742nd Ride Height Thread
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 3
742nd Ride Height Thread
I've particiapted in other threads but this one is about my car. 
I've been thinking about cutting the springs for awhile, and since I just junked some more weight, I need to lower it, bad.
My front fender sits at 27 3/4" I have the 550 springs uncut. I want to make the car low, as low as I can without being too impractical. Can I cut off a full coil? Does anyone know where that will put the fender?
Also, what problems will I run into riding too low. And will I need a smaller diameter tire? Will 255 50 17 be too tall?
I've been thinking about cutting the springs for awhile, and since I just junked some more weight, I need to lower it, bad.My front fender sits at 27 3/4" I have the 550 springs uncut. I want to make the car low, as low as I can without being too impractical. Can I cut off a full coil? Does anyone know where that will put the fender?
Also, what problems will I run into riding too low. And will I need a smaller diameter tire? Will 255 50 17 be too tall?
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,628
Likes: 293
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
from what I've read, if you cut a coil it'll lower about an inch.....now I couldn't tell you if that was with stcok springs or if that's just a general est for these vettes.....if I get my rear 10" bolts in this weekend I'll let you know.....I'm running stock springs in the front....
I'm sure others can chime in about the rubbing or whatnot......
is that your vette in your avatar?
I've seen it on cardomain and google and you're the one that made me wanna build my 383 after my 350 blew up because it sounded bad ......thanks for making me blow my money! haha!
..i'll get some videos up soon.......very happy with it for a street car....still a flattapit motor, but I'm very pleased with the tq and sound of it!.....later!
ryan
I'm sure others can chime in about the rubbing or whatnot......
is that your vette in your avatar?
I've seen it on cardomain and google and you're the one that made me wanna build my 383 after my 350 blew up because it sounded bad ......thanks for making me blow my money! haha!
..i'll get some videos up soon.......very happy with it for a street car....still a flattapit motor, but I'm very pleased with the tq and sound of it!.....later!ryan
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
Likes: 313
From: Lake Norman NC
Seriously, start off by cutting a HALF a coil....every car is different and every car will react different....go half at a time..better to cut to short than too much...you'll probably have to make a day out of it, and cut and install, cut and install and measure...thats what i did..i actually got pretty good at it, and can take out and install both springs and get the car back on the ground in about half an hour. its not bad. Your running a 27" tall tire...i'd probably go 27" at the fender lip for practicality. I've seen vettes with 255/50zr17s running 26.5" fender lip..looks good, but I know i've clipped off a piece of my fender lip turning up a hill...so think about that.
The ORIGINAL and bestest
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 10,009
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From: Toronto Ontario
Toronto Events Coordinator
Originally Posted by Redshark6974
Seriously, start off by cutting a HALF a coil....every car is different and every car will react different....go half at a time..better to cut to short than too much...you'll probably have to make a day out of it, and cut and install, cut and install and measure...thats what i did..i actually got pretty good at it, and can take out and install both springs and get the car back on the ground in about half an hour. its not bad. Your running a 27" tall tire...i'd probably go 27" at the fender lip for practicality. I've seen vettes with 255/50zr17s running 26.5" fender lip..looks good, but I know i've clipped off a piece of my fender lip turning up a hill...so think about that.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
Likes: 313
From: Lake Norman NC
Originally Posted by 7t2vette
Whats your method to do it so fast?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,412
Likes: 3
Yeah that's my Vette in the avatar. But that pic is from when my car was heavier with the iron headed 350, etc. running the 550s so I had a decent ride height. Also when I had an automatic and before my paint went to sh*t. I'm on cardomain but I didn't know that my car was on google.
Redshark, where did you clip your fender? Was it somewhere visible? Also, I'm badly in need of new tires. I had to rotate them about 3k miles after the new engine went in. The stroker is not easy on tires. So if it sits too low to run 255 50 17, I'll spring for some 255 45 17s.
Redshark, where did you clip your fender? Was it somewhere visible? Also, I'm badly in need of new tires. I had to rotate them about 3k miles after the new engine went in. The stroker is not easy on tires. So if it sits too low to run 255 50 17, I'll spring for some 255 45 17s.
Last edited by enkeivette; Dec 11, 2006 at 04:40 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 30,183
Likes: 313
From: Lake Norman NC
I clipped it twice..repaired both times..on the drivers side fender lip...took a 2-3" chunk out right at the center of the lip. I never bothered to take any pics..but i should have..hell it happened twice!! thats the only thing to watch out for...i don't know of any way to get around that. My goal is to go with 26.5" while i'm running a 26" tall tire...just so theres alittle room
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Drifting
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,628
Likes: 293
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Here's mine I did last weekend....don't know if it'll help you much being as i don't have aftermarket springs like you......1.5 coils on front drivers and 2 coils on pass.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...post1558055039
oh yeah, if you go on google video and search for "cambria stroker" 2 videos of your car pops up.....one idling with the 383 and then one with you driving around....good looking ride though!
ryan
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...post1558055039
oh yeah, if you go on google video and search for "cambria stroker" 2 videos of your car pops up.....one idling with the 383 and then one with you driving around....good looking ride though!
ryan
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,814
Likes: 105
From: Dearborn Heights Michigan
Originally Posted by bluegtp
Here's mine I did last weekend....don't know if it'll help you much being as i don't have aftermarket springs like you......1.5 coils on front drivers and 2 coils on pass.
ryan
ryan
Fred
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,486
Likes: 10
From: Big Pine Key FL
Shouldn't you cut like a 1/2 coil at a time as to do it properly you should heat the bottom coil with a torch and make flat again which wil shorten your spring a bit... I remember reading that on the corvette FAQ in an article by Herb Adams...
Just a thought...
I went this way and still wasn't happy so I bought a set of VB&P 550's and it came out PERFECT...
Just a thought...
I went this way and still wasn't happy so I bought a set of VB&P 550's and it came out PERFECT...
Safety Car
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 3,814
Likes: 105
From: Dearborn Heights Michigan
Shouldn't you cut like a 1/2 coil at a time as to do it properly you should heat the bottom coil with a torch and make flat again which wil shorten your spring a bit... I remember reading that on the corvette FAQ in an article by Herb Adams...
Just a thought...
I went this way and still wasn't happy so I bought a set of VB&P 550's and it came out PERFECT...
Just a thought...
I went this way and still wasn't happy so I bought a set of VB&P 550's and it came out PERFECT...
Fred
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 4
From: Dallas Texas
Heres a link to the results of my 550 spring install 
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1571587
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1571587