1970 Buick Skylark Convertible, 50,000 original mile car. Want to put 15 x7's with 255 60's on it, but afraid they will rub? Replace with stock springs or add a little lift? Front end sits up a bit.....
My '72 GS had 275r50x15 on Pontiac 7" Trans/AM rims with orig springs all around when I purchased the car in 2000. I sell those rims & tires. I have 245r60x15 tires on 15x7 Rallyes. I did change rear springs to cargo coils.
Sounds like a case of dragonass. You could put the GS springs under it. Some people install the wagon springs,but it may or may not sit too high.
Without a picture, hard to know what "sitting low" means. When looking at the old pictures, I'm always kinda surprised how low these cars sat from the factory - we get the impression over time that all old cars should be jacked up, so when something is factory height it looks "low"... -Bob C.
A spacer under the rear coils would be the most cost effective. Plus, if you wanted extra height you could put another spacer in, unlike the springs where it isn't really adjustable
GS springs are actually lower than skylark springs. check out Moog's website. I went with the CC501 cargo coil plus a 1 inch billet spacer to get the rear height that I wanted.
I used a set of Air Lift air bags from Michigan Truck Spring on my 71' Skylark restoration. 5 to 35 lbs your choice and guaranteed for life. lifted my Skylark enough to keep the inside edge of the back fender from rubbing my 295's.
I bet you the car is sitting at factory height. Factory ride height for a Skylark should be 25 1/16 from the ground to the rear molding. On a GS, it sits even lower at 24 5/16 15x7's and 255's should fit no problem. 15x7's were an option and a 255/60 when compared to a G60 are almost exactly the same dimensions
Paul, your car does not appear to me to be sitting low in the tail end. The rocker panel forward of the rear wheel is in fact higher than the rocker panel aft of the front wheel. Perhaps all the springs have sagged a bit over the years, but a 255/60-15 will fit without issue on a factory rally wheel on the rear of that car.
Sounds good, I will see after I install the new rims and tires before I do any mods. Also, the front tires are 1" shorter, so that will help as well. Thank you!
My 72 convertible sits a little too high for me getting ready to replace the springs you have have the ones I take off if you want them