I'm looking to get some lowering springs to replace my 40+ year old stockers (at least I've never replaced them and they don't look too fresh). I think I'll be using Hotchkis springs unless someone can recommend something better. My question, though, is which size do I need? I've heard the 1 inch drop springs can actually raise the car up when replacing older stock springs, but I'm worried that the 2 inch lowering springs will lower the car too much. Ideally, I'd like the car just a touch lower than it is right now. Does anybody have any experience with these?
i'd recommend spc lowering springs from scandc.com 1.2 drop in front 1.0 drop rear....cant beat the price for complete set 289 plus shipping you can always do taller howlle balljoints to lower the car another .5 to .75 of an inch and gain more handling yea some raise it because your old springs are already sagging an 1in or so
I'll be doing the tall uppers, and possibly the tall lowers, so that'll help. I'd heard some mixed reviews about the spc springs, but I hadn't seen any negatives on the hotchkis ones.
I bought Hotchkis for mine 1 inch drop I haven't installed them yet but they do have in the instructions that there springs may be cut if you follow what they say. I figure they may be in and out a couple times before I get it just where I want .
Do they say how much you can cut out? I don't wanna get 1" drops and find out I'm still too high after cutting them.
all springs can be cut..just dont preheat them! i'd install them and if your not satisfied cut half a coil ..but most springs arent pre settled so may be a good idea to drive it as is till spring settles
From the hotchkis instructions and Ill abbreviate we recommend you do not cut more then 1 full coil off--- I measured a full coil from the proper end is 1 3/4 inch. They also say Reducing the coil will slightly increase the spring rate but it will perform the same.for every 1" off free length you cut off it will lower 2" ratio 2:1. This is only a approximation. So if you want to lower the car a inch cut 3/8 to 7/16 off then cut more if you desire more. So if they are correct if you cut off the max they recommend 1 coil = 1 3/4inch free length and it would be at 2:1 ratio a 3 1/2 inch drop, So even if it raised the car with no cuts a inch or so you should be able to get the drop back out of the springs you want by cutting shorter Hope this helps
Haha i've ridden in a car with heated springs, you hit the bump and keep bouncing for days. Thanks for the measurements Roy, that's exactly what I needed.
Hi guys, I'm wondering if any of you have got your springs installed yet and what kind of ride hieght you ended up with. I want to replace my stock 350 ac car springs and i'm hoping I can maintain about the same ride hieght if I use some big block lowering springs. At present the car sits 24 7/8" from floor to top of fender opening in the front and 25 1/2" in the back. The tires are 255/50-16's front and rear. I really like the sound of the spc control arms with tall ball joints for the improved geometry but that will lower the car too and I already have issues with headers scrapping once in a while and I supose that might be do to the stock small block springs. It's hard to know exactly what to buy to get the ruslts your looking for. Hopefully things worked out for you guys. Thanks, Steve
So Im in the process of putting the Hocthkiss springs in the skylark, Back dropped about 1 inch from where it was front stayed the same or went up slightly . So at this point we cut half coil off front and it dropped 1 1/4 inch roughly. My question is does anybody have a 70 that they know hasn't sagged and settled on the springs and is damn close to stock height? What is the dimension to the fender well front and back? It will be a few days till Im back at my car to see what height were at now and to see if I want to drop it more.
Is it at the house? I might come by this weekend if your around at all cause Ill probally head back out to the shop Monday afternoon before your off work.
Ok to update where were at with mine Back started at 26 1/2 inches where we marked the wheel well (slight difference side to side)put in springs right out of box and when done its about 1 1/4 inch lower. Front started out at 26 1/2 "(same thing a slight difference side to side)Put springs in out of box car same height cut half coil off dropped about 1 1/4" ,cut another 1/4 coil off seemed to drop another 1/2" plus. Back now around 25" front around 24 1/2". So the back ones were left as they were and the front we cut off 3/4 of a coil. Now I never measured Chris's car yet to see where a stock car sits in the same fender locations and I figure the slight differences from side to side could be the floor its sitting on and 40 year old body mounts. The dimensions seem to change slightly when parked on a different spot so thats why all my math is approximate My tires are 245/60/15 fairly new. hope this helps anyone thinking about the same thing.
Easier to shorten then add if I was wrong, and you know thats a common thing.ou: pics one before one after.
That does look good. Would you have ended up with the same drop going with the 2" springs from the beginning?
I think the front we probably would have ended up right about the same, the back no we only dropped a little over 1" Im sure your stock springs have sagged some if my experience was any example
