ride height is off? Or is it just that if a person is doing a full restoration they want new springs along with everything else that's new in the suspension? The only reason I can think of for changing the springs is if the ride height is off. My car sits at the factory height now with old springs. If I go through the trouble and expense of changing them out and the ride height is off when I'm finished I'll be like, why did I do that?
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Greg Reid Palmetto, Georgia |
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#34
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Here’s a picture of mine and the ride height on the front end was the same with my original coil springs Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
#35
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Eaton, and all other replacement springs are incorrect. They all sit way too high and they are not tapered and flush machined at one end so they banana once installed and can contact the frame, all junk. If at all possible keep the original springs and if necessary add disc spacers to compensate for age sag. All you have to do is look at a factory front coil spring part list, there were dozens of different part numbers just for 69 A bodies and there were specific left and right applications depending on model, body style, engine choice, transmission choice, ride and handling or heavy duty suspension options, AC or not. How could one or two part numbers today possibly correctly replace all that?
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My Break Away Squad 1969 Fbird (base OHC, 350, 400HO & Sprint Cvt’s - 400HO & TA ht’s) 1969 Custom S 2dr ht 1969 LeMans (2dr & 4dr ht & Cvt) 1969 LeMans Safari wagon 1969 GTO (2 Cvt, 2 ht & Judge ht) 1969 Cat (3 Cvt’s & 2dr ht) 1969 Ventura wagon 2 seat 1969 Exec 4dr post 1969 Bonnie Cvt & 2 wagons 1969 Bonnie Brougham (4dr ht & Cvt) 1969 Grand Prix 2 SJ’s 1969 2+2 2dr ht (Canadian) |
#36
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On the GP you got a lower ride height if you ordered auto level control rear shock option (which was included in the SJ option) so those cars got lower front and rear springs. HD suspension is not ride and handling suspension, it is the Heavy cargo option (F40 in Chevy lingo) which basically jacked up the car similar to wagon height for encyclopedia salesmen etc. The Y96 ride and handling option did not change ride height but it did include different springs that gave a firmer ride.
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My Break Away Squad 1969 Fbird (base OHC, 350, 400HO & Sprint Cvt’s - 400HO & TA ht’s) 1969 Custom S 2dr ht 1969 LeMans (2dr & 4dr ht & Cvt) 1969 LeMans Safari wagon 1969 GTO (2 Cvt, 2 ht & Judge ht) 1969 Cat (3 Cvt’s & 2dr ht) 1969 Ventura wagon 2 seat 1969 Exec 4dr post 1969 Bonnie Cvt & 2 wagons 1969 Bonnie Brougham (4dr ht & Cvt) 1969 Grand Prix 2 SJ’s 1969 2+2 2dr ht (Canadian) |
#37
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What you said is why I started using Coil Spring Specialties. They are aware of the numerous spring rate changes for a specific model and can even tailor the rate based off of changes you've made to the car IE: aluminum heads, fiberglass body panels etc... and can also incorporate things into the spring like extra stored energy for weight transfer. All while keeping the stock ride height, if that's what you're after. Just be prepared to answer a lot of questions. The better you answer those questions the better spring they can provide you with. There is also a wait time for them to make the spring of course. The last set I got from them took about 2 weeks. Not sure what the wait time may be currently. |
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#38
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north, what is 276? Grand Prix maybe?
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Greg Reid Palmetto, Georgia |
#39
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I do have some 69 GTO springs from a parts GTO from the 80’s I have and will save them for future possible installation. I bought the new springs from Moog and was hoping that would bring the front end down some but it didn’t. Not tapered at the end like the originals. My car has a lot of front end weight gone due to no AC, aluminum intake but current plans are for me getting air shocks and raising it up to balance it out. One great thing about the raised front end are for far less bottoming instances. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
#40
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