C3 - front coil spring
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
There were a number of different springs used - noted by
a 2-letter code on a tag. Springs were selected at the factory
to set ride height properly. So, they vary in length (stock).
Roughly, they should be about 14 to 14.5 inches uncompressed.
a 2-letter code on a tag. Springs were selected at the factory
to set ride height properly. So, they vary in length (stock).
Roughly, they should be about 14 to 14.5 inches uncompressed.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 182,997
Likes: 88
From: Lakeland, FL
Cruise-In IV-V-VI-VII-VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03, '06, '17
It depends if it's the original or aftermarket spring.. The original equipment springs were a lot longer than the replacements...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 433
Likes: 14
From: GA
Thanks,, I'm trying to determine if I have enough clearance under the a-arm to use floor jack to remove spring. I already have car on stands and don't want to raise higher if not required.
NHvette - what kind of paint is that on your gas tank ?
NHvette - what kind of paint is that on your gas tank ?
Last edited by Jim71Vette; Aug 4, 2005 at 03:18 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,742
Likes: 843
From: Gulf of America
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2018 C3 of Year Finalist
I just reinstalled the driver's side front spring on my frontend rebuild. While off I measured the coil spring and mine came out at 15 1/2 inches. That is on a '72 smallblock, a/c, ps, and pb.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,216
Likes: 4
From: Smile, it's just the internet.
Seems like it's about 3 feet long when you're sitting there with a jack lowering that a-arm and it just keeps going and going and going and there's STILL tension on that SOB! ...Then you gotta jack it back up and re-do the safety chain with more slack because it was STILL going before it came out of the upper spring pocket the first time around. 
I couldn't believe how much shorter my 550 springs were than the OE ones that came out.
I couldn't believe how much shorter my 550 springs were than the OE ones that came out.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,162
Likes: 2
From: Beaverton, OR
Guys, do yourselves a favor and get a spring compressor. Safety should come first if you want to be tooling along in your Vette for many years to come. It just isn't safe to lower them out with only a jack IMHO. Harbor Freight has spring compressors for much less than you will pay for the new springs.
-dath
-dath
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 159
Likes: 0
From: Chardon Ohio
Originally Posted by dath
Guys, do yourselves a favor and get a spring compressor. Safety should come first if you want to be tooling along in your Vette for many years to come. It just isn't safe to lower them out with only a jack IMHO. Harbor Freight has spring compressors for much less than you will pay for the new springs.
-dath
-dath
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=3980
no incident 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
Originally Posted by dfellinger
My car had the optional, factory, heavy duty suspension. The springs were the short ones. There is not much danger in using a floor jack. The spring in the top pocket can not go anywhere. Once the lower control arm is raised and the spring seated in the lower pocket, I don't see how it can come out. With the longer softer springs, that may be different. I can only comment on my car with my springs. Like most other jobs, use a little common sense. If something doesn't seem right or may seem to be dangerous, then take the necessary precautions.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
I have done many many front spring removal / install on C3.
The jack is fine, although a single ended threaded rod compressor
makes installing the stock springs easier.
Folks have gotten these to work fine, but I would use half of this
with the rod pulling up to the shock mount hole. Actually, I'd probably make my own.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...g%20compressor
I usually leave the shock bolted in the bottom until the spring
is released of pressure (top disconnected). This keeps the bottom
of the spring secure, while the big pocket up top keeps the top in line.
Unless the jack slips off the control arm, the springs aren't going to fly out.
Still, always stand to the side when lowering.
I recall the 460 replacements run about 12 1/2 inches long.
Unless going for NCRS points, 460 or 550 springs are the way to go.
The jack is fine, although a single ended threaded rod compressor
makes installing the stock springs easier.
Folks have gotten these to work fine, but I would use half of this
with the rod pulling up to the shock mount hole. Actually, I'd probably make my own.
http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...g%20compressor
I usually leave the shock bolted in the bottom until the spring
is released of pressure (top disconnected). This keeps the bottom
of the spring secure, while the big pocket up top keeps the top in line.
Unless the jack slips off the control arm, the springs aren't going to fly out.
Still, always stand to the side when lowering.
I recall the 460 replacements run about 12 1/2 inches long.
Unless going for NCRS points, 460 or 550 springs are the way to go.
Last edited by NHvette; Aug 5, 2005 at 03:41 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 433
Likes: 14
From: GA
NHvette, I like the idea of leaving the shock attached until spring is decompressed. And ... what kind of paint did you use on your gas tank ? Seems to simulate gold cad plating -- would probably look good on head light/wiper vacume cans.
Any ideas on how much clearance required under lower a-arm before I start to lower it ?
Thanks
Any ideas on how much clearance required under lower a-arm before I start to lower it ?
Thanks
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by mandm1200
That compressor will not work. I bought it months before I disassembled my front suspension.
My car had the optional, factory, heavy duty suspension. The springs were the short ones. There is not much danger in using a floor jack. The spring in the top pocket can not go anywhere. Once the lower control arm is raised and the spring seated in the lower pocket, I don't see how it can come out. With the longer softer springs, that may be different. I can only comment on my car with my springs. Like most other jobs, use a little common sense. If something doesn't seem right or may seem to be dangerous, then take the necessary precautions.
My car had the optional, factory, heavy duty suspension. The springs were the short ones. There is not much danger in using a floor jack. The spring in the top pocket can not go anywhere. Once the lower control arm is raised and the spring seated in the lower pocket, I don't see how it can come out. With the longer softer springs, that may be different. I can only comment on my car with my springs. Like most other jobs, use a little common sense. If something doesn't seem right or may seem to be dangerous, then take the necessary precautions.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 336
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette, Indiana
Coil spring compresser free for the asking at Autozone http://www.autozone.com/in_our_store...compressor.htm . The one I borrowed from them was the "new style". It had the hooks at the top, and a curved plate at the bottom. It worked very well.
Senior Member since 1492
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 87,928
Likes: 156
From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Originally Posted by gtr1999
Here is a picture of a stock 72 350 w a/c spring next to a Moog replacement.
Gary
Gary
