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My '69 was originally a small block with a/c car and I converted it to a big block. It still has a/c (I live in Tucson AZ, I need a/c out here). When I converted it to a big block the front end sat a bit low and the tops of the tires now tilt inward because of the extra weight. Nobody makes front coils for a big block with a/c for some reason so I bought a set of non a/c big block springs from zip corvette (the springs that are labeled "correct", not the generic big block springs that they also have for sale). The new big block w/no a/c springs were exactly the same as the small block with a/c springs that came out of the car, they were the same height and made from the same thickness of wire. There was no change in the ride height at all, it's still too low and the tops of the tires still tilt inward. Recently I found a set of used original big block with a/c springs on ebay, they still had the factory part number tags on them (3931826 with "HV" under the part number). The spring wire was thicker than the big block with no a/c springs I had in the car (.653 vs. .620 but they were about an inch or two shorter than the new big block with no a/c springs I installed. Anyway, I thought I finally had the springs I need so I installed them and to my dismay it didn't raise the front end up one bit, it's still too low and the tops of the tires still tilt inward (it used to sit up higher and the tires were straight when it had the small block in it). I guess the used big block with a/c springs were worn out. I'm at my wits end with this, I want springs that will raise the front end up a bit and make my front tires sit straight again. I'm now thinking that maybe some new F41 springs might do the trick but I have a question, were there different F41 springs for small block and big block cars? Every set of F41 springs I can find don't say if they're for small block or big block cars. Did small block and big block cars use the same F41 spring? If so did the small block cars with the F41 springs sit up higher in the front than a big block car with F41 springs? I would think that the small block car would sit up higher than the big block car if there was no difference in small block and big block F41 springs. Will F41 springs raise my front end up higher than with the springs I have right now? Changing front coil springs is a pain in the ***, I don't want to do that job any more times than I have to. Not to mention the expense, I don't want to keep buying set after set of springs trying to find ones that will do the trick. Are there front coil springs from any other cars that will work? Zip Corvette has big block with a/c springs for 66-67 vettes but no big block with a/c springs for the 68-74 big block vettes, will the 66-67 springs fit? If so will they raise my front up some? I'm going nuts trying to find springs that will work. Has anyone else here gone through what I'm going through with this front coil spring nightmare? If so what springs did you use to get the ride hight back up? Any help with this is greatly appreciated.
I do not know the answer to your question but aluminum heads, water pump and intake manifold should give you 1-1.5" of ride height. Use the lack of springs in the aftermarket as an excuse to build up the engine!
I do not know the answer to your question but aluminum heads, water pump and intake manifold should give you 1-1.5" of ride height. Use the lack of springs in the aftermarket as an excuse to build up the engine!
Aluminum heads would be nice ( it already has an aluminum intake) but I'd rather spend 200 bucks on another set of springs than spend 2000 bucks (or more) for a set of aluminum heads, lol.
Hi TheG,
Have you measured the actual ride height for the front of the car with any of the springs installed?
Doing this may give you an actual CURRENT dimension to COMPARE to the TYPICAL right height dimensions given in the AIM.
Remember the AIM dimensions are based on F70-15 tires, so you'll need to take into consideration the HEIGHT of the tires PRESENTLY on the car.
Regards,
Alan
Hi TheG,
Have you measured the actual ride height for the front of the car with any of the springs installed?
Doing this may give you an actual CURRENT dimension to COMPARE to the TYPICAL right height dimensions given in the AIM.
Remember the AIM dimensions are based on F70-15 tires, so you'll need to take into consideration the HEIGHT of the tires PRESENTLY on the car.
