part of spring with smaller gap spacing... faces up or down.

getting ready to install them and cant remember or find a reference thread.

 

 

It doesn't really matter. Both cups will hold the spring just fine, and inverting a spring does not affect it's absorbsion properties.

 

wrong..it does matter

 

Why is it you know that and for what reason. I was always told it did not matter.

 

Why i know is that ive read that the smaller gap area is for a preload. I too do not understand the reason for the smaller gap spacing..but if you look at a spring you will the the difference. Im not a corvette engineer, nor have i slept in a holiday inn express, but i know that GM would made both ends the same if it didnt matter

 

Fine then. Hopefully someone has the answer you were groping for...

...my advice is stick the spring in and drive.

A spring has specific properties. It's designed to absorb energy. Even if that pre-load is specifically different from one end to the other, it shouldn't make a difference if it's at the top or bottom. It all ends up absorbing the same energy.

 

I would think, and no im not sure, but If a spring has a preload it would react faster. For example..if the tighter coils are closer to the road those coils would react to the changes in road faster then a unloaded coil. I understand the spring is asorbing the same amount of energy, but the coil is faster to react then a loose (great coil spacing) spring.

 

But why does that have to be at the top or bottom? The preload can be absorbed at the top of the spring or the bottom. Same effect, just different sides, and I don't think you'd ever feel the difference with stock springs.

 

The small side with the flat goes up,the side with the coil end fits into the slot in the lower control arm to hold the spring from moving around.

 

And the end of the coil in the lower arm pocket wants to be 3/8" from the DRAIN HOLE to allow water and debris to drain out.

 

Put it in sideways..

 

smaller spaces go to the top.

 

I believe they go in with the smaller coiling to the top.

It is my understanding that the coils closer together absord the majority of the day to day smaller bumps. Whereas the larger ones at the bottom absorb the heavier bumps and can take higher energy impact - which the heavier impacts require a stiffer part of the spring (more travel). The coils that are closer together at the top part of the spring allow for absorsoption of small, non-violent bumps - offering a softer ride. It would appear that you get a more even support during those two typoes of driving environments

Also, isn't the top of the coil to be seated by aligning it with the hole in the frame crown?? I happen to be doing this today and as I aligned it, I noted that the bottom end of the coil was about 3" short of aligning with the hole in the lower control arm. It is for a Big Block, but I cannot recall if they are F-41 - most likely not.....

FYI - my coil is equidistant in its spacing from bottom to top - the only difference is that at the top (I assume) is that the gap at the very end of coil decreases (in the last 3 inches or so) to make that end of eth spring could sit 'flat' on the ground.

BTW - JustForFun - hope I am not hijacking.....

Check it out - but that is my view - not a guess.

Sorry Durango Boy - you surprised me here. We need poeple to offer knowledge - not guesses. If you are guessing - you need to clearly state so.

 

Sorry yourself. I wasn't guessing. I even checked with a suspension guy at a local shop, and he confirmed for me that most of those old stock springs can be installed either way. He did note, which I didn't mention...that they both need to be the same, but even if they are upside down they will absorb the shock the same way as right side up.

Both perches are the same, one inverted, and the other not. They both have holes...one for alignment, and the other for fluid drainage.

I checked with an expert, and he confirmed what I said. It will go in and work great either way. Thanks though.

 

1967 Corvette service manual states, two closer coils go up.
Good luck
Russ

 

The reason for the close end of the spring up is it fits the pocket there and the other end fits correctly in the lower control arm. The coils are closer together at one end in order to make them "Progressive" which means each successive inch of compression requires more pressure than the last one ie, 1st inch 100 lbs, 2nd inch another 130 lbe, and so on. The close coils is the chreap way to make progressive springs, another way is tapered wire, another way is stacking springs of different rates. The general (and most other manufacturers) chose closer coils.

 

This advice sounds sarcastic, and careless. It does not sound like it is coming form an expert. That is why IO said I was surprised. That is the focus of my statement - its not whether you consulted an expert after the fact. Who is evidently wrong as well.