When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Hey all,
I am about to pull the body off my 69 convertible and just want to get any input just so I’m not missing anything.
When I got this it was a non op that someone did stuff to and it is sitting very high. Tires are roughly 4-5” below the wheel well/ fenders.
The front springs may have been replaced and the rear leaf spring is bad enough that it is hard to tell but looks original. The rear leaf spring bolts are about 6” long and roughly 5” from the bottom of the rear wheels. I am planning on keeping it relatively stock with no major upgrades with the same size stock wheels and tires. This is my first frame off so I just want to keep it simple and maybe get a little more advanced on the next (BIG IF) one.
it is a 350 and the engine & tranny are still on the frame.
Any input would be great. Thx
Jeez....ow! Did 'stuff' to it is an understatement. Was the previous owner plannin' to do some off-roadin' or what? Join the club. I am also doing a body off frame on my '69 convertible - also, my first, so I am learning as I go. Obviously, the ride height is way too high, (assuming these pictures weren't taken as you were actually LIFTING the body off the frame).
Your question is too vague. What information are you looking for? I have a couple of threads that I created on this topic where I have received some great input from other members. You can do a search of my posts and look at the relevant ones.
Last edited by Corvette-ZL1; Jun 29, 2022 at 06:37 PM.
Thanks for the response and I will check your posts.
I realized after I posted it was vague.
If The engine, transmission, front suspension, rad, etc. are all very close to stock in design and weight,
would stock replacement springs put me back to, or very close to, manufacturer’s specs?
Same with the rear. Seems like basic stuff but I just can’t understand why it is sitting SO high now.
Are there other reasons it would other than the springs and associated hardware?
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
The rear spring bolts should be 8 to 10 inches long to get it low enough to look good. The more you tighten those spring bolts the higher it goes, so short bolts already give you that extreme height....Depending on the spring you have to pay attention to see if the bolt will be close to the tire. In the front the sping needs to nest in the spring pocket to get it correct. Then you may still need to cut the front coil to dial it in. If you have the money get some QA1 coil overs so you can just dial in the height you want.
You always need to settle the suspension by rollingvthe car 10 feet out the the 10 feet back. But with the casters in the picture your car is on you might get it to settle by bouncing it, if yhose little wheels move freely and dont get hung up on debris under the car
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Jun 30, 2022 at 07:40 AM.
Looking like a 4 wheel drive for sure. I have about 7inch bolts in the rear. And one coil cut off of factory gymkhana springs in the front sitting on 3/8 inch spring spacers.
Ride hight to inside top of fender arch. 27 1/2 in. front 28 1/8in. rear.
Here is an old photo of a 1969 Coupe. No measurements or tire clearance details but perhaps a good ballpark estimate of ride height / wheel clearance. As you already know, tire size has a lot to do with wheel well clearance and ride height. These are 255/60 R15 on all four.
I was told my Corvette had the Gymkhana suspension? What the heck is that? The car sat nicely though. He explained it to me as using different holes in the frame re-locating the suspension to lower the car. Anyone know what he meant? This will help the OP as well. Thanks.
For the Corvette, the Gymkhana package includes included a thicker front sway bar(1 1/8"), a rear sway bar(7/16"), 550 lb front springs, 292 lb 7-leaf rear spring (in lieu of the 9 leaf) and specially valved shocks.
I have never heard of different holes in the frame for said components. AFAIK, it is a straight bolt on modification.
For the Corvette, the Gymkhana package includes included a thicker front sway bar(1 1/8"), a rear sway bar(7/16"), 550 lb front springs, 292 lb 7-leaf rear spring (in lieu of the 9 leaf) and specially valved shocks.
I have never heard of different holes in the frame for said components. AFAIK, it is a straight bolt on modification.
Thanks for the explanation. This car runs like it's on rails. I do remember now the previous owner saying he bolted the stuff on himself. He used to run it at Road America. Blew up the OG LT-1 on the way back from there in fact.
Funny. My C5's rear anti-sway bar is almost an inch thick. Front? Inch and a quarter.
For the front springs Should be a Progressive coil spring if it is a base suspension. In other words the coils at one end are closer together the the other. This difference makes the spring stiffer as it is compressed.
The other spring for a HD suspension F41 is Linear. The coils are equally spaced the spring rate is consistent as it is compressed.
The Progressive springs are taller then the Linear springs This then allows ether to be very close to correct factory height. If the replacement spring is the incorrect height or rate the Corvette will not be the correct height.
Progressive
Linear
It is best to show an image of the rear spring any aftermarket or replacement spring will induce an incorrect height. Also when the springs were installed at the factory they used a special preload machine to set the springs then torqued all the fasteners. This is something we when rebuilding one can not emulate without knowing the designated load applied.
Is that on stock set up (I assume not) how long bolts? Also what about the front springs?
I haven't messed with the front as I like the way it sits though it is lower than most stock I've had, rear I lowered a touch with 8" bolts.
These I lowered a touch in the front with a coil cut... typically a half coil gets me to about 27.5" and 8" rear bolts which have more height adjustment
I have found most of the C3s I've had come in stock about 28"-28.5" with the gymkhana on that higher side.
I'm buttoning up some recent adjustments myself. With the (I think) original front springs a new leaf I put in, and she sat like a 4x4. Ground-to-fender measurements were over 30" in the rear, and not too much better up front.
In the rear, I tried 10" bolts first which made a huge improvement. I like 'em low, so I ended up sending the leaf to Will at Eaton Detroit Spring and had it re-arched.
On the Front, I went with Van Steel semi coil-over. I started off on the lowest possible setting which had 'er sitting right around 25" ground-to-fender. I think it looked friggin' sick, but I brought it up about an inch to better match the rear. I was also a little nervous about hitting potholes in turns.
As she sits now, it measures 26" from ground-to-fender up front, and 26-1/4" in the rear.
New Leaf, Original Front Springs:
10" Bolts in Rear:
10" Bolts and Re-Arched Spring (26-1/4"), Van Steel Semi Coil-Over at Lowest Setting (25"):
Current Ride Height - 10" Bolts and Re-Arched Spring (26-1/4"), Van Steel Semi Coil-Over raised 1" from Lowest Setting (26"):
69 Height