Regards,
Alan
There's not enough shims behind the front A-arm mounts to remove to make the tires sit straight again (it only has one shim on the front A-arm mount bolts and just a few shims on the rear mount bolts), it needs to sit up higher so that the tires can sit straight again and then I can get a front end alignment done on it. That's why I haven't brought it in to an alignment shop yet, I know that they're going to say "sorry, we can't make the tires sit straight (camber?) because there aren't enough shims to remove to do it". By the way, do you know the answer to my questions about the F41 springs? Are there different F41 springs on small block and big block cars? If so where can I get big block F41 springs? Oh and before anyone mentions it, I replaced the upper and lower ball joints and the lower A-arm bushings (the upper A- arm bushings were good) so I know that bad bushings or ball joints aren't the cause of my issue. The tires used to sit straight and the car sat higher in the front with the small block, the problem is being caused by the extra weight of the big block.
Why don't you buy coil spring spacers? This can add up to 1inch. Google them but make sure they don't impede drain holes or drill them so you still have. I put 550 lb springs on and ride height stayed the same. Although sb with ac
Hi TheG,
"Are there different F41 springs on small block and big block cars?"
In the 71 AIM the Spring Chart, (UPC 0, Sheet A-11) indicates the F41 front spring was part number 3832518, Code EA, was rated at 550 lb/in, and was used on BOTH sb and bb cars.
I believe I'd begin with a call to Eaton Spring.
1 (313) 963-3839
They manufacture not just sell them.
Hi TheG,
"Are there different F41 springs on small block and big block cars?"
In the 71 AIM the Spring Chart, (UPC 0, Sheet A-11) indicates the F41 front spring was part number 3832518, Code EA, was rated at 550 lb/in, and was used on BOTH sb and bb cars.
I believe I'd begin with a call to Eaton Spring.
1 (313) 963-3839
They manufacture not just sell them.
Regards,
Alan
Thanks for the info, I'll give them a call after work today. Im afraid to see what they'll want for a set of custom springs though, I'm trying not to blow a lot more cash on this (I've already bought two sets of spings as it is, it's now costing a lot more than I wanted to spend to fix it). By the way, do you know if any springs from other cars would work? Like maybe a Chevelle spring or something? I can always cut a coil or two off if need be to make it fit. There has to be some people on here that have had the issue I'm having, hopefully others will chime in with their experiences and what they did to fix it.
Something that hasn't been mentioned yet, but could be a contributing factor is the possibility of frame sag that results in the upper A-arm mounting points twisting in towards the centerline of the car. The advent of the 'spreader bar' was to specifically add rigidity to the upper A-arm mounting points to counter this. If the upper mounting points have moved inward toward the frame centerline this will contribute to excessive camber and a lower ride height.
A quick measurement (X) between the upper A-arm mounting points on the frame will give you a reference measurement to compare to a known good frame. I would use the frame mounting points not the A-arm or shims themselves.
Someone here may have a bare frame or be able to take a measurement from their car that you can use to compare yours to. I cannot seem to find a specific measurement for this, but a frame shop may have that spec.
In the late '70s I replaced my original front springs with F41 springs (GM Springs). The original springs had weakened and the front was about 1" too low.
The F41 spring was much shorter than the weak spring I had just removed, however the coils were larger. After installing the F41 springs, the front of the car was restored back to it's original height.
NO, the ride was not harsher, as I did not/will not use the F41 type shock, too harsh for the street. F41 springs work very well with good street shocks. The F41 springs are still in there today (40+ Years).
Someone here may have a bare frame or be able to take a measurement from their car that you can use to compare yours to. I cannot seem to find a specific measurement for this, but a frame shop may have that spec.
Agreed - set the ride height THEN deal with camber. Mine looks good at 26 3/4" to the center wheel lip.
I am running the #450 springs with an AC big block 69 and I had to cut 1/4 coil off, was initially 1" too high.
These springs will EASILY come in/out without a spring compressor which is nice...
What are these #450 springs you mentioned? Is that the spring rate? The springs I got from Zip that were advertised as "correct" have a 475lb spring rate.
I just purchased new front coils springs for my 73 big block a/c car from Van Steel. I think they were 550# springs. Give Dan a call and let them help you out. Ask them about forum member discounts.
01-11-2018, 01:09 AM
Front coil spring questions
