Originally Posted by MIKE80

Thanks Guys


Steve,

Here's an email I received a while ago from VBP about the spring rates of their Performance Plus kit which is what I bought.

Hi Mike,

Thanks for your interest in our products. The slightly shorter rear spring is popular for tire clearance. The Springs are rate tested here after they are made. We test them by clamping at the middle, then flexing the tips in 1" increments. Of course, when they are mounted on the car, they mount at two points, so the test numbers don't exactly apply. The test rates do give us a good idea if the Spring is a normal rating for the car, or a little high or low. The front transverse leaf (TVL) Spring actually tests at anywhere from about 630 to 700 pounds per inch. Most come out of the mold at around 650. Once this is on the car, the “feels like” rating on the four settings is more like 450, 500, 550 or 600 pounds per inch. If you tell us the car will have a big block cast iron engine, or will be raced, we can select a slightly higher rate. We usually have a number to choose from. We write the test rating on every Spring with a paint marker pen. Every Spring gets assigned a serial number. We keep a record of the date is was made and all the details. If the 1980 is a normal weight car, or a little lighter, we will select an appropriate rate Spring. In the rear, the aluminum dual mount bracket actually has six settings that you can adjust in the field. The "feels like" rates are about 300, 325, 350, 375, 400 and 425 pounds per inch. The two mounts in the rear are at a different width spacing than the front. The front and rear Springs are from totally different molds. The rear Spring (RDM) actually only static tests at 260 pounds per inch, or so.

Hope this information helps you out some. This package is on our Internet Forum Member Sale, if you are interested. Give us a call or email anytime if you have any further technical questions.

Sincerely,
Gary G.
VBandP
Tech Team

Originally Posted by SteveCurry

I'd like to have the comfortable ride because of chronic back problems. I sold my 9 second drag car because after a day at the track I was so miserable I couldn't live with the car any longer. I'm getting real close to retirement so being that I'm putting a lot of money into this car I'd like to have something I can live with and enjoy for a long time.

I have a new Blueprint 355 that makes 410 HP/ 417 TQ. The car will be pretty much a cruiser, no autocross in the future

Originally Posted by bluedawg

Go 320 on the spring and bilstien hds, the hds are some what softer then sports. I have back issues also. My sett up is firm but not harsh at all. I've never used the adjustable shocks, but a lot of members have them and love them, they might be the way as you can change the ride firmness, I think they cost a little more but would be better than buying a shock that you didn't like the firmness.