[SLMIMAGE]

I want to replace the rear coils in my 64. The last owner had new springs but went with standard springs and I would like to raise the height about 2 inches. I read all the Horror stories about changing front springs but looking in the chassis manual rear springs look easy. Am I missing something? Any advice would be appreciated.

I may be old but do I have to grow up?

[SLMIMAGE]

I want to replace the rear coils in my 64. The last owner had new springs but went with standard springs and I would like to raise the height about 2 inches. I read all the Horror stories about changing front springs but looking in the chassis manual rear springs look easy. Am I missing something? Any advice would be appreciated.

I may be old but do I have to grow up?

[b-man]

Rear springs are easily removed by putting the car's frame on jackstands right next to where the lower conrol arms pivot. Remove the lower shock nuts and pop the shocks off the bottom mount on the axle. Next remove the bolt and plate that holds the spring to the rear axle. Lower the rear axle until the springs can be removed, taking care not to stress the flexible rubber brake line.

To install taller springs (station wagon) you may have to disconnect the brake line to enable you to drop the axle down enough to get them in.

Let's go racing!
www.outlawpontiacs.com/members/B-Man2.php
www.outlawpontiacs.com/members/B-Man.php

[connman]

all you have to do is remove lower shock mount and jack the car up by the frame. it will take all the preasure off the springs they should just about fall out in your hand when you take the bolt out of the bottom centering plate to install just reverse procedure. make sure as you lower car down spring is seated properly at top. first year vista cruiser springs will give you about the height you want. make sure you realigh the front when done. any change in suspension height will change at least toe in and sometimes caster. my car was real squirrely braking hard when I first changed my springs

connman

[engineer]

you will not be able to raise the ride height of the rear of any A body 2 inches with any stock springs or shocks. This will take custom springs and exteneded shocks. If you just replace the springs, the shocks will be too short and you will have to compress the spring enough so the shock will fit.

[SLMIMAGE]

What about the air lift bags I see. Has anyone used them and is there any increase in ride height?

I may be old but do I have to grow up?

[billefty]

I stripped a 64 Lemans awhile ago it had 1 1/2" aluminun spacers under the springs look like aftermarket stuff, seemed to work pretty well, car had huge meats under it raised it up so they did'nt rub

[merlin]

I have air bags on my 64 Lemans and they work great ! I don't get any wheel hop. I'm running P275/60 R15 on Crager S/S with 4:11 posi.I've had them on for 3 years.Give them a try. Merlin

[billefty]

Merlin where did you get the air bags? How hard to put in?

[b-man]

I ran a pair of Air Lift bags inside the rear coils on my '64 Tempest for a few years. I measured how much they actually raised the car when pumped up from the 5 PSI minimum to the 25 PSI max pressure. The car raised up just a bit less than 1.5".

I didn't use mine to raise the car for normal driving. I kept them at 5 PSI to stiffen the rear springs some and to give more load capacity at higher pressure when I loaded up the trunk. Even running around with 5 PSI they rode pretty stiff, after about 25K miles I removed them to get better ride quality.

One thing to keep in mind, my car is set up for handling and has stiff KYB gas shocks and urethane bushings, along with big 1-3/8" sway bars. My rear springs were new regular-ride stockers cut down by 3/4s of a coil. A car with stock rubber bushings and suspension parts may not be quite as rough-riding with air bags, but when they are filled up to 25 PSI expect a harsh ride.

The bags are easily installed by removing the springs and putting the bags inside the springs, or by working the deflated bag between the coils while the springs are still installed (a pain). All you need to do after the bags are in is to run the air lines that are supplied with the bags.

You can get the bags at Summit Racing for about $60 a pair.

Let's go racing!
www.outlawpontiacs.com/members/B-Man2.php
www.outlawpontiacs.com/members/B-Man.php

[billefty]

sounds like the bags do about the same thing as air shocks, I have air shocks on my car need to run 40 psi to keep tires clear 255/70 15 8" cragar s/s wheels it does ride a little hard I might have to go to a smaller tire to bad the ones now really hookup

[The Champ]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by billefty:
sounds like the bags do about the same thing as air shocks, I have air shocks on my car need to run 40 psi to keep tires clear 255/70 15 8" cragar s/s wheels it does ride a little hard I might have to go to a smaller tire to bad the ones now really hookup<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The difference is the air bags use the spring perches which were designed to carry the load.

Air shocks use the shock mounts that were not.

You might be able to fit those 255's inside the wheelwells without raising the car with the correct backspacing on the rims.



My '64 GTO Convertible Webpage

The '49 Caddy Limo Page

The '72 Camaro Page

[SLMIMAGE]

b-man, Thanks for the info. I ordered them from Summit.

I may be old but do I have to grow up?

[Tim Corcoran]

Air bags and air shocks will significantly degrade your ride quality. Air shocks are worse because they support the vehicle on the shock mounts that are not designed to carry much of a load. I am not sure why you would want to raise the car that much. If it is for tire clearance then it would be better to use a wheel with the proper back spacing. I have a 65 LeMans and I use a Centerline wheel with a 5 inch back space that seems to put the wheel right in the middle. I recommend Springs and Things (http://www.espo.com/)for purchasing springs. They also offer a spring for your application that will provide a ride height one inch higher than stock. I don't recommend going any higher than that. If you must raise the car it is better and safer to raise the car with a taller spring or by shiming the bottom of the spring perch with an aluminum or hardwood shim. Yes hardwood works fine.

Tim C

65 LeMans, 3600lb. all steel, full interior, D-ports and a flat tappet cam, 11.01@120

[billefty]

Where can I get custom wheels with 5" backspacing Summit does,nt list Cragar S/S or american Torq Thrust D with more than 4 1/4" backspacing?

[SLMIMAGE]

Got the order from Summit today, boy were they fast. Took about 2 hours to put them in and hook everything up. Put in about 15 lbs air and it just raised the back about 1 inch. Looks perfect now and no more rear tire rub over bumps. The ride is not noticabley harder to me. Anyhow very happy with results and wasn't very difficult to install.

I may be old but do I have to grow up?

[hozy]

You can special order Cragar SS wheel through Summit. You will have to call them to place the order. I ordered 15x8" Cragars with 5" backspacing from them. I am running 255/60 15 on the back of my 66. They fit fine no rubbing. The special order rims will cost a little more but at least you won't have to raise the rear of your car as much.

[billefty]

I must be talking to the wrong guy at Summit they told me what I saw on the internet was only thing available guess I should be more persistant I even emailed Cragar and asked them (no response)

[hozy]

I called Cragar first and asked them if they could make them with 5" backspacing . They said yes but that I would have to order them through Summit or some place like that. When I contacted Summit I told them that I had talked to the people at Cragar. They put me on hold for a few minutes, I think they might have called Cragar while they had me on hold. Anyway when he got back on the phone he took the info from me, as to what I needed and The rims were drop shipped from Cragar. I think it took about two weeks.

[merlin]

Glad to hear the air bags worked for you.I checked the air pressure in mine today and thought I'd check PY and see how you liked them. Cruise On!