Hi all, a few years ago I installed a new leaf spring which was the factory or OEM one. I started looking my car again and noticed that the ride height seems to be pretty high. There are no new shocks or springs and I haven't done those replacements yet. I'm wondering if I should do that and any recommendations without any drilling and whether it's car should be lower?

Should I be removing some leafs? And what about front coils?Edit: I did some measurements.
front- ground to outside wheel fender =28.75 inchRear - ground to outside wheel fender =29 inch

 

On my rear I used these, https://www.southerncarparts.com/c2-...SABEgKgUvD_BwE

 

Looks like the gm brochure to me ..and yours looks great to me..i also like the slight rake



New eaton 7 leaf gymkhana stock bolts..actually sits lower than i wanted..but not bad..moog 474# up front

 

Looks like factory ride height to me, mine has all new suspension.

 

Looks ok if you wish to have the original ride height and handling quality. Lowering 1” is easy, improves handling, and IMO looks more like a sports car. Stiffening the suspension, even a little bit, and spreader bar make an improvement as well. As above, longer rear spring bolts make the rear height adjustable (mine came from Vansteel). I used dual-rate (480/700) Hyperco lowering springs(-1”) from Ridetech in front. Here’s a before and after pic. Wheels are 18x8(up to 9.5 rear possible) with same 27” diameter as 255/60/15. Ride quality stayed the same, but handling improved dramatically.
Charlie

 

I made the required adjustments to get the ride height around the 27-1/4 inch mark to the wheel well openings. Required 8 inch bolts on the back, and cutting half coil off front springs (Moog 500 lbs). This is the result. These are 17 inch wheels, but the tires are exactly same outside diameter as 15 inch tires. This puts the tires perfectly concentric with the wheel openings.....looks perfect, no rubbing anywhere.

 

It looks factory, which in my opinion looks too high, kinda like a Jeep. I'd take out a couple leaves, and cut a loop of the front coils. Or go with coil-overs like I did.

 

My car is 27-5/8” in the front,
28-7/8” at the rear.

One of the main reasons I was attracted to this car was the way it sat.

 

I have 255-60-15,but would it be lower if I went back with I think original were 225-70-15.

 

I wouldn't remove any leafs. I would simply purchase and install the 8 inch rear hanger bolts. Then you dial in the height your happy with and if extra long. (Mine where). Then cut some off.
in the front cut one full coil so the spring sits in the pockets correctly. If it is then to low you can purchase coil spring spacers in a variety of thicknesses and again, get your ride height right where you want it.
Try to maintain 1/2 inch higher in the rear than the front. These cars need the rake to prevent the front end from lifting at high speeds.

 

Stance is good but could stand to come down about 1-1.5"......you would be amazed what a difference it makes......looks and handling.......
But it don't look terrible as is......

Jebby

 

Here’s another black one with side pipes for comparison. Stock ‘71 running gear. I do want to go lower.

 

I am no suspension engineer, but I don't think removing leaf springs is a good way to lower a Corvette. Use longer bolts.

 

Thank you all. I'll just cut the coil in front and get longer bolts in rear. Is changing the coils a tough job? Anyone done it?

 

Changing coils is a routine job, an hour or two. I put coil-overs on mine, bolt in replacement. Makes dialing it in exactly how I want fairly easy. Rear coil overs are more money and labor(need new trailing arms) but I'm doing it anyway, I removed leaves just temporarily. But to be honest, I don't have a problem with the ride.

 

Anyone with decent mechanical skills can do it. But.....be very careful! Use a safety chain because these things are loaded with energy and can do some serious damage or bodily harm. That said, some safety precautions will make it go just fine. Take your time. Look up some youtube vids, there are a couple of good ones.

You'll never do it in a short period of time because you will undoubtedly fall victim to the 'while I'm in there' disease. It's okay, you can have some fun with it. In addition to you tube vids, this thread may help, there are others: https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...e-springs.html. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...t-springs.html.

Have fun! Paul

 

255/60/15 = 27.05
225/70/15 = 27.4

 

I have. I had the stock springs in my car. I tried the Daytona suspension. It was too stiff. Then I purchased Dick Guldstand’s F-41 suspension.

My ride was height was higher when I installed a new read spring. See the pic wth the car on the trailer. I took the car to do a Time Trial at NJMS (Lightning). The car did not handle well. My friend who is a certified instructor and driven numerous Corvettes of all years initially told me the car was possessed. I was reading my Chevy power book. Seems the real way to set the height was to set the “D” height.

I noticed the rear half shafts were not parallel to the ground. I found my D height was off (it was over 2 inches) and I have ordered longer rear spring bolts to get the back down and get the proper D height. I personally found that 8 inch were too short. I used 10 inch and when the proper D height was set, I trimmed the excess of the bolt with a Dremel. Someone correct me if I am mistaken, but I think non-tracked cars the D-Height should be 1.6". I used the racing spec of 1.2". BTW: This should be performed with a full tank of gas and weight equal to you own in the passenger seat.

Setting the D height also had the benefit of making the rear half shafts parallel to the ground. I had the car re-aligned and the handling was better at Summit Point. (see second pic with my son driving).
It is better than guessing and saying "That looks right". Be sure.

 

Looks way better too. One thing about the longer bolts, if you have 15" wheels make sure the bolt is not hanging down lower than the wheel lip.

 

I dunno. Your car looks pretty low to me, OP. How are you supposed to do any 4x4'in with that?