Coil spring question
 

What would the consequences (good or bad) of a 326 car (non A/C) with stock 6 cylinder front coil springs)
My car has a 326 but I find the car was originally a 6 cyl car and I dont think the springs were changed and I havent driven it as of yet.
Thank you

I don’t know the difference in weight between the straight 6 and the v8.

Generally speaking when you add weight, you’ll drop the static ride height a bit and you may find that the car will tend to “float” a bit more.

On a stock car that is only cruised, it’s probably not a big deal. Especially considering these cars are terribly under-sprung as it is.

Tires may rub and hit wheel wells when driving and hitting bumps.
May also handle poorly. I dont know the weights but I suspect the 326 is heavier.

Drive it and see what happens. Springs are pretty cheap, but be sure to have the correct compressor as it can be a dangerous task.

Im going to go out on a limb and say if you suspect the springs are original they are going to be hashed no matter what they were originally rated for.

The original OHC6s were pretty heavy (similar to a SBC), but so are the all-iron Pontiac V8s (like a BBC). Unless you've lightened it with aluminum intake, al heads, tubular headers, etc. should be about 100lb difference.

As noted by others, it'll feel more floaty, have more body roll, more likely to bottom out on the bump stops, and possibly suffer tire rub. May not be an issue, but then again springs do tend to sag with age and these sound as though they may be original. Take it and and see how it responds under various conditions (bumps, rr tracks, angled driveways, etc.).

The 326 option, engine and "chassis items" are 168 pounds more than the 6. What all "chassis items" means, I don't know.

See: https://firstgenfirebird.org/files/1967/ama/24.pdf

chassis items would refer to things like different standard transmission, brakes, sway bar etc variation when different engines are specified.