Compressing the coil spring for installation
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 173
Likes: 1
From: brandon florida
Compressing the coil spring for installation
I'm still at it, can't get the coil spring to go back in the car and index properly in the top mount. This is day 3 three of this adventure and the frustration level is through the roof! With the spring out of the car and having to compress it approximately 3-1/2 inches to go back in what is the safest/best way to go about doing this? Car is a small block C-3 (1972), If i need to purchase a compression tool which one works best as I'm sure it will used again?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19,166
Likes: 1,667
From: Long Island
Threaded rod through the shock tower with a steel plate in the spring. There are videos on U tube .. if you need. this is the safest.
Last one - I unbolted the lower A frame and put in the spring, then jacked up the A frame just enough to put the bolts in..
Last one - I unbolted the lower A frame and put in the spring, then jacked up the A frame just enough to put the bolts in..
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 173
Likes: 1
From: brandon florida
[QUOTE=BLUE1972;1601318064]Threaded rod through the shock tower with a steel plate in the spring. There are videos on U tube .. if you need. this is the safest.
Last one - I unbolted the lower A frame and put in the spring, then jacked up the A frame just enough to put bolts in.......
By bolts do you mean the shaft bolts that mount to the frame? Then jacked up a-frame and spring enough to put bolts in then jack up the rest of the way to connect upper and lower ball joints and spindle?
Last one - I unbolted the lower A frame and put in the spring, then jacked up the A frame just enough to put bolts in.......
By bolts do you mean the shaft bolts that mount to the frame? Then jacked up a-frame and spring enough to put bolts in then jack up the rest of the way to connect upper and lower ball joints and spindle?
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,334
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Do you have the really long spring or the shorter "heavy" spring?
I normally do the frame connection method (if you have the right stuff to make it work, you can see what I just did to shorten my springs here https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ing-coils.html)
(72 vetteman, I though Richard and I were the only fools to still do it this way
)An internal spring compressor (well, part of one) works, remove the upper hooks, drop it down through the shock mount and grab near the bottom of the spring, bring it up and swing the control into place
I've also used all-thread down through the shock hole with a plate underneath and the control arm disconnected from the frame when I didn't have the engine in for weight need to use the jack
Anyway, be careful and if you can borrow/rent the compressor tool it'll make life a little easier
M
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 173
Likes: 1
From: brandon florida
Do you have the really long spring or the shorter "heavy" spring?
I normally do the frame connection method (if you have the right stuff to make it work, you can see what I just did to shorten my springs here https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ing-coils.html)
(72 vetteman, I though Richard and I were the only fools to still do it this way
)An internal spring compressor (well, part of one) works, remove the upper hooks, drop it down through the shock mount and grab near the bottom of the spring, bring it up and swing the control into place
I've also used all-thread down through the shock hole with a plate underneath and the control arm disconnected from the frame when I didn't have the engine in for weight need to use the jack
Anyway, be careful and if you can borrow/rent the compressor tool it'll make life a little easier
M
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,334
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
IIRC Narrow gap at the top
Don't worry about where the spring indexes at the bottom...(unless it somehow just goes over the pocket which it shouldn't) just index the top
M
Don't worry about where the spring indexes at the bottom...(unless it somehow just goes over the pocket which it shouldn't) just index the top
M
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