Front suspension
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Front suspension
Greetings fellow Corvette enhusiests,
I am new to this forum and have a question about the front suspension for a 79. I have owned 7 Corvettes and always done minor work, but never a frame off restoration, as was done on this car.
Here is my dilema, the front end has all new poly bushings and stock springs and other suspension parts. I had a 4 wheel alignment done and the car drives straight, however when you look at the car from the front, it sits high and the front tires slightly tow in. If you take a tape measure, and take it from the top of the tire and to the lip of the fender at the highest point, their is a 4" difference. Not the look that I was looking for! Is it sitting so high because the car hasn't been driven alot? Back of the car sits right. Is this a spring issue?
Can I take the original springs and have them cut down, or would it be better to ditch the original springs and get aftermarket pair ( also brand recommended)? If aftermarket is the way I need to go, how do you figure out the size? Ultimately I would like it lowered about 3".
Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Les
I am new to this forum and have a question about the front suspension for a 79. I have owned 7 Corvettes and always done minor work, but never a frame off restoration, as was done on this car.
Here is my dilema, the front end has all new poly bushings and stock springs and other suspension parts. I had a 4 wheel alignment done and the car drives straight, however when you look at the car from the front, it sits high and the front tires slightly tow in. If you take a tape measure, and take it from the top of the tire and to the lip of the fender at the highest point, their is a 4" difference. Not the look that I was looking for! Is it sitting so high because the car hasn't been driven alot? Back of the car sits right. Is this a spring issue?
Can I take the original springs and have them cut down, or would it be better to ditch the original springs and get aftermarket pair ( also brand recommended)? If aftermarket is the way I need to go, how do you figure out the size? Ultimately I would like it lowered about 3".
Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
Les
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Front suspension
I did the frame off and put a ZZ3 350 crate engine in it. This shoundn't effect the weight distribution, as this is probably a little less in weight than the 195 HP beast that was in it originally LOL
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Front suspension
Thanks for the advice..budget blown a long time ago. 12yrs of working on this car on and off(not much work in the last six years), 1 divorce. 2 kids and lot of money later, I was fortunate to still keep some of my toys, Vette, boat etc. Lost the house that I designed and built, but replaced with a better one ( this took a while). Oh, and I don't have anyone nagging at me about how much longer will I be in the garage..LOL
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 128
Likes: 1
From: Gulfport Ms.
sounds like you are bouncing back nicely. I'm new here too but this is a great community for support. I don't know much about cutting the springs, I'm sure someone here will have the best answer. Good luck.
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Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Are you certain that the springs are seated correctly in the upper pocket? If they are, you can either cut the springs or change to 550# big block springs to lower the height. The 550's will stiffen the ride but they are supposed to lower the height ~1" from stock. I don't think the engine change would affect the ride height THAT much so I would suspect the spring installation first. The top end of the spring should cover ~1/2 of the hole in the upper spring pocket and the lower end of the spring just sits wherever in the lower pocket. I found that I had to use a crowbar to nudge the spring over to get it up into the upper spring pocket when I was installing my new springs. I stuck a screwdriver into the hole so that the spring wouldn't turn too much as it was raised.
Rick B.
Rick B.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 128
Likes: 1
From: Gulfport Ms.
That's good info, I didn't realize the big-block springs would lower the ride. If it turns out the springs are seated properly I have a pair of red powdercoated big block springs I'm not going to use since I'm going with the VanSteel coil over setup.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
Front suspension
Rick..thanks for the advice. I will double check my work in the morning. I am sitting about 4" high in the front. I would like to stick to my stock springs, instead of going with 550's for right now. Can springs be cut without full disassembly?
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
From: Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (home in Colorado Springs)
OK, I don't reccommend this, but I have seen a guy actually heat up a coil spring with a torch to collapse it just enough to lower his car.
BUT! I would suggest using the BB coils. Vansteel or VBP could set you up nicely I bet.
As for the rear, you can go with longer bolts in the leaf spring (effective & cheap). Realign when done.
BUT! I would suggest using the BB coils. Vansteel or VBP could set you up nicely I bet.
As for the rear, you can go with longer bolts in the leaf spring (effective & cheap). Realign when done.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
The 550# springs are probably 3" or so shorter than the stock springs when fully extended, but the 550's are much heavier guage and the coils are closer together. When we installed the 550's on the 72 we only had to compress the spring ~1/2" to 3/4" to get the nut started on the upper ball joint.
Rick B.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,692
Likes: 207
From: Loveland, CO
I am not familiar with poly a-arm bushings, but with the stock rubber ones you can get high ride height if you tighten up the bushing attaching bolts without the car being on the ground (i.e., up on jack stands). But, as I said, I am not sure if poly bushing pivot easily when the bolts are tight.
Just an idea.
Ralph.
Just an idea.
Ralph.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 354
Likes: 6
From: Winston Salem NC
If you're going to cut your stock springs, only cut a half a coil at a time off. Its a tedious process, taking multiple installs to get the look you want.
The Vansteel coils are 1 1/2" shorter than stock.
The Vansteel coils are 1 1/2" shorter than stock.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,716
Likes: 281
From: New York
If money is an issue, this is the way to go, half coil at a time. The F-41 suspension (the 550 Inch/Pound spring everone is refering to) can be found at a reasonable prices and will lower the car 1 inch from stock.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 1
From: SOUTH ELGIN IL
DO NOT heat up the springs to lower the ride height. This will change the physical properties of the spring material and can result in a great many issues. Cut 1/2 a coil at a time and reassemble until you get the ride height you want. Make sure you keep the springs cool when you cut them too.
Try searching the Forum, there was a thread about cutting springs for ride height with in the last week or so.
Good luck!
Try searching the Forum, there was a thread about cutting springs for ride height with in the last week or so.
Good luck!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 1
From: SOUTH ELGIN IL
A link to the thread I was referring to...
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1899904
FYI Even though it's a bad idea I've seen many lower the car by using heat on the spring
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1899904
FYI Even though it's a bad idea I've seen many lower the car by using heat on the spring
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Austin Texas
79 Front Suspension
Dan,
Thanks for the advice. Seems unanimous not to cut the springs with heat. I will try the half coil trail and error cut next weekend. I really like the profile of your car..nice job! How can I view a larger picture than your avatar?
Thanks again everyone for ya'lls advice
Thanks for the advice. Seems unanimous not to cut the springs with heat. I will try the half coil trail and error cut next weekend. I really like the profile of your car..nice job! How can I view a larger picture than your avatar?
Thanks again everyone for ya'lls advice
