Front coil springs
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Woodland California
Front coil springs
I'm looking for FRONT 460 LB GRAND TOURING springs but
I want to lower it an inch.
I've looked around but have not found a replacement spring that does what I want.
Any suggestions?
Ralph
I want to lower it an inch.
I've looked around but have not found a replacement spring that does what I want.
Any suggestions?
Ralph
Premium Supporting Vendor
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 4,312
Likes: 70
From: Clearwater FL
If you cut your springs your going to increase rate. You can also use the BB springs (550# rate) and that will give you 3/4"-1". Different factors will determine how much the front end will come down. If you have replaced heads and intake, for instance, to aluminum than the drop will not be as much. AC will also have an effect. If you do cut your coils, it's going to be a PITA, but I would only cut a 1/4 coil each time and reinstall. Your going to have to trial and error the whole deal until your happy with the look.
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
If you cut your springs your going to increase rate. You can also use the BB springs (550# rate) and that will give you 3/4"-1". Different factors will determine how much the front end will come down. If you have replaced heads and intake, for instance, to aluminum than the drop will not be as much. AC will also have an effect. If you do cut your coils, it's going to be a PITA, but I would only cut a 1/4 coil each time and reinstall. Your going to have to trial and error the whole deal until your happy with the look.
And the alum heads took me close to where I started when I made that swap...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Woodland California
If I want a stiffer spring, and I do, and a lowered front why not just cut 1/2 a coil off and reinstall.
I do have aluminum heads.
Maybe a whole coil removed would be okay.
Someone else actually remove a whole coil and been happy?
I do have aluminum heads.
Maybe a whole coil removed would be okay.
Someone else actually remove a whole coil and been happy?
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
Do you have the 300# springs right now? or something else?
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Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
That actually doesn't looks like the "stock" spring. There's quite a different number of springs available over the 68-82 run, but the most common were a very tall, thinner wire spring (~300#) and the thicker, shorter ~550# (looks very similar to the "new" spring)
I'm guessing someone put 460# springs in your car at one point. That's what happened to mine, although my car was originally FE7, which gave it the 550# springs.
F41 is another early package that would have given the thicker, shorter springs.
The 460 and 550# springs will come out without a spring compressor, the stock base springs will require an internal spring compressor to get them out.
Saying "stock spring" is very ambiguous - there's about 7? different front springs listed for the 78 MY alone, although they tend to group "tall/thin wire" and "short/thick wire" as mentioned above.
The 460# springs were NEVER a stock application, it was an aftermarket creation. If you already have 460s, you can cut ~2 coils off and essentially have a 550. Look at that picture and you'll see what I mean.
I'm guessing someone put 460# springs in your car at one point. That's what happened to mine, although my car was originally FE7, which gave it the 550# springs.
F41 is another early package that would have given the thicker, shorter springs.
The 460 and 550# springs will come out without a spring compressor, the stock base springs will require an internal spring compressor to get them out.
Saying "stock spring" is very ambiguous - there's about 7? different front springs listed for the 78 MY alone, although they tend to group "tall/thin wire" and "short/thick wire" as mentioned above.
The 460# springs were NEVER a stock application, it was an aftermarket creation. If you already have 460s, you can cut ~2 coils off and essentially have a 550. Look at that picture and you'll see what I mean.
Last edited by Shark Racer; Sep 15, 2011 at 06:11 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 849
Likes: 0
From: Woodland California
What size tires and rims do you have on it?
I'm looking at 255-50-17 all the way around.
But I see where some go much larger on the rear.
I've already ordered the rims, just waiting for them to show up.
Ralph
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 691
Likes: 25
From: Boynton Beach Florida
The wheels are Centerline Champ 506 18" x 8" with a 4" rear space. Tires are 255/45ZR18 which are 1/2" shorter than the factory 15" tires but wider
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 691
Likes: 25
From: Boynton Beach Florida
That actually doesn't looks like the "stock" spring. There's quite a different number of springs available over the 68-82 run, but the most common were a very tall, thinner wire spring (~300#) and the thicker, shorter ~550# (looks very similar to the "new" spring)
I'm guessing someone put 460# springs in your car at one point. That's what happened to mine, although my car was originally FE7, which gave it the 550# springs.
F41 is another early package that would have given the thicker, shorter springs.
The 460 and 550# springs will come out without a spring compressor, the stock base springs will require an internal spring compressor to get them out.
Saying "stock spring" is very ambiguous - there's about 7? different front springs listed for the 78 MY alone, although they tend to group "tall/thin wire" and "short/thick wire" as mentioned above.
The 460# springs were NEVER a stock application, it was an aftermarket creation. If you already have 460s, you can cut ~2 coils off and essentially have a 550. Look at that picture and you'll see what I mean.
I'm guessing someone put 460# springs in your car at one point. That's what happened to mine, although my car was originally FE7, which gave it the 550# springs.
F41 is another early package that would have given the thicker, shorter springs.
The 460 and 550# springs will come out without a spring compressor, the stock base springs will require an internal spring compressor to get them out.
Saying "stock spring" is very ambiguous - there's about 7? different front springs listed for the 78 MY alone, although they tend to group "tall/thin wire" and "short/thick wire" as mentioned above.
The 460# springs were NEVER a stock application, it was an aftermarket creation. If you already have 460s, you can cut ~2 coils off and essentially have a 550. Look at that picture and you'll see what I mean.
The shocks I removed were factory and the ball joints and control arm bushings all appeared to be original.
I did buy a spring compressor but it didn't fit through the shock hole in the lower control arm so I loosened the control arm bushing bolts and pushed it down as far as it would go which allowed enough room to remove the spring with a big pry bar so who knows.
I would be curious to know the measured length difference in a relaxed state between the 460 and 550 and a "stock" spring just to know what kind of difference each one has, doesn't matter now I just enjoy knowing new things.
Pro
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 691
Likes: 25
From: Boynton Beach Florida
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 11,520
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From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Originally Posted by Ralphbf
What ever a 1975 corvette came with.
Sorry that's all I know.
Ralph
...
palmbeachvette76, So how is the ride with the springs and tires?...
Sorry that's all I know.
Ralph
...
palmbeachvette76, So how is the ride with the springs and tires?...
Check for rear 9 leaf std. or 7 leaf w/ rear sway bar FE-7.
If you have to ask about ride, you are probably right about 460 for you.
Don't expect any good comments on FE-7 "ride".
I have the FE-7 (550 ft.) & really like it!
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 12,399
Likes: 247
From: San Jose CA
I would be curious to know the measured length difference in a relaxed state between the 460 and 550 and a "stock" spring just to know what kind of difference each one has, doesn't matter now I just enjoy knowing new things.
The photos are perfect examples of 460 and 550s. That's what it looked like when I removed the 460s from my car.
Per the MVMA specs, a 300# spring will have the following specs:
15.45" height, 9 coils, wire diameter 0.609"
The 550# spring is 13.14" free height, 7.25 coils, 0.68" wire diameter.
Well, I've been wrong before and I still could be this time. If you still have the old spring, you could measure it with a caliper to get the coil diameter and then we'd both know for sure.