Correct 66 Front coil springs

[Gary N.]

I recently had to replace the upper right control arm bushings on my 66' and was trying to hold off doing the entire front end until the weather cools off here in Texas. The other bushings looked ok for now. Now I noticed that the right side sits about 1/2" higher in both the front and back. Since I only did the top I did not take the spring down and I have driven the car around for several hundred miles and it should have settled if it was going to. The rear spring was replaced several years ago and shouldn't be the problem. I was thinking of replacing the front coil springs when I did the rest of the front end this fall. The the car sat level until I replaced the bushings. Any ideas on why it's doing this. I also bounced on the front end before I tightened the end bolts on the bushings. Also I would like to make sure I get the same coil springs as replacements. The car is a small block with standard suspension. I saw standard springs from $98/pr. up to $150/pr. Whats's the difference? How many coils are in the standard spring, I don't want heavy duty and would like to get it NCRS judged. Thanks for your help.

[Tracy C.]

Re: Correct 66 Front coil springs

The correct springs for your car look like this....

[Gary N.]

Re: Correct 66 Front coil springs

Tracy,
Thanks for the picture, I see it's a progressive spring. None of the pictures that I see from the Corvette parts places show this type of spring. Are they available? I still think that the side that I put the new upper bushings on sits a little higher than it did before I replaced them, but I don't know why. I will look at some other 66's and see how they sit in reference to the body/wheel appearance.

[Tracy C.]

Re: Correct 66 Front coil springs

I wouldn't be concerned about the springs until you've replaced the bushings on both sides. New bushings affect ride height by positioning the A-arm shaft to it's designed centerline of geometery.

Even if you think the old bushing "look OK" they are likely over compressed and yielding under the weight of the car .. thus altering ride height.

tc

[Wayne M.]

Re: Correct 66 Front coil springs

... I see it's a progressive spring. None of the pictures that I see from the Corvette parts places show this type of spring. Are they available?

Gary here's a pic of small block springs (no air) # 3851100; believe NLA since a few years. This has EXACTLY 12 complete turns. Spring shown above has fewer, and is progressive.

[Gary N.]

Re: Correct 66 Front coil springs

Wayne,
Are those springs you show from a 66 vette? Zip Corvettes shows a picture of exactly that spring with 12 complete turns and not progressive. In a small block I think the AC and Non AC springs are the same, only differ in the Big Block cars. So are you indicating that the progressive spring above is wrong for the small block?

[Bill M.]

Re: Correct 66 Front coil springs

I was thinking of replacing the front coil springs when I did the rest of the front end this fall.

I would just refinish your original springs if the car was sitting right before you did the bushings.

[Joe C.]

Re: Correct 66 Front coil springs

Wayne,
Are those springs you show from a 66 vette? Zip Corvettes shows a picture of exactly that spring with 12 complete turns and not progressive. In a small block I think the AC and Non AC springs are the same, only differ in the Big Block cars. So are you indicating that the progressive spring above is wrong for the small block?

Gary,

Here is another photo of an original 3851100 spring. This from a 1965 SBC no air. As mentioned, spring has been out of production for about 5 years now.

Joe