[marauder]

Someone told me to call the Moog tech line and they would hook me up however they will only reccommend stock replacements for liability reasons.

I also tried Coil Spring Specialists in KC. They were very coopertive and are actually less expensive than PST. They will custom design springs based on the Moog specs or the original equipment specs since they are not always the same.

Interestingly they looked up the "firm" 5385 springs I upgraded to on the back and said those are a replacement for the big body Pontiacs. $128 for the rear and $139 front. They will even make them softer or firmer based on your preference.

[engineer]

available coil springs are given in the paper catalogs along with specs. you should start with the service manual as a guide and measure frame heights, and body stance to compare against what you currently have. Then go to the spring catalog to adjust accordingly since all references are based on the original car specs and stance, not what you have after 30 years, unless you have aftermarket springs with known specs already, then you can start from there. The books are not straight forward, and all springs listed are not necessarily available anymore or the cost is unbelievable. Springs from the auto store should be no more than $99 a pair.

[BruceWilkie]

You may also acheive the stance you want with tire height. I had 205/75-14's on front with 275/60-15's in the rear and it gave about a 3 degree rake to my car but I used front springs for a 350 malibu w/o air and standard (new)rear springs.

[cruzr64]

How do you find the original ride height?

[marauder]

--How do you find the original ride height?--

The only way I can imagine is by using new factory replacement springs.

[BruceWilkie]

"Original ride height" is usually in the service manual under specifications.

[Ken K]

What I do is remove the old springs first. Most of the springs will return to the original height. The tallest spring I have removed from an A body was a wagon spring, it was 18 inches high. I have cut coils from factory front springs. The last set I cut ended up at 14.5 inches free standing height. It put the front end of a 67 with 16 inch wheels just right in the wheel wells. I think those 15 or 15.5 inch talls would be just about right on, once they were installed. I would try the #5450 springs. They will be a firmer ride but they will also make your car handle better.

[marauder]

Ken,
I called Advance Auto and they told me that the Moog 5450s are front springs. I'd like to get the back taken care of first and replace the 5401 or 5385s which I tried and gave me the same height. I need another 1" to 1-1/2" of height.

[cruzr64]

Does anybody out there have a service manual for 1964 full size, that has factory ride height specs?

[Ken K]

The reason you do the front springs first is, the front is sitting higher than the back so you are shifting some of the weight to the back of the car. Now I'm not sure on the back springs but I would try CC501, they are for a 1967-70 4 door, they are variable rate. Northern Auto Parts sell them for $43.99.

[marauder]

At that price I'll give them a try. Do you happen to have all the specs on that spring?

Thanks!

[Ken K]

The way a variable rate spring works is, you get a normal ride until you get a load on the spring. One end of the spring is wound tighter than the other end. Rear springs are different than the fronts, they don't use as high a spring rate. Springs from 78-87 G body cars also fit on the 1967 and latter, I'm sure there are other that will also work. Once someone figures out the exact combination of front and rear springs, everybody can use it. The latter cars are easy, you can just buy springs that you know will work. Back then then didn't care how the car handled, it was built to go in a strait line and have a soft ride.

[marauder]

I will have the CC501 springs for the back tomorrow. If they are variable rate and one side is wound tighter, do I have to put them in a certain way?

If they don't produce the desired results I'll take them back.

Interestingly, Advance/Discount Auto parts listed the CC509 as a performance spring for the '69 GTO. Unfortunately they did not have any in stock and would have to order them from their Virginia warehouse.

[Ken K]

The instructions should come with the springs. The CC509 might be a shorter or taller spring, I don't know.

[marauder]

Here it is with the Moog CC501 springs in the back and the new 295/50x15 tires - no air shocks. I really like this look a lot better than stock and it rides nice.

I'll tackle lowering the front an inch next.

Thanks a bunch for the help Ken, I owe you the beverage of your choice!

[marauder]

Here's another pic.

[marauder]

Let's try again...

[Ken K]

Looks Good!

[marauder]

I had a couple people suggest heating the bottom of the front springs to collapse them in order to lose the inch or so desired. This sounds like it might tbe rather tricky to get the heights equal and it might affect the integrity of the springs.

Has anyone tried this?

[Ken K]

Don't heat the springs with a torch, you will lose the temper. Use a cutoff wheel. Cut the spring on the bottom. The way the springs sits in the lower control arm, you need to cut a full coil out. There are 2 holes in the lower control arm, the end of the spring should be between the 2 holes. 1 coil is about 1.5 inch on the spring height. It's a little trial and error. 1 coil removed should be OK, if not then buy another set of springs. Your front end will come down. It will give you a little bit of rake. Your front springs started out at about 17 inches free standing height, with a coil removed they will be about 15.5 inches. The 5450 spring is 15.5 inches but it has a larger wire diameter and higher spring rate. If the front springs you have now sit too low for your taste after a coil is removed, the 5450 springs will raise it up a little bit more.