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Hello, I’ve read many posts about choosing the right coil springs. I’m pretty sure I’m going to get the 550lb spring with bilstein sports in the front and a mono 360lb with bilstein hd in the rear. My question is, if i lighten the weight of my engine by getting aluminum heads, should i get a lighter spring, like a 474, or 460lb? I would like a semi stiff ride and the car to have a nice stance. I have a 1971 convertible. It has factory a/c but I’m putting in a vintage air system. Thanks for your input and i hope everyone has an awesome Thanksgiving.
I installed the 550 coils in the front and the 7 leaf gykahna (spelling?) rear spring and I have aluminum heads, radiator, and electric cooling fans. Has a decent rake to it.
Don't pay any attention to the blocks of wood on the fender from when I hit a deer while being dragged home after popping the engine, or the mud on the side from where the farmer tracked a butt-load of mud out on the road. (This is the clean side). She's a mudder, lol
Hello, I’ve read many posts about choosing the right coil springs. I’m pretty sure I’m going to get the 550lb spring with bilstein sports in the front and a mono 360lb with bilstein hd in the rear. My question is, if I lighten the weight of my engine by getting aluminum heads, should I get a lighter spring, like a 474, or 460lb? I would like a semi-stiff ride and the car to have a nice stance. I have a 1971 convertible. It has factory a/c but I’m putting in a vintage air system. Thanks for your input and I hope everyone has an awesome Thanksgiving.
I went with the 550lb springs in the front, 360lb VB&P in the rear because I was basically trying to copy the VB&P Salom kit because I didn't feel like I understood suspension enough to pick and choose different components. I wanted to match a well-known setup.
I remember seeing complaints about the 360lb rear spring and Bilstein HD's being bouncy over bumps and the composite spring requiring the faster rebound rate of Bilstein Sports or the specially valved Konis. (I believe this was from one of JBL82's many suspension threads).
I went with the Bilstein HD's in the front to make a slightly softer ride with the 550 lbs front springs (also recommended by JBL82).
My car also has a bunch of weight taken off the front-end and I worry about the 550lb front springs making huge fender gaps. From what I can tell that's the downside of steel spring availability for our C3s, you get to choose the weight rating OR the ride height but not both unless your car is at stock weight... If you want to control spring weight and ride height independently reach deep down into your pockets for coilovers.
I have nearly that exact setup (shortened, 385lb VB&P rear with Bilstein Sports, with 9/16 stock-style swaybar; 550 lb fronts with Bilstein HDs and 1 1/8 stock swaybar). This is on a stock-ish 80 with no AC, and an aluminum intake manifold, so likely a bit lighter than your front end.
I got a great deal on the parts I didn't have. At some point, most of these parts will end up in my wife's 79, and I'll go with front coilovers. If you can afford it now, and don't have a second car that can absorb parts, you may want do consider doing that now. Everything worked out fine for me, but I would love to be able to tweak the ride height and have double adjustable front shocks.
This post shows the spring difference, as well as the SPC adjustable upper control arm.
Hello, I’ve read many posts about choosing the right coil springs. I’m pretty sure I’m going to get the 550lb spring with bilstein sports in the front and a mono 360lb with bilstein hd in the rear. My question is, if i lighten the weight of my engine by getting aluminum heads, should i get a lighter spring, like a 474, or 460lb? I would like a semi stiff ride and the car to have a nice stance. I have a 1971 convertible. It has factory a/c but I’m putting in a vintage air system. Thanks for your input and i hope everyone has an awesome Thanksgiving.
I drove around from the early 80's with 550 front springs. I really lightened the front end and now drive around with 650 pound semi coil over QA-1s
Correct...Bilstein Sports in the rear with the 360 composite and Bilstein HD's in front with 550 springs...You have the combo backwards/reversed in the original post/question....
Thanks for the correction. I knew I read it in one of your posts. I just transposed the two. The PO put on a composite but I believe it's a 300lb, at least that's what's stamped on the end. There's no other tags or identification markings on it at all. I'd love to get coilovers. I'm sure I'm like a lot of people where what I want and what I can afford, or justify spending, are hardly ever on the same page. Especially if the wife finds out what I'm thinking of spending. I have time to decide as I just got the frame unassembled and need to get it to the shop to get it dipped. Thanks for the info everyone.
Another quick question, if I get offset trailing arms, do I need a shorter spring? I'm thinking of the set from Global West with the heim joints in them.
Last edited by Radman2112; Nov 27, 2019 at 10:49 AM.
The Global West arms will work with a standard spring, but a slightly (1/2" to 3/4" a side) shorter spring will allow clearance for larger wheels / tyres. I run the Global West trailing arms with a factory gymkhana rear spring that I shortened 5/8" each side.
Go to Vansteel and with offset arms they will recommend a 1" shorter spring, which I did. I ran a 330 composite on my 70 and wouldn't go softer. To do over I'd go 360. 300 is pretty soft. 550 fronts are good - a bit shorter and not too harsh. Fine with aluminum heads and intake. You'll probably want 8" bolts in the rear to get your height where you want it with the new glass spring.
Go to Vansteel and with offset arms they will recommend a 1" shorter spring, which I did. I ran a 330 composite on my 70 and wouldn't go softer. To do over I'd go 360. 300 is pretty soft. 550 fronts are good - a bit shorter and not too harsh. Fine with aluminum heads and intake. You'll probably want 8" bolts in the rear to get your height where you want it with the new glass spring.
The vansteel offset arms are offset where the spring mounts as well, the Global West ones aren't.
360 VBP Composite on the car since 1986, Bilstein Sports rear only, competition adjustable heim jointed struts, OEM GM bolts on the spring with poly cushions-REAR
550 front Coils 1 inch shorter than stock, Bilstein HD's Front Only-FRONT
Engine^^^^ is OEM L-82 block rebuilt 355. Aluminum Stewart water pump. Dewitts aluminum Radiator, no emissions gear including AIR pump and plumbing, Holley Aluminum 4175, Aluminum L-82 intake manifold, In this picture only, shorty headers (currently 1 3/4 long tube stainless steel headers), AFR Aluminum cylinder heads, and a few other Front end weight savings measures.......just to give full context to stance....
Last edited by jb78L-82; Nov 28, 2019 at 06:56 AM.
Coil spring question
I have time to decide as I just got the frame unassembled and need to get it to the shop to get it dipped. Thanks for the info everyone.
