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I'm looking to lower my 79 and I'm wondering about the ride Tech 2-in drops springs. I've read some comments that it only drops an inch and other comments that it drops up to 2 but these were not on 79s.
Could anyone that has put these on a 79 tell me what they actually do drop?
TIA
Every. Spring and every car will be different to a degree. I have the 550 pound springs that are claimed to drop the front 2 inches but I trimmed 2 inches off the total height and it ended up like I wanted.
The dual rate lowering springs lowered my car 1”. 550 springs lowered my other car about the same amount; both are ‘78’s. 18x8” wheels, 255/45/18 continental extreme contact; same diameter as OEM tires. I tried smaller