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I feel crazy even asking this question, but I don't know is the reasoning. Can the front coil springs be installed upside down. I have installed a LS in my dad's 69 and had a problem with the crank position sensor on first test drive this past weekend. While under the car I noticed that there was 5 screw in spring spacers only on the passenger side. I asked myself "why" and removed them. When the car was lowered the passenger side fender lip fell to the top of the tire while the driver side was about 2" above. The whole car is sitting towards the front passenger with the rear driver about 4.5" above the tire.
So I removed the coil spring tonight to check things out and notice in comparsion to the driver side it looked to be upside down. Driver side has the tighter coils at the top in the frame. I don't really know the history of this car before my dad owning it in the early 80s, but I can tell the passenger side front area has had fiberglass work done. No visual frame or suspension damage though.
Sorry for the crazy question, but just wondering if it's worth trying to flip it over to see if that corrects my issue. Attached a picture of the spring , how it's standing is how I took it out of the car. The rusty top was in the frame.
Carl, it sounds like it may be time for new front springs. Before you do anything else, you need to determine if the problem is with a weak spring or is there a problem with the frame or suspension components. A bent control arm or damaged control arm mount could result in a problem such as you have, but being 2 inches it sounds like a spring issue.
I would put the car on a level surface and take some measurements from the same positions on the left and right side of the frame at the front and rear of the car and post them. Also check the rear spring. Cranking the nut on the spring bolt at the left rear will raise the left rear and lower the right front. If the rear spring bolts are adjusted to the same length, it is likely not contributing to the problem.
Take some measurements and post them here, you will receive a lot of suggestions on how to deal with the issue.
Look for a hole in the upper spring pocket where the upper tail tip edge of the spring should be visible when clocked properly. The open ended tail of the spring should be down in the control arm pocket but not all the way down into the recess. The top pocket sight hole is the place to check the spring clocking location. Might just be time for new springs but you can try to assemble them now and see where you are at. All the control arm bolts need to be left loose until you get the car back down on the ground and move it around a bit before locking them down and verifying the ride height.
Those are original springs and they do get installed one way. The replacement springs look a lot different and the coils areall evenly spaced. As said above it is time to replace. Those spacers were put in to correct weak springs or as said above a problem. Check out all the components listed above and replace with a new set of springs. Those originals are toast.
Thanks for quick replies and assistance!! Just wanted to post an update. Took the drivers side spring out and saw a visible difference in the height of the coil springs. Gonna chalk it up as a weak/damaged passenger spring and replace both!
1969 Coil Spring - crazy question
