C3 front end lowering
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
C3 front end lowering
I need to lower the front end of my C3 by about 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 inches. I have been looking at the purchase of a monospring system however the cost is pretty high just to do that. Is there anyone out there who has lowered one by cutting front coil springs? I have been told that is the only economic way of doing it. Does anyone know how much cut off a stock coil would produce the correct lowering per above specs?
Appreciate your advice.
Ron Taylor
Appreciate your advice.
Ron Taylor
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 988
Likes: 1
From: Dyersburg TN
I just lowered my front end , cut half a coil , lowered the car about 1.5 ". Hardest part was trying to make sure I cut the same amount off each side , I was unable to use my recip saw , went thru about 3 blades in a few seconds , finally used my grinder 
when you read that you must drive around before the car will "settle" , believe it 
when you read that you must drive around before the car will "settle" , believe it
Drifting
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 1,651
Likes: 13
From: Holly MI
Take a look at my lost in this thread:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...737&forum_id=3
I have an Excel file that will work depending on how much you can measure. I'd be glad to share it.
In fact, I'm sure someone had the suspension measurements, and I could build those right into the file. Then, I could make the file openly available, and people could post their results.
Anybody with the measurements we need? These would be the lateral location of the roll center and the lateral location of the spring pocket.
Ken
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...737&forum_id=3
I have an Excel file that will work depending on how much you can measure. I'd be glad to share it.
In fact, I'm sure someone had the suspension measurements, and I could build those right into the file. Then, I could make the file openly available, and people could post their results.
Anybody with the measurements we need? These would be the lateral location of the roll center and the lateral location of the spring pocket.
Ken
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 286
Likes: 1
From: AZ
No cutting or Mods ???
Chevy Power Book states that switching the front shocks to F41 units will drop the front approx 1 Inch +/- .25.
No mods/cutting, just shock swap. Something to think about, and it may depend on your existing set-up.
No mods/cutting, just shock swap. Something to think about, and it may depend on your existing set-up.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 11,322
Likes: 1
From: Living in the Hartland
Originally Posted by 82XFire
Chevy Power Book states that switching the front shocks to F41 units will drop the front approx 1 Inch +/- .25.
No mods/cutting, just shock swap. Something to think about, and it may depend on your existing set-up.
No mods/cutting, just shock swap. Something to think about, and it may depend on your existing set-up.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 286
Likes: 1
From: AZ
Originally Posted by Fevre
Sure that is not F41 springs? Springs determine ride height, shocks control the rate of suspension travel.
F41 Springs, not shocks will drop the front about what you are looking for.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Hey, rihwoods:
Thanks for the note. One more question -- When you cut off less than a full coil does a "location" problem arise due to spring "locator stops" in one or both of A arms? It seems to me that if the locator is only on one A arm then no problem but if there are locators on both top and bottom it would be. Your thoughts?
Thanks again.
Ron
Thanks for the note. One more question -- When you cut off less than a full coil does a "location" problem arise due to spring "locator stops" in one or both of A arms? It seems to me that if the locator is only on one A arm then no problem but if there are locators on both top and bottom it would be. Your thoughts?
Thanks again.
Ron
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Team Owner
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 54,204
Likes: 180
From: S.W. Ohio. . . . . . NRA Life Member
Originally Posted by Todbo
I just lowered my front end , cut half a coil , lowered the car about 1.5 ".
And yes, I know for certain that the springs were all the way seated back into their pockets.
I guess each car is unique to the lowering amount achieved by cutting parts of a coil.
Here is what I used to cut the coil:
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,434
Likes: 0
St. Jude Donor '07
Originally Posted by rihwoods
I cut half coil off my original FE7 springs...dropped it 1.2"..advise not to exceed 2" as you could foul up geometry such that alignment might not be possible...heard that somewhere...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,672
Likes: 1
From: New Cumberland PA
Originally Posted by yellow73sb
I think i need to make a thread on this i need to lower mine atleast 2 inches.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
Likes: 313
From: Lake Norman NC
from what i've experienced..every C3 is different for some reason..maybe its the way the springs are going back in after cut. Maybe there not seated correctly resulted in the little difference. You'd be suprised..i didn't have my passanger side seated right..and it was an inch higher than the other side, both with a full coil cut off. Of course the back spring has alot to do with it too..but it was too obvious. I pulled the coil out, made sure it was properly seated by turning the coil into the pocket at the top, and while holding it an angle, i had a helper jack the lower control arm...making sure the coil never came out of the pocket at the top. I've done it this way countless times, and always seated them properly. Of course, to get the stance you want, your going to have to invest in a day or two, cutting, bolting, lowering the back with longer bolts, measuring, adjusting and so on to get that right stance.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 16,100
Likes: 17
Originally Posted by rtaylor1234
Hey, rihwoods:
Thanks for the note. One more question -- When you cut off less than a full coil does a "location" problem arise due to spring "locator stops" in one or both of A arms? It seems to me that if the locator is only on one A arm then no problem but if there are locators on both top and bottom it would be. Your thoughts?
Thanks again.
Ron
Thanks for the note. One more question -- When you cut off less than a full coil does a "location" problem arise due to spring "locator stops" in one or both of A arms? It seems to me that if the locator is only on one A arm then no problem but if there are locators on both top and bottom it would be. Your thoughts?
Thanks again.
Ron
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Re: Lowering front end of C3
Thanks again. I guess I will cut about 3/4" coil (on bottom) and see how it works out. From everything I am hearing that should produce around 1.5" drop. Will let you all know how it works out.
Thanks for all the help
Ron
Thanks for all the help
Ron
