[locomotivebreath]

Do these cars sit high ? I’ve got a 68 gto in the final stages of assembly ( only took me 30 years ) it still doesn’t have interior in it or the endura on , but man it’ looks high in the front . I bought stock springs from Eaton Detroit for a non power anything no ac car . Since then I’ve added all of that ! The resto shop owner said that they sat high new . It sure didn’t when I took it apart . The car was only 10 when parked with 88k on the clock , so I doubt that they were shot . Right now I got temp tires on it p205/75/15 . I have a hand with between the fender and top of tire .

[Scarebird]

YOu will need to wait until the front bumper is intalled to know.

You measure at the rockers, not the wheel well.

[locomotivebreath]

That front bumper is darn heavy . I was surprised . It sat fine be for I took it apart lol had F70 Firestone’s on it that filled the well nice .

[rasilverbird]

This is my favorite ad from an original 68. You can get a pretty good feeling for how it sat from this

https://th.bing.com/th/id/OIP.2YpQTo...id=ImgDet&rs=1

[Greg Reid]

I can't remember where it's printed but it's in the shop manual or the Zazarene resto book. The stock height measurements under the rocker panel... behind the front wheel opening and in front of the rear wheel opening. I do recall that the stock height is slightly higher in front.
As for replacing springs, I have a fear of replacing mine because I've seen so many posts over the years from people that got the dreaded 4x4 look.

[Greg Reid]

I know I've seen this somewhere else as well but this one is from the 1969 assembly manual. It refers to 1969 Tempest and Grand Prix. Tempest 2dr is 3327 and 4 Dr is 3369. Notice front measurements are slightly higher.
If I'm deciphering it correctly..


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[694.1]

If you bought them from Eaton, they will be perfect!

[locomotivebreath]

Thanks , I might just be jumping the gun a bit - I hope . Would putting in my stockers be a mistake or just call global west if it comes down to it ?

[Greg Reid]

What are the measurements? How far off from the factory drawing I just posted?

[Scarebird]

Originally Posted by 694.1

If you bought them from Eaton, they will be perfect!

Best hope they are, as if they are not and you shorten them AFTER they suggest so they will not replace them.

[locomotivebreath]

I don’t have access to the car at the moment to measure . It’s still at the resto shop . They have the dog house on but not the front bumper or any interior . I had the body off the frame and put the springs in 2015 when I assembled the frame - so they’ve been compressed with engine weight since then . I’ll be back up at the shop sometime this week - it’s about a 40 mile trip . I tell ya’s one thing though , the paint is beautiful ! It’s solar red and I love it . I’m not a huge red car guy but this solar is like tobasco sauce lol it really changes shades in the sun . I added a vintage air system , power steering and brakes , ram air pans , smoked glass . The rest is the factory 400 warmed up a bit , M20 and 3.90s . Im so close ! I’ve never driven it .

[Greg Reid]

Take some pics!

[locomotivebreath]

Been parked since 1978 - almost done

[Greg Reid]

Beautiful, should be a showstopper.

[400 4spd.]

Originally Posted by 694.1

If you bought them from Eaton, they will be perfect!

I install lots of Eaton springs, and even though I give them credit for making good parts, they make mistakes too. Here are 2" drop leaf springs we installed a couple of months ago. The one we installed on the driver's side had the hole punched in the wrong location on the upper leaf where the bolt goes through to hold the spring pack together. It was 5/8" forward of the hole in the other spring.

Once I could prove it to them they shipped a replacement out in 3 days.

[locomotivebreath]

Man , that’s what I’m afraid of , and I bought the springs like 12 years ago ! A doing swap for $200 is no big deal , I just want it to look perfect when I pick it up . I started buying parts for this car in 1990 when I was 12 ! So I’m kinda ocd about it lol

[Formulajones]

As Reid already posted the factory heights are in the assembly manual as well as detailed locations where those measurements are taken.

My experience over the years with Eaton has been hit and miss. Sometimes they get right and sometimes it's out in left field.

Last several years I've used Coil Spring Specialty and have had 100 percent success with them. Even when I need a stock ride height in custom stuff with fiberglass body parts and heavy aftermarket iron blocks they nail the ride height perfectly and even do it with a spring that can act like a drag spring if desired. They ask a lot of detailed questions so be prepared with answers.
Not necessarily cheap though. Last set I got was around $300 shipped and could be a bit more now. But they get the ride height where it should be on the first try saving me from taking the springs out 3 times going back and forth lol.

[locomotivebreath]

Haven’t been able to get up there , but had a pic sent ,
No nose or interior , those s10 wheels are 205/75 /15 .

[Greg Reid]

Yeah, it looks high...like when there's no engine in the bay.

[68ragtop]

My springs came from coil spring specialists many years ago as my restoration took a really long time. Sat too high front & rear. I ended up shortening the springs in the front & went with another brand for the rear. I think I had a thread on that when I was battling it. I have stock size goodyears on the car, so I can measure where I ended up, but I know I went a bit lower than the stock height in the front. I'll look into it as now I am curious.