Composite rear spring questions.......
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 19,777
Likes: 4,592
From: Canada's capital
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Composite rear spring questions.......
I see there are 3 spring rates for composite rear springs. What do you think is the best for normal ride height and best ride? 68 bigblock, 3.70 gears, and about 500hp. Four speed.
Thanks in advance.
Oh ya......best place to buy and best price. Thanks.
Thanks in advance.
Oh ya......best place to buy and best price. Thanks.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,071
Likes: 86
From: Rotonda FL
With a big block, you'll probably want a 360#(or 355# if you choose the TRW type spring), but can also use the next step lighter.
Please be aware that you will also probably wish to change your rear shocks (at least) to accommodate the much 'springy' feel of the composite shock - something that will provide better control of your rebound.
Please be aware that you will also probably wish to change your rear shocks (at least) to accommodate the much 'springy' feel of the composite shock - something that will provide better control of your rebound.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
With a big block, you'll probably want a 360#(or 355# if you choose the TRW type spring), but can also use the next step lighter.
Please be aware that you will also probably wish to change your rear shocks (at least) to accommodate the much 'springy' feel of the composite shock - something that will provide better control of your rebound.
Please be aware that you will also probably wish to change your rear shocks (at least) to accommodate the much 'springy' feel of the composite shock - something that will provide better control of your rebound.
I have had a 360 spring since 1986 in my L-82 and the ride and handling with Bilsteins (sports in the rear) is terrific-firm but not jarring at all, actually quite nice. I just rebuilt the L82 355 now with AFR heads and roller cam-450 HP-and the engine now will lift the nose and squat the rear more than i would prefer under hard acceleration. Thinking of a 420 to go with the 550 fronts-same shocks....
Depending on what springs and shocks you have now, I would go 360 for comfort and 420 for sporting with a 500HP BB, especially considering the torque that motor makes.
Last edited by jb78L-82; Oct 23, 2014 at 09:13 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 127
Likes: 2
VBP sells four different spring rates. I have a 70 BB. I installed the 330 and 460 front springs with their matched Bilstein shocks. Ride height is dead on. I have experienced the car bottoming out on dips when traveling at high speeds. 360 may be the better choice.
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
With any kind of real power like a 500 hp BBC rear squat, wheel hop, and the need for vertical wheel movement is a must. All the guys on this forum with any kind of real power use combos in excess of 500# on the rear.
Vette brakes will build any rate you want. I attempted to use the wimpy 420# as a test.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ar-spring.html
Vette brakes will build any rate you want. I attempted to use the wimpy 420# as a test.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ar-spring.html
Last edited by gkull; Oct 23, 2014 at 01:35 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
Unless your bud is going to be playing boy racer, I'd stick with the not too hot, not too cold (middle) rating. The matching shocks are mandatory, stock units will allow way too much bounce. The young lady in your avatar would not be comfortable.
Corvette Central usually has the best shipping rates for us.
Corvette Central usually has the best shipping rates for us.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
the beauty of a composite is that you can run quite a bit higher spring rate than a comparable steel spring rating with zero loss of ride quality (big improvement in fact). My 360 composite spring rides much superior to my F-41 7 leaf 292 lb steel spring that it replaced. Just an FYI.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 19,777
Likes: 4,592
From: Canada's capital
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (appearance mods)
C1 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Thanks for the replies. I will let him know. Sounds like the 360 is the best bet for how he drives. He's got adjustable new shocks in it already.
Thanks Mike for that info.
Thanks Mike for that info.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski