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I literally have this photo saved from another time you posted it because this is exactly how I want my car to look! The TTII 17" in those Nitto's is exactly the set up I was looking at, glad to know they work well and look good. Agreed on 18" - 17 is about as large as you can go before it starts looking too modern.
Question - how'd you end up lowering it? Did you put a shorter coil on it? Did you cut your current coil?
I have 550 springs, with 1/2 coil cut off. On the back, 8 inch bolts adjusted to the height. I think all the wheel well arches are about 27-1/4 inch ground to center. I have an now extinct VBP composite spring, and Bilstein HD shocks all around. The car handles as well as my 2006 C6 Corvette at speed below 60 -70 mph.
I have 550 springs, with 1/2 coil cut off. On the back, 8 inch bolts adjusted to the height. I think all the wheel well arches are about 27-1/4 inch ground to center. I have an now extinct VBP composite spring, and Bilstein HD shocks all around. The car handles as well as my 2006 C6 Corvette at speed below 60 -70 mph.
Oh wow! You cut a 550 spring? I thought the 550 springs alone lowered the car 1"?
A 550 cut would be a pretty stiff spring. The Moogs I mentioned are 474lb. Stiffer than stock and shorter. Install was easy. If you’re gonna auto cross the cut 550 would be great but for a daily, it might be on the stiff side. I’m pretty happy with the Moogs with my tire combo. And you can get them on Amazon for a decent price. Good luck!
A 550 cut would be a pretty stiff spring. The Moogs I mentioned are 474lb. Stiffer than stock and shorter. Install was easy. If you’re gonna auto cross the cut 550 would be great but for a daily, it might be on the stiff side. I’m pretty happy with the Moogs with my tire combo. And you can get them on Amazon for a decent price. Good luck!
You are making me question myself on what spring I have on my 77.. I know I cut a half coil off.....but I might need to look at my records to see exactly what Moog spring I used.....I thought it was the 550?? My ride is just fine, and not stiff, on my 77.
Hmm, not sure if Moog makes a 550 spring for a C3. Could be another vendor? If your running a stock SBC it’s heavier than my LS so it might be ok. Spring selection is very subjective. Sometimes you just gotta learn by trial and error. The 474’s worked great for my application.
They probably are 550s. Perhaps Moog, perhaps not. They'll give you an inch drop in the front even uncut (both springs, and "after" photo for reference).
If you are starting from scratch, go with semi coil-overs in front. I'll be changing mine out at some point.
Alright guys, need an opinion on this potential set up. Again, I'm looking for slight/moderate suspension stiffness and handling improvement, but I don't want to feel like I'm driving a jack hammer. I'm considering KYB Excel-G shocks (cheap, I know), 550 springs up front (yes, you've convinced me to lower the car an inch), front suspension rebuild kit from VanSteel with all MOOG poly components, a comparable poly kit from VanSteel for the rear, and 8" rear spring bolts to level out the car. I'm debating on upgrading the leaf spring to a 340# composite spring (since I feel like if I'm upgrading the front springs, I have to upgrade the rear or else it wont drive right), but I'm wondering if I can get away with keeping the stock leaf spring.
How do you think this set up would drive with and without an upgraded leaf spring. I imagine it would be an improvement over stock, but at the same time I don't know if it'll be a minor improvement or if it would be a much harsher ride.
Edit: I should also mention I'm planning on getting 17" wheels as well, but that's likely not for at least six months. Lots of other things to do first.
Looking at the photos in your other thread, your suspension appears untouched. Here's your imgur gallery link, if you don't mind me cross-posting it.
I thought all 81s had fiberglass rear springs, except for the FE7 cars, which also had rear swaybars. I don't see either, so perhaps something changed in your car, or I am mistaken.
