Trying to figure out where I'm sitting vs. original stock height. Not sure if my rear springs are stock, lowered, or old/worn and sagging. I have a feeling are old and worn as the rear sits a bit lower than the front when measured at the rocker. Trying to figure out my next move with wheels/tires/springs to get the look I want. The overall height of the car is close to the publish spec, but where exactly one measures makes a big difference and doesn't seem like I can rely on that. Can someone with a stock-height car in good condition (not old and sagging) give me a measurement at the rocker in front of the rear wheel and back of the front and let me know their tire size also? I am running 215/70/14 (25.9" tall) out back and 205/70/14 (25.5" tall) in front. Help is much appreciated!
I could measure mine for you tomorrow but measuring from the rocker moldings won't really give you any useful information simply because there are variables. Using that information, a car with short tires will obviously sit lower than a car with taller tires regardless of what springs are in it. In my case I am running 215/70-15s in the front and 275/60-15s in the rear, so it wouldn't be much of a comparison to yours. I assumed my original springs had sagged through the years but I liked that look, just didn't like the sloppy springs so I installed a set of Hotchkis 1" drop springs and the car sits almost exactly where it did before the spring swap. I am planning to install new body bushings sometime in the next month or so and judging by the appearance of the originals the swap will undoubtedly make the car sit a bit higher. Not much, but still...........
Thanks for the reply. Agreed...many variables which is why I hope to get numbers from an original car. According to the tire specs online, your rear tire measures 28" tall, or about 1" taller than mine. This should result in 1/2" taller at the rocker. But then you factor the 1" lower springs and your rocker should be 1/2" lower than mine. (Assuming I have stock springs that are not sagged.) You have any photos of your car so I can see how it sits? Any tire clearance issues, front or back? I didn't think you could get that much tire in the stock wheel tub out back. Thanks again!
The Chassis manual will have trim heights. There is a 66 Chassis manual online. Here is the Trim chart from the 1966 Chassis Manual. Hope it helps. Here is a 1965 Chassis manual on Ebay. Pretty cheap. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1965-BUICK...ash=item1a20ddb1e1:g:HEMAAOSwiONYPgCP&vxp=mtr
I just got the manual on disc and couldn't find such measurement. Just checked again and got the info that will work, although it's presented differently than for your '66. Thanks!
To compare between cars, I prefer to measure from the center of the wheel to the wheel lip. That ignores the height of the tire and is a better indication of the installed spring. I can get you some measurements off my 66 GS which got new stock-spec springs a few years ago.
If you have the stock rearend in your car you would need an 8" wheel with a 5" backspace to fit the 275/60 in the rear. I have a `70 rearend in mine, which is 1/2 wider on each end, so I use a 5 1/2" backspace wheel. If I remember correctly I had to do some minor hammer work on the inner wheelhouse but nothing that couldn't easily be reversed. On the front I removed the top bolt holding the wheelwell to the fender. A front tire still might rub a tiny bit if I go into a driveway at an angle but it's not a problem.
First of all let me put in a shameless plug for http://65gs.com. The site has lots of useful information on your 1965 Skylark. It's not just for GS's. My measurements are to the edge of the wheel well opening. The tires on my car are 26.5" diameter front and rear. The front sits 24.5" high while the rear is 23.5". The 65GS site has the 65 Chassis Manual online also. Go to the Documentation section. Hope to see you on 65GS as well as v8buick and hope this helps.
