[68ragtop]

When I was putting my chassis together I ordered new coil springs all the way around. They where from a place called coils spring specialists. They asked about every option on the car, so they are supposed to be a correct fit. I have most of the car together for test fitting, the front of the car sits like there is no engine in it. I even added 200 lbs to the front to compensate for the lack of engine accesories, etc. no change. I am thinking the car is not going to drop much, if anything.

Any thoughts?

68ragtop

[68ragtop]

When I was putting my chassis together I ordered new coil springs all the way around. They where from a place called coils spring specialists. They asked about every option on the car, so they are supposed to be a correct fit. I have most of the car together for test fitting, the front of the car sits like there is no engine in it. I even added 200 lbs to the front to compensate for the lack of engine accesories, etc. no change. I am thinking the car is not going to drop much, if anything.

Any thoughts?

68ragtop

[mchell]

After 2 years of waiting for my front springs to settle, I finally removed them and cut one full coil off. Car sits perfect now. I have run across more than a few GTO owners that have had the same "TO HIGH" problem. My car is a 71 GTO

[David Jones]

Have you called your supplier? If its loaded down it isn't going to change much.

[68ragtop]

I will be very upset if that is the case. When I ordered them, that was one of my concerns. I told them I would rather have the car sit an inch low, than high. I have been very, very fussy putting everything together making sure I didn't so much as nick anything. Now thats its all together, It would be tough to knock apart ball joints, etc, without damaging somthing.

Why can't anybody get these right?

Here is a picture of the chassis from last year when the springs first went in.
frame detail

[Otto Tharp]

I installed new springs in my wifes' 72 LeMans Sport convertible several years ago. I got some new springs from TRW. When first installed the front end sat very high. Took several months before it settled down. Make sure they are installed in the frame and A-arm correctly. If they haven't settled contact the company. Good luck

[Mr_GTO]

Buy Eibach or Edelbrock springs. They will lower the car an inch and not make it look like it has 4WD.

[David Jones]

As will any major brand that is correctly ordered, shipped correctly and installed correctly. One of those is missing in this situation.

[runningman]

I'm in the same boat. Put MOOG springs all the way around on my '67 about 2 years ago. Now that it's back from paint I'm putting it back together, and one side (front)is sagging. So what I actually have is one side too high, and the sagging side sitting how I'd like it. My problem same as yours 68ragtop, all the suspension together and nice and now I have to figure out what to do. The sagging really looks bad as you view it from the rear of the car. Even though its a warranteed replacement, I don't think I'm going again with MOOG.

[78 GHOST]

You need to ensure the springs are "indexed" properly in the perches. There should be a small hole in the lower A-Arm where the end of the spring should be located. Unless the end is in the correct position, the spring will rest higher than desired resulting in the "leans."

[lil64gto]

runningman,

Moog springs are what you will get from Ames and most likely PY. There is nothing wrong with your springs, to make your car lean. There is another thread on this site, I think, that deals with this same issue. I have used Moog springs when I did my 64 and had the same lean. I changed the rear springs out and had the same results. Then I changed the front springs and still ended up with the same results, then I saw a thread "My GTO leans". It seems that there is a lot of this and has something to do with the rear spring mounts not being positioned correctly. I have been told that this is the way that the car looked when it came off the line. Higher in the front than the back. This why so many of the older GTO's had air shocks.

[68ragtop]

My problem must be with the springs. I ordered them from coil spring specialists. They asked all the questions, a/c , no a/c etc.
I checked with my restoration guide, & the 68 service manual to inusure correct installation. Those two books have been mmy bible on this project. As I recall without looking in the books, I think curb height is supposed to be around 9.8" front & rear the same. My car is currently sitting at 11.75 in the front, 11.25" in the rear. The tire height I have is 25" overall, vs the G70-14 hieght of 26" so my springs are sitting over 2" to high.

My guess is its not going to settle 2" over time.

68ragtop

[78 GHOST]

I misunderstood your problem, thought it was left to right not front to rear.

You're probably gonna have to cut a coil off.

[Rugratman]

I have a brand new set, uninstalled in my garage.
Do you have a measurement for the height. I will measure mine for you to compare the size.

That is, If you pull them back out.

[vidguy]

I feel your disapointment..

This is why I cleaned and painted my originals and reinstalled them.... I was REALLY worried about this happening when I redid my front suspension..... I didn't want to have to take it apart... I read about what others had happen with new springs and a few folks said that "If you're happy with the ride height now then reuse your old springs..."

The shocks have been on the car for 20 years. Although I don't have what some beleive to be good shocks, KYB's, I like the way the car handles and rides with those, along with the original springs and new Energy Suspension bushings, and a reworked 2 1/2 to 1 Variable Steering Box..

[engineer]

There is nothing wrong with the major brand springs. These cars do not need custom springs unless you are doing something different than the factory did. First, you can not compare uninstalled spring height and tell what they will do when they are finally installed in the car. Second, they must be positioned correctly, indexed, and sometimes there is a top and bottom and left and right as well based on the coil ends and spring coil rotation. Also, if the shocks are wrong, the height could also be affected, usually shorter. Then if you change tire or rim size, this will affect the overall look. Finally, my recollection is that the service manual give heights at specific locations relative to the frame rails, not the body or wheel well clearances. The look is one thing, the actual specs can be something else.

[GTOJOE228]

I made this same mistake. I wanted the car to appear 2 inches higher than stock. Why I wanted this 2 inches is I've always liked cars that sat higher all around. Well needless to say I may be taking these out to cut a coil off also. This is after an extensive restoration. I don't believe the height will come down by itself. Live and learn.... I bought these springs from EATON

Got my replacement springs for Eaton as well. Requested 2" lift all around - I like the higher profile as well. When first installed - thought it looked like a 4x4. After a few months and a few rides - they settled down considerably - sufficient enough to warrant another front end alignment.

[69goatboy]

For what it's worth. I just got my rear springs in yesterday. I got the Hotchkis lowering springs (1" to 1-1/2") and took a pic next to my old one (69 gto). Looks about the same heigth, coil size, number of coils etc. but installed heigth will tell the tale.

[69goatboy]

For what it's worth. I just got my rear springs in yesterday. I got the Hotchkis lowering springs (1" to 1-1/2") and took a pic next to my old one (69 gto). Looks about the same heigth, coil size, number of coils etc. but installed heigth will tell the tale.