742nd Ride Height Thread

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Dec 8, 2006 | 07:15 AM

enkeivette

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

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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?

Dec 8, 2006 | 10:42 AM

bluegtp

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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

Dec 8, 2006 | 03:53 PM

LFZ

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Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 30,183

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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.

Dec 8, 2006 | 04:36 PM

7t2vette

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From: Toronto Ontario

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Redshark6974

Whats your method to do it so fast?

Dec 8, 2006 | 04:54 PM

FKING1

Safety Car

Joined: May 2003

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From: Dearborn Heights Michigan

I cut 1-1/4 coils off my 70 stock fronts and went from 30-1/2 to 28. Put 8" bolts in the rear and went from 29-1/2 t0 27-1/2. Car looks great , have 245/60/15's.
Fred

Dec 8, 2006 | 05:38 PM

LFZ

Team Owner

Joined: Feb 2003

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From: Lake Norman NC

Quote:

Originally Posted by 7t2vette

Whats your method to do it so fast?

jack up the front of the car, pull off both wheels, place a jack under the control arm, pop the lower ball joint castle nut off the spindle with a pickle fork, lower the jack, pull out spring, cut spring with an air wheel (make sure to have a full face shield on), install spring, make sure its seated at the top, jack up lower control arm, install castle nut back on the ball joint, and repeat this method on the other side, then install both wheels and thats it. I could probably do it blindfolded with a 12 pack coronas in me.

Dec 8, 2006 | 05:51 PM

enkeivette

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Sep 2004

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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.

Last edited by enkeivette; Dec 11, 2006 at 04:40 PM.

Dec 9, 2006 | 12:10 AM

LFZ

Team Owner

Joined: Feb 2003

Posts: 30,183

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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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Dec 11, 2006 | 05:56 AM

enkeivette

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: Sep 2004

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I might be able to avoid that problem if I run 5 degrees of negative camber.

Dec 11, 2006 | 12:43 PM

#10

White 68

Drifting

Joined: Dec 2001

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From: Dallas Texas

I,ll let you know as I,m doing this today ...I,m using a 245/45/17 tire up front and have the new 550 VPb spring to install. I,m starting with 3/4 of a coil

Dec 11, 2006 | 02:05 PM

#11

bluegtp

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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

Dec 11, 2006 | 05:07 PM

#12

FKING1

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From: Dearborn Heights Michigan

Quote:

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

Looks great. I think the stock springs require more coils to be cut off than other aftermarket ones.
Fred

Dec 11, 2006 | 05:46 PM

#13

84rzv500r

Drifting

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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...