I did what you are doing, and replaced or rebuilt every suspension component in my 80. Moog and VanSteel bushings are a good choice. Take a look at @interpon's links above, he also did the same with his 79 4-speed. If I hadn't gotten the 550 lb springs for a great price, 475s may have been a better choice, especially with the 1 1/8" front swaybar in the 80-82 cars. I used Bilstein shocks as well, and a front spreader bar.
I'll say that even with a 385 lb rear composite spring (NOS VB&P, shortened), the rear is a bit soft compared to the front. But it works okay on the street. Ask VanSteel for an opinion, but I'd buy the highest-rate low-arch composite spring they make, were I to do it over.
Now that I've done it once, a lot of the parts will end up on my wife's 79. I don't regret getting the car on the road for "cheap", but now that I have the time, I'll upgrade the front suspension to semi coil-overs, and replace the lower control arms. The uppers are SPC adjustables, which let me dial-in lots of caster.
550 springs no. Did you not read post 28. All they are going to do is make it ride like a tank. One full coil off your old springs. It will still ride good and handle great. Spend the money on good shocks. And poly bushings on your sway bar
Looking at the photos in your other thread, your suspension appears untouched. Here's your imgur gallery link, if you don't mind me cross-posting it.
I thought all 81s had fiberglass rear springs, except for the FE7 cars, which also had rear swaybars. I don't see either, so perhaps something changed in your car, or I am mistaken.
I did what you are doing, and replaced or rebuilt every suspension component in my 80. Moog and VanSteel bushings are a good choice. Take a look at @interpon's links above, he also did the same with his 79 4-speed. If I hadn't gotten the 550 lb springs for a great price, 475s may have been a better choice, especially with the 1 1/8" front swaybar in the 80-82 cars. I used Bilstein shocks as well, and a front spreader bar.
I'll say that even with a 385 lb rear composite spring (NOS VB&P, shortened), the rear is a bit soft compared to the front. But it works okay on the street. Ask VanSteel for an opinion, but I'd buy the highest-rate low-arch composite spring they make, were I to do it over.
Now that I've done it once, a lot of the parts will end up on my wife's 79. I don't regret getting the car on the road for "cheap", but now that I have the time, I'll upgrade the front suspension to semi coil-overs, and replace the lower control arms. The uppers are SPC adjustables, which let me dial-in lots of caster.
Of course, please cross post! Maybe someone will see something.
Yeah I've been wavering between getting 550 lb springs or the RideTech dual-rate springs. If I'm being 100% honest, this is a project car both I and my father are working on. While I can handle a slightly harsher ride (daily drove a 350Z for number of years), he's very partial to the ultra plush rides of the 60's. Every time he got in that car, he complained and said I needed to air down the tires. The thing took corners like if was on rails, though! So I'm trying to find a middle ground...while also not burning a giant hole in my pocket. I was really hoping to get away with not having to upgrade my leaf spring, but if you're saying it might be aftermarket, then I might have to now.
Let me ask, which Bilsteins do you have? I've heard B6 in front and B8 in back, but then I've also heard people say HD and Sport, and I can't tell if they're the same or different.
Of course, please cross post! Maybe someone will see something.
Yeah I've been wavering between getting 550 lb springs or the RideTech dual-rate springs. If I'm being 100% honest, this is a project car both I and my father are working on. While I can handle a slightly harsher ride (daily drove a 350Z for number of years), he's very partial to the ultra plush rides of the 60's. Every time he got in that car, he complained and said I needed to air down the tires. The thing took corners like if was on rails, though! So I'm trying to find a middle ground...while also not burning a giant hole in my pocket. I was really hoping to get away with not having to upgrade my leaf spring, but if you're saying it might be aftermarket, then I might have to now.
Let me ask, which Bilsteins do you have? I've heard B6 in front and B8 in back, but then I've also heard people say HD and Sport, and I can't tell if they're the same or different.
