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I'm back working on the 77 coupe restoration. I'm sending out the frame for powder coat and I was assembling the parts I've purchase over the years. I opened the coil springs I purchased at Carlisle a few years ago and found they don't match. Here's a picture of the old and new. Will this cause a significant difference in ride height or other ride characteristics? I'm wondering if I should try to find a set closer to the stock springs.
Thanks. I see the Ecklers +1. I wonder if that's trying to stop complaints from purchasers that have tired springs or it really will be an inch higher?
Maybe best to order the Eaton springs. I hate to put everything together and wind up having to disconnect the ball joints to swap the springs because the front end is too high.
I'm not sure what you mean on the indexing. Here's a picture from the service manual which appears to say align the spring so at least one hole is partially open on the lower control arm.
I see there is an indentation on the lower arm where it appears the end of the spring should sit.
Any info would be greatly appreciated as the assembly manual doesn't specify anything except to put the closer spaced coils in the shock tower.
The height ( length ) of the front spring depends upon its spring rate. So if your original spring was longer then it may be softer. The spring rates are linear so a softer spring will compress more under that same load ( weight of the car ).
Thanks. I see the Ecklers +1. I wonder if that's trying to stop complaints from purchasers that have tired springs or it really will be an inch higher?
Maybe best to order the Eaton springs. I hate to put everything together and wind up having to disconnect the ball joints to swap the springs because the front end is too high.
Thanks
If you reread what Ecklers says, if says the ride may increase by 1 ". The qualifier is that they do not know the condition of the springs or the spring rate that are being replaced and so the old springs may be fatigued such that the hide height has lowered and the new spring may raise the ride height over the old. When I replace my front springs, I had to cut them off a bit to get back to the ride height that I wanted. I can't remember where I got the new springs as this was 20 years ago.
just wanna chime in. I recently installed the Eckler springs. I misread thinking that it will LOWER 1" so I also cut 1/2 coil to get my goal of 2" body drop. I've been frustrated after the install since I got the same body height (29") as I did before the install.
Now I realized my mistake since the Eckler ADD 1" and cutting 1/2 coil just bring the springs back to my stock height.
I just installed some Van Steel 460# springs in my 1980 along with aluminum cylinder heads and air pump system removal and it put my front end back to stock height. I almost cut a coil out but glad I didn’t, I was going for Stock height but didn’t want it higher since I knew I took weight out with the aluminum heads and air pump removal
Replacement Front Coil Springs 77 Coupe
