#1  
Old 01-23-2022, 12:00 PM
foxgapLeMans foxgapLeMans is offline
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Default Ride height on 1971 LeMans convertible

I am going to get a new set of springs for the car and I am wondering if anyone could measure their ride height on a car that has got a new set of springs. I am thinking about a set of Eaton Detroit springs in Standard for the fronts and Standard plus 1" for the rear. My measurements for my car now are,

Front Left. 26"
Front Right. 26"
Rear Left 26"
Rear Right 25"

Measurements are from a level floor to the arch of the wheel chrome.
14" Honeycombs that will be changed to 15" as soon as I get them painted.

My biggest problem at the moment is that when I put 2 people in the back seat the springs sag so much that they almost bottom out and the rake looks horrible.
I emailed Eaton Detroit and they do not have factory measurements for this car.

  #2  
Old 01-23-2022, 02:31 PM
tjs72lemans tjs72lemans is offline
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I recently did a frame off on my 72 vert. I have 14 stock rims with 225/70 tires. I added the one inch spacer that sits on top of the rear spring to lift the body one inch. I measure 27 1/4" on driver rear and 27 1/8" on passenger side with heavy spare in trunk on passenger side. I like the ride height and the new stock springs ride well. Even with two passengers in rear seat.

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Old 01-23-2022, 03:12 PM
'ol Pinion head 'ol Pinion head is offline
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Of note.... Pontiac A-bodys equipped with Ride & Handling option added near an inch of ride height to '70-72 GTO's & performance 2 door A-body's. Own '71's with & without the Ride & Handling option.

LeMans Sport converts & '70 & 71 GTO converts were not avail with G60x15" tires & 15" wheels, but from examining mounted original tire/wheel combo's, you're looking at a little over a 1/2" taller & an 1" wider section width tire with 15x7's & typical 245/60-15's versus original Polyglas G70-14's on 14x6's. In restoring my '71's, ordered exact springs from Coil Springs Specialties in KS, very pleased.

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Old 01-23-2022, 04:45 PM
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Eaton does NOT warranty their springs.

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Old 01-23-2022, 07:30 PM
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The measurement you want to compare is from the wheel center to the arch of the wheelwell.

Why?

Unless all the tires are the same diameter, the tire size affects the measurement by 50% of the diameter difference. Tire diameters on an A body can vary by nearly 3" based on wheel/tire combos I've seen posted here.

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Old 01-24-2022, 08:01 AM
foxgapLeMans foxgapLeMans is offline
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wow!! I just learned a lot in 4 posts. So, the first thing I need to do is get better measurements. Second is to look into other spring companies. Does anyone have other suggestions? I am sure the car does not have the Ride/Handling option. I have the 15" rims, the reason is because I can get a different tire combo if I decide to go that way. 14" tires are getting tough to get anymore.

Thanks, Mark

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Old 01-24-2022, 01:44 PM
tjs72lemans tjs72lemans is offline
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Keep in mind these were never fitted with 15 inch wheels. I remember someone mentioning this with a convertible, that you may end up with tire rub when top is down due to less clearance.

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Old 01-24-2022, 02:13 PM
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this may help some:


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Old 01-24-2022, 03:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tjs72lemans View Post
Keep in mind these were never fitted with 15 inch wheels. I remember someone mentioning this with a convertible, that you may end up with tire rub when top is down due to less clearance.
I'm not sure what reduced clearance their is for a convertible, but that's what I have and to the best of my knowledge clearance is the same regardless of body style.

I have run my GTO with 14's, 15's and 17's. 205/75/14's all the way around, 215/65/15's all the way around, 235/60/15 front/255/60/15 rear and the current 215/55/17 front and 245/50/17 rear.

The key to clearance is the correct backspacing for the size tire you want to run. As I posted earlier, I am aware of people running 25.XX tall tires on the short side and up to 28" on the tall side. As far as width, I've seen 195's, 205's, 215's, 225's 235's 245's, 255's and 275's on their A bodies.

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Old 01-24-2022, 05:57 PM
rustedgoat rustedgoat is offline
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Clearance is different on the convertible because the rear wheel well has a different shape (flatter on top) than the hard top. This area is where the conv top frame to fold down over.

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Old 01-24-2022, 09:25 PM
tjs72lemans tjs72lemans is offline
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The Champ, I see you don't live far from me.

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Old 01-24-2022, 11:26 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rustedgoat View Post
Clearance is different on the convertible because the rear wheel well has a different shape (flatter on top) than the hard top. This area is where the conv top frame to fold down over.
Looked up wheelwells from our host and you are right. What they sell are for hardtops only, but will work for convertibles with mods to the top section according to them.

Regardless, there is plenty of room for a 255/60/15 on a convertible, and I ran those on the rear for well over 10 years. With proper backspacing, I could have fit 275/60/15's back there too.

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Old 01-24-2022, 11:28 PM
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tj

I'll be even closer once we get our new home built in the La Crosse area.... We lived in Grand Meadow, but sold our home in October and are currently renting a townhome in Rochester. Hiping to break ground on the new home within the next 6 weeks.

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Old 01-25-2022, 08:20 AM
foxgapLeMans foxgapLeMans is offline
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Great chart Scarebird! I was hoping to run 265-60-15 in the rear and 225-60-15 in the front.

Anyone have other suggestions for spring companies?

How about a suggestion on shocks for the car? The car is a restoration/daily driver, when the weather is nice
Thanks again everyone, great advice as always. Mark

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Old 01-25-2022, 10:26 AM
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rockauto has a few choices but cannot vouch for them:

https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...il+spring,7512

Eaton sold me a set a few years back; they were too tall. The agent I talked to said if I cut them and it did not work they would send a different set. I did, and it did not work.
When I called again the second agent refused to honor the word of the first - even after the first confirmed the agreement. FTG's.

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Old 01-25-2022, 07:24 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by foxgapLeMans View Post
I was hoping to run 265-60-15 in the rear and 225-60-15 in the front.
I'm not familiar with any company that makes a 265/60/15, but if there was that tire would be about 27.5" tall. The 225/60/15 is only 25.6" tall. That's quite a height difference in my opinion.

The 235/60/15 (26.1") front and 255/60/15 rear (27.1") is a very popular combo that gives you a nice stance.

That tire combo should fit fine on a 7" rim with 4.25" BS.

Here's a photo from when I ran that combo...

I ran "stock" springs from our host here, but had Coil Spring Specialties out of MO make me a set of rear springs that were .75" over stock height (I had put the "stock" rear springs in, then learned that it was "normal" for the rear end to sit lower than the front). My custom springs were exactly .75" over the virtually brand new stockers.
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  #17  
Old 01-26-2022, 08:19 AM
foxgapLeMans foxgapLeMans is offline
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The tire sizes I wrote in my last post were from a 71 GTO I saw at Carlisle car show, there is a good chance I wrote them down wrong at that time. I am going to do measurements in the AM tomorrow, hopefully, and I will let you all know what I find.

Mark

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