I used B6 (HD) in front, and B8 (Sport) in back. I'd caution against 550 lb front springs with your 1 1/8" front bar. In fact, @reno stallion's advice is pretty sound. Cut stock springs might be just right. The only issue is that while the 550s (uncut) go in with no issues, the stock springs are under compression to remove. Going back in, even cut one coil, they may still need to be compressed. And once you get the ball joints apart, you'll want to redo everything else anyway.
Oh, and add heim jointed rear strut rods. That led me to a complete rear-end rebuild, but it was worth it.
I used B6 (HD) in front, and B8 (Sport) in back. I'd caution against 550 lb front springs with your 1 1/8" front bar. In fact, @reno stallion's advice is pretty sound. Cut stock springs might be just right. The only issue is that while the 550s (uncut) go in with no issues, the stock springs are under compression to remove. Going back in, even cut one coil, they may still need to be compressed. And once you get the ball joints apart, you'll want to redo everything else anyway.
Oh, and add heim jointed rear strut rods. That led me to a complete rear-end rebuild, but it was worth it.
Hmmm alright, now I'm second guessing it. I'll have to think about what I do here, I wasn't going to drop the car to begin with, so maybe I'll either leave it alone or go with RideTech dual-rate springs. I'm not really keen to cutting springs, especially myself. Yeah, those Bilsteins seem to be what everyone uses, so I'll probably go with those instead of the KYBs. And I'll definitely look into the rear struts!
The rear strut rods, are not what you may be thinking of. They are different than the front struts on a modern car, they are the lower connecting part of the rear suspension, and control the camber of the rear wheels. Lots of folks convert to adjustables as the cam nuts can loosen, putting camber out of adjustment. Someone else can probably describe it better.
This one shows the stock type adjustment or what I call "cam" nuts. You turn the eccentric until you have the camber where you want it, and then tighten the nut and bolt. You can probably understand why the second example I posted above is better.
Answering your question on 550 coil springs vs 480/700 dual-rate springs. I have two 78’s with 550’s and Bilsteins on one and 480/700 and KYB’s on the other. With 550’s you definitely feel more bumps, but they keep the car a little flatter while corner
ing. Both lower the cars 1”; the 550’s go with 235/60/15 tires which lower the car another 1/2” compared to 255/60/15 tires. The 255/45/18 tires rub in the same place on the frame as 255/60/15 did, but only at the extreme end of turning range. Cutting one coil off the original springs is an excellent option. The spring rate does go up if shortened. My first set of KYB gas-adjust shocks started leaking after 4-5 years, the replacements are lasting longer.
Answering your question on 550 coil springs vs 480/700 dual-rate springs. I have two 78’s with 550’s and Bilsteins on one and 480/700 and KYB’s on the other. With 550’s you definitely feel more bumps, but they keep the car a little flatter while corner
ing. Both lower the cars 1”; the 550’s go with 235/60/15 tires which lower the car another 1/2” compared to 255/60/15 tires. The 255/45/18 tires rub in the same place on the frame as 255/60/15 did, but only at the extreme end of turning range. Cutting one coil off the original springs is an excellent option. The spring rate does go up if shortened. My first set of KYB gas-adjust shocks started leaking after 4-5 years, the replacements are lasting longer.
I know this thread is about a month old, but are these the Ridetech dual rate springs? I need some new springs (tried cutting a coil off my stock springs and it gives the ride height I like, but those springs are so tired and worn I’m afraid I’ll rip the oil pan off on a decent dip in the road) and am between the Ridetech and the 550lbs springs. Car is a ‘69 SB with aluminum heads and AC.
I know this thread is about a month old, but are these the Ridetech dual rate springs? I need some new springs (tried cutting a coil off my stock springs and it gives the ride height I like, but those springs are so tired and worn I’m afraid I’ll rip the oil pan off on a decent dip in the road) and am between the Ridetech and the 550lbs springs. Car is a ‘69 SB with aluminum heads and AC.
The blue springs are in fact the RideTechs. I ended up going with them, but I haven’t gotten them on the car yet so I can’t tell you how they ride.
