Correct Susp Spring Upgrade
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Joined: Feb 2008
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Correct Susp Spring Upgrade
Does anyone know of a vendor that sells the correct parts to convert form a base suspension in a 1972 to a replica of the performance suspension that year? Most of the aftermarket "High Performance" springs that I have seen installed on C3's have done horrendous things to the ride height (too high). My assembly manual shows that the ride height for the factory HP suspension is lower than that of the base, but every C3 that I have seen with an aftermarket 7-leaf rear sit FAR too high-same for so-called HP front springs. It seems that there must be somewhere to get correct fronts that do not require cutting, and rear that do not require long bolts. I would like parts that are as true to original as possible (no fiberglass springs, sharkbite etc...)
Thank you.
Thank you.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
There was no optional suspension package for the 72 model year. You will need to chase down the contents of the ZR1 package and determine the part numbers for the springs and sway bar diameters.
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
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You do realize that over the lifespan of the C3 the car got heavier and heavier, so the small block spring of 1968 would not be the same as the small block spring of 1982. Same goes for the big block springs. If your an after market supplier your not going to market all the different springs that GM produced, even GM stopped making the earlier springs and required you to replace them with what ever they were making at the time. So if you want a stiffer spring they make them but you may have to deal with things like longer spring bolts.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: WI
You do realize that over the lifespan of the C3 the car got heavier and heavier, so the small block spring of 1968 would not be the same as the small block spring of 1982. Same goes for the big block springs. If your an after market supplier your not going to market all the different springs that GM produced, even GM stopped making the earlier springs and required you to replace them with what ever they were making at the time. So if you want a stiffer spring they make them but you may have to deal with things like longer spring bolts.
I see NOS springs on ebay on occasion, you will just have to "step up" and pay the price if thats what you absolutely have to have....
Pro
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 602
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From: Old Bridge, NJ
I'm pretty sure that's just the particulars of the install. You can adjust the height by shortening or lengthing the outer spring bolts (I'm referring to rear, of course) or, for a given bolt length, tighten or loosen the supporting nut.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,273
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From: Westminster Maryland
Hi 72CR,
A company named 'America's Finest Corvettes' advertises that they have an F-41, 7 leaf spring that gives the car the proper rear trim heights.
888-318-3883
Hope that gets you started.
Regards,
Alan
A company named 'America's Finest Corvettes' advertises that they have an F-41, 7 leaf spring that gives the car the proper rear trim heights.
888-318-3883
Hope that gets you started.
Regards,
Alan
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
If you install the VB&P Street & Slalom suspension (I think they have changed the name a bit) you will get this:
A lot of the ride height issues are due to either incorrect front spring installation or rear springs that aren't suited for the car.
Rick B.
A lot of the ride height issues are due to either incorrect front spring installation or rear springs that aren't suited for the car.
Rick B.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
The VB&P 460 or 550# front springs are an inch shorter. Like the other poster said the rear even stiffer spring can be adjusted by longer bolts or just the nut height
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Feb 2008
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Thank you for the advice, I will look into this company and their offerings. I thought the upgrade in 1972 was called F-41 as you mentioned. One of the posters to this thread said there was no upgrade in 1972???
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2008
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From: Rochester Hills Michigan
