Chalie M

I think I should change the rear spring to help with the stance of my 65 coupe, when you look under car rear spring is not bowed it looks more straight than bowed. ?

RK-TECT

To my eye, the rear looks good, but the front appears too high. That adjustment would require cutting the front springs. The correct ride height is measured from the suspension and is outlined in the AIM. As a rough guide, if you park your car on a level surface and measure from the ground to the center of the fiberglass edge above the tires, you should be somewhere in the area of 26"+/-. Check out the AIM and take your measurements as described if you want "factory correct". Otherwise, adjust the ride height to what looks good to you.

Roger

Chalie M

new pic if this helps

Chalie M

27-1/4" in front & 26-15/16" in rear
Thanks for the input

RK-TECT

Sure thing... no problem. My car measures about 26-1/2" at all four wheels and I think it looks perfect. In my opinion, the car doesn't look good if the measurement goes over 27" or below 26". The tire size can make a difference, too. The rear leaf spring rubber cushions need to be replaced when they deteriorate or flatten. The new cushions will initially raise the rear ride height, but they will settle with time. Most vendors sell the standard 6" bolts or longer 8" bolts which allow you to lower the rear of the car and adjust the height (longer bolt = lower rear ride height). I used them on my car which allowed me to not only lower the rear ride height, but also make some left-to-right side leveling adjustments. Keep in mind that once you adjust the ride height in the front and/or rear, your alignment will be "adjusted" as well. If you were considering getting an alignment anyway, make sure you do it after you set the ride height.

, Roger

65GGvert

Rear looks good, front needs to be about an inch or a little more lower.

65GGvert

Not to say that mine is perfect or even correct, but I like the front a little lower. Mine measures 26 1/4 at the rear wheel lip and just under 25 1/4 at the front directly over the center of the spinners.

Chalie M

yes i do plan on doing a 4whl. alignment when i get the proper stance with the car (just bought car and trying to work out all the bugs that the previously owner didn't finish).
I don't want to cut the front coils I just would like to get the correct one's for the car a 65 327/365 with non p/s & non a/c. I'm trying to keep all as is for a 65, looking to get the car judged with the NCRS flight requirements.
Thanks again, please keep your input and pic's coming it helps alot..

DansYellow66

If you are willing to replace the coils I would give Coil Springs Specialties a call in Kansas. You can describe what you have and they will custom wind springs for you. It would be a good idea if you measured the wire diameter of what you have now with a micrometer and count the number of coils to give them a starting point but they have all the specs for stock factory springs.

Not saying mine is perfect either but I think a little lower in front would look a little better. I need to get a better picture from the side.

donbayers

Great thread. I don't know the measurements for my car but I like the stance. I replaced the rear spring and liked it from day one.

And Dan, pleassseee quit posting awesome pics of your car! Those pics are going to cost me a lot of money some day

66since71

Springs don't wear out. They may "sag" but they certainly don't get longer. If you suspect you have the original springs, the fronts are not too long!

You're right to measure ride height. The AIM has a good method. Just remember, your car originally had 27" tall tires.

Look at the rear spring mounting rubber (at the spring ends), damaged rubber will make the rear end low.

Harry

DucatiDon

I agree...lower the front.

Chalie M

The car had a body off resto just before I bought it, the owner gave me all the reciepts with it & the front coil springs reciept as listed (p/n 1401D small block no a/c springs are shorter than original, but give you the same stock ride height). That is exactly how it reads on the invoice.
They were purchased from a corvette shop called corvette paramedics in New Jersey, i think I;ll try calling them with the p/n that was purchased & if they have any options.
Thanks again for all the input from the forum and all the pics of them beautiful C2's
Chalie

oldsmobilia

I'm really enjoying this thread. I too see a lot of cars that just dont seem to stand right...corvettes or many others too. I think a slightly downward to the front always looks best personally, but its just my opinion. Nice car anyway.

RK-TECT

Chalie M, there is one more thing to check before changing the front springs. The front springs sit in a pocket and have to be twisted into place when installed to drop down in the pocket. If the correct springs weren't installed properly, the ride height in the front will be higher than expected. It's difficult to see, but if you can get under the car with a light and perhaps a mirror, you should be able to see if the end of the first coil is sitting in the pocket that I described. If there is a gap between the coil and the bottom of the pocket, then you probably found the problem.

RK-TECT

Here's a photo of my car with about 26-1/2" at all four wheels:

Fawndeuce

Mine is on 215 70 15 tires.



Paul

Sky65

Was thinking the same thing. Just to be clear. The spring orientation is set in the top spring pocket. Not the bottom. This is for OEM or aftermarket. Take particular attention to the last post from John Z.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c1-a...tallation.html

Tom

RK-TECT

Tom, thank you for pointing out that the spring is oriented in the top spring pocket and not the bottom... my bad. I was going from memory of reading threads over the years.

Roger

gilbybarr

My '65 looks to be riding a bit lower than the other photos here. It was restored in 1990. It looks dead on to factory promotional pics from that year that I have seen in some books. Interestingly, one of the captions I remember said that when doing photo shoots for their ad campaigns they would sometimes weigh down or even chain down the cars so they would have the low look.