Hey guys, I’m sure this has been talked about plenty of times but I am going to ask the question again. I am trying to lower my front end slightly to get a nice muscle car stance. I realize I could just go with some 2” drop spindles but I feel like that might be a little to much. I also don’t want to lower the rear any. Will a 1” lowering spring in the front achieve much? Should I also consider a new heavy duty spring in the rear (stock height)? I’d like to keep 15” wheels all the way around. The car is a 68 GS 4 speed manual 455 (originally 400). The body is currently off the frame. I have blasted and painted the frame. Currently working on the front disc conversion/suspension. This car may make it to the track a couple of times but will mostly be street driven. Thanks
I used Hotchkis 1" drop springs on mine and the ride is excellent and handling much better than the stock springs. However, I was pretty sure my stock springs had settled quite a bit since the car was new and my experience with replacing springs with stock replacements is that the cars always sit higher, something I did not want. With the Hotchkis springs the car sits at almost exactly the same height as it did with the stock worn out springs. If you want the rear a little higher, maybe go with stock replacements in the rear. You could cut the fronts, which would lower it but it will also hurt the ride quality.
You can also achieve a rake by using shorter tires on the front and taller on the rear. For example 235/60-15 front, 275/60-15 rear.
I'll second the hotchkis one inch drop springs. Gives a subtle drop without sacrificing performance. -Josh
Awesome. Thanks for the reply’s. I will look into the Hotchkis springs and a stock replacement in the rear.
Are you planning on running full length headers? If so, you may want to reconsider lowering your car, as they will likely scrape. I used 2 inch cut coils in front and 1 inch in back (from opgi) on my 69, and it lowered it about 1.5 inches from where it was with 110k mile suspension. I run shorty headers. 17x7 wheels with 45 series tires.
If you are going to run full length headers, the questions you should be asking are "Who here is running full length headers on a lowered 68/69?" and "How much did you lower car and how did you do it?" and "How bad do the headers/exhaust scrape?" and "would you do it again?".
If you are running full-length headers I would leave the front alone and put air bags in the rear springs. Then you can set the rake exactly how you want it without guessing.
Unfortunately (as I am a fan of lowering the height, not increasing it) I agree with Mike. Your "rake" would likely be best achieved by raising the rear, not lowering the front.
