Front Springs - 4th set Still no luck

[Keith B.]

I am still struggling to get the correct ride height on my sb 67. I have tried 4 separate spring set ups and have not been successful. I had the spring the car cam with (original)? it was too high. I ordered from LIC the same configuration 1 1/2 inches shorter--still same ride height. Next ordered 7 coil replacement spring -- no change in ride height. Took original springs removed 1.25 coils off the top same ride heightand Z score. Has anyone used the GM springs under part number 3851100 sold by the dealer in the past and through DR. Rebuild now? They are really expensive but I am running out of hope. Still looking for the majic answer. Thanks

Keith

[Wayne W.]

Re: Front Springs - 4th set Still no luck

Are you REAL sure that you are getting them up into the towers correctly. I can guarantee you that F-41 springs will sit low.

[Keith B.]

Re: Front Springs - 4th set Still no luck

The car came with standard springs,the F-41 springs are still available through GM. I have a small block, I thought that mostly big blocks had the f41. I am willing to do just about anything. Any suggestions on vendors?
Thanks
Keith

[Myles Kukurudz]

Re: Front Springs - 4th set Still no luck

Hi Keith,
I ordered a set of F41 coils from Zip for my 67/427 and I believe the ride hight is proper..send me your email address and I 'll send you a pic

67vette@sympatico.ca

[Duke W.]

Re: Front Springs - 4th set Still no luck

From '63 to '67 the HD suspension springs on Z06 and F-40 small block and F-41 big block were the same throughout the five years. BBs will sit a little lower in front than a SB with these springs because of the BBs extra weight.

I would not recommend the 550 lb/in front springs for a street driven car. Their rate and the corresponding wheel rate are double the base spring and will not be very pleasant for normal driving.

Duke

[Joe L.]

Re: Front Springs - 4th set Still no luck

Keith-----

First of all, the F-40/F-41 springs, GM #3832518, are no longer available from GM. They were discontinued over 1 year ago. Presently, there are NO suspension springs available from GM for ANY 53-82 Corvette.

Secondly, I agree with Wayne; I believe that there is some kind of an installation or other problem at the root of your circumstances. It's hard to believe that you could have tried all of the things that you did and always ended up with the car at too high a ride height if the problem were the springs, alone.

[Keith B.]

Re: Front Springs - 4th set Still no luck

I believe that the springs have been installed correctly. They fit nicely in the upper notch and are within the recommended specs from the AIM. I am able to bounce the car in a normal fashion once installed. If I compress the spring after they are installed I can get it to the correct ride height and the z measurement then is correct. I still need to install the bumpers and the radiator and seats, but everything else for the most part is installed. That weight is not going to drop the car 2 inches. It appears that the lower spring coils (the last 4-5 ) are too far apart at full load. I have very nice body gaps the car is sitting on the frame correctly, the A-arms and spindles move freely both up and down. What else is there for me to check. The car did sit a little high prior to the restoration. There was some form of a tag on the spring but it had been painted and could not be read. The free height was 16.75 inches and it measured 5 inches in diameter. I removed a full coil from the top and did not gain but maybe 1/2 inch on total ride height. I have called suspension shops in the area and they all are clueless. I need help with this. Any help will be appreciated. I have 20 plus hours into this spring situation. I would need to take off two more inches on the current spring to get the right ride height and then what would happen to the ride?
Keith

[ian#32567]

Re: Front Springs - 4th set Still no luck

keith,any chance your sway bar is holding the front end up a tad high?

[Joe L.]

Re: Front Springs - 4th set Still no luck

Keith-----

Do any of the springs that you've used, PRIOR TO MODIFICATION, have a set of dimensions equivalent to the original springs? To recap those dimensions, the free length is 15-13/32", 11 coils, and wire diamter of .60".

[Keith B.]

Re: Front Springs - 4th set Still no luck

These were 12 coil 16.75+ inch tall with a spring coil width of 9/16. The free height of the spring still measures 16.25 after the coil has been cut. Do these seem to be original for a 67?
Keith

[Keith B.]

Spring height before 17.25 prior to cutting *NM*

[Terry M.]

Re: Front Springs - 4th set Still no luck

Keith,
I have not been following all this thread, so forgive me if I am repeating something already mentioned. You are loosening the bolts on the inner control arm bushings before installing the springs, and then torquing them with the weight of the vehicle on the wheels? To do otherwise leaves the control arm bushings in a bind, and will cause the ride height to be high.

[Wayne C.]

Re: Front Springs - 4th set Still no luck

According to Noland's book, the standard 67 spring should have 12 coils and free height of 16.82 inches. I measured a set of used 67 springs at 12 coils, 16.6 inches free height, and 0.6 wire rod diameter.

I agree with others that the A-arm bushings may be binding or the sway bar is holding the frame up. You did not say, in your post, what measurements you are using to determine whether the car is sitting too high, or what those measurements are (perhaps you did that in another topic string).

The shop manual says to measure the vertical distance from the ground up to the centerline of the inner A-arm shaft, and from the ground up to the lower face of the lower boss on the steering knuckle, those measurements to be 3 and 5/8 inches +- 1/2 inch, and within 1/2 inch of the same measurements difference on the other side of the car. So, the height difference would have to be over 4 and 1/8 inch in order to assume you have a problem. If those measurements check out and the car still appears awkwardly nose-high, then perhaps you should be working on the rear height rather than the front, or inspecting the body mounts for correct heights (ie, could someone have shimmed it in the past to correct a nose-down appearance?). Are the front and rear tires a matched set of the same size & model tires from the same manufacturer, on identical rims and properly inflated?

[Wayne C.]

Re: Front Springs... woops

I previously said: "The shop manual says to measure the vertical distance from the ground up to the centerline of the inner A-arm shaft, and from the ground up to the lower face of the lower boss on the steering knuckle, those measurements to be 3 and 5/8 inches +- 1/2 inch..."

I should have said: "The shop manual says to measure the vertical distance from the ground up to the centerline of the inner A-arm shaft, and from the ground up to the lower face of the lower boss on the steering knuckle, the difference between those two measurements to be 3 and 5/8 inches (+- 1/2 inch)..." etc.

[Keith B.]

Re: Front Springs.. difference should be 2.5"

The way I read the AIM the measurement that you describe should be 2.5 inches +- 1/2 inch. When I compress to that height I get 26 inches from the floor to the wheelwell opening. I do not have the stabilizer bar attached nor do I have the A-arm end bolts tighted (they are not yet installed). The A Arms move freely both up and down.

Thanks for the input
Keith