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#1
02-28-2007, 12:14 PM
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Coil Spring Height
I just hung all of the sheetmetal on my 69 GTO after completing a frame-off restoration that included a new set of front coil springs. Well, the front end is about 2 inches higher than I would like after (engine in car) we got all done. Some people tell me that once I start driving the car the springs will "settle" a bit from the road use and braking. From people's experience, will the spring relax or settle 2 inches in a matter of a few months? Or, should I just remove the coil springs and cut out a small section and be done with it.
Dan
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1969 Ram Air III 4-speed 1963 Lemans Convert #'s Matching 326 V-8 1949 Pontiac Silver Streak |
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#2
02-28-2007, 01:49 PM
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IMO, if they settle some after a few miles, it may be a 1/2 inch or so. I doubt if they will settle a couple of inches. If they would settle that much I would be skeptical of the quality of the spring...
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North Dakotas fastest REAL GTO 10.10 @ 131 MPH in the 1/4 Hoping to get it back together some year. www.jandjrepairandrestoration |
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#3
02-28-2007, 03:03 PM
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Here is a pic of the current ride height. I think it is too high, but what do you think Jeff? I do have the front bumper on and it did not drop the front any with the added weight.
Dan
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1969 Ram Air III 4-speed 1963 Lemans Convert #'s Matching 326 V-8 1949 Pontiac Silver Streak |
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#4
02-28-2007, 05:01 PM
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It's kind of hard to really tell from that picture, but judging by the gap between the tire in the fender, it's looking pretty high.
How much of the glass and interior do you have in it? All that stuff is going to make a difference. IMO I would wait until you have the car pretty well all together before changing or cutting the springs.
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North Dakotas fastest REAL GTO 10.10 @ 131 MPH in the 1/4 Hoping to get it back together some year. www.jandjrepairandrestoration |
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#5
02-28-2007, 05:08 PM
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No interior or glass in the car yet. Before I start to remove the springs for surgery and ruin my freshly painted suspension and frame, I'll get it finished and put a few miles on it first. Thanks!!
Dan
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1969 Ram Air III 4-speed 1963 Lemans Convert #'s Matching 326 V-8 1949 Pontiac Silver Streak |
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#6
02-28-2007, 09:07 PM
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You really need to have all the weight on it before you worry. Glass, interior, and front bumper will make quite a difference.
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#7
03-01-2007, 03:13 PM
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I had my car exactly at the ride height I wanted. I then swapped to aluminum heads on the engine and the front end raised about an inch just from the lighter heads. I would bet that when you get everything back in the car it will be much lower.
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Mick Batson 1967 original owner Tyro Blue/black top 4-speed HO GTO with all the original parts stored safely away -- 1965 2+2 survivor AC auto -- 1965 Catalina Safari Wagon in progress. |
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#8
03-02-2007, 08:30 PM
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Thes GTO'S sit way too high in the front. I agree get the car completed and put a few hundred miles on it. I would not cut a coil spring but rather purchase 1" or 2" lowering springs from one of the catalog companys.
My car is lowered a total of 4" in the front with various suspension mods and two inchs in the rear. R.P. Last edited by Roger Poirier; 08-27-2007 at 09:46 PM. |
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#9
03-06-2007, 12:28 AM
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What springs did you install? From what I've been reading good springs don't "settle". I'm looking for clearance not as much as you ended up with. These are some of the ones I'm looking at for the front a 71 gto 400 ac auto. 5400 are pontiacs the other ones are for old's 442's
moog#. installed height....sprg rate.....free height 5400........11.00 in...........358 lbs........17.06 in 5450........12.00 in...........450 lbs........15.63 in 5536........11.00 in...........487 lbs........15.06 in
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"Honestly the car will only be there for a few weeks, OK maybe a month at the most" |
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#10
03-06-2007, 12:36 AM
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Just thought of something else. Is your front suspension loose? If the bushings were all torqued before the front clip or eng/trans was added then they might be stopping the frontend from dropping. What is your clearance floor to the rocker by the front tire?
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"Honestly the car will only be there for a few weeks, OK maybe a month at the most" |
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#11
03-06-2007, 12:18 PM
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I did tighten and torque the entire front suspension before I dropped the engine on the frame....then the body back on the frame. All the bushings, sway bar, ball joints are all new and tight. I plan on loosing everything once I get all of the glass and interior in and then re-torque everything with all the pieces in place. The springs are NOS GM springs for a big block A-body car that were supposed to be correct for a 69 R/A car. I'll try to get some measurements in the next few days from the rocker to the floor.
Dan
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1969 Ram Air III 4-speed 1963 Lemans Convert #'s Matching 326 V-8 1949 Pontiac Silver Streak |
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#12
03-06-2007, 08:41 PM
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Loosening the control arm to frame bolts and the retightening them with the full weight of the car will make a pretty good difference in your ride height.
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North Dakotas fastest REAL GTO 10.10 @ 131 MPH in the 1/4 Hoping to get it back together some year. www.jandjrepairandrestoration |
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#13
03-06-2007, 10:11 PM
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The distance from the bottom of the fender just behind the front tire and the ground is 12 3/4 inches. Jeff, I'll loosen everything and re-tighten as soon as I get the glass and interior installed. I'm installing all of the wiring this week and I HATE WIRING!!
Dan
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1969 Ram Air III 4-speed 1963 Lemans Convert #'s Matching 326 V-8 1949 Pontiac Silver Streak |
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#14
03-06-2007, 11:39 PM
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Hey R.P. Your Goat is bitchin! Sweet looking ride.
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#15
03-06-2007, 11:56 PM
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from experience...........if your car is sitting like that now, no amount of waiting or weight (bumper etc..) is gonna magically make it sit down......been down the Hi Boy road myself with two different set of springs.......finally got tired of the BS and cut them, problem solved....
Like others mention, I wouldn't mess with them until your car is completely assembled.....that way, when you choose to modify them you will get exactly the ride height you are after......a lot of guy's these day's are cutting them or ordering lowered springs to get the correct ride height.....
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71 GTO, 463, KRE 295 cfm heads ported by SD Performance, RPM intake, Qjet, Dougs Headers, Comp cams HR 246/252 ...11 to 1 , 3.55 cogs, 3985lbs.....day three- 11.04 at 120mph ....1.53 60', 6.98 1/8 mile |
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#16
03-07-2007, 01:50 AM
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mchell
What springs (part#?) did you end up cutting and how much? Anselcop I'm shooting for around 10-10.5 inches all around. Car was at 8" looked cool but it just didn't have enough clearance and the springs weren't stiff enough for the roads I always seemed to go on.
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"Honestly the car will only be there for a few weeks, OK maybe a month at the most" |
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#17
03-07-2007, 09:27 PM
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they were Moog 5400's...........I cut one full coil off....
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71 GTO, 463, KRE 295 cfm heads ported by SD Performance, RPM intake, Qjet, Dougs Headers, Comp cams HR 246/252 ...11 to 1 , 3.55 cogs, 3985lbs.....day three- 11.04 at 120mph ....1.53 60', 6.98 1/8 mile |
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#18
03-07-2007, 11:07 PM
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My 67 gto with eaton springs has settled a good 1.5 inches from 5 yrs. ago.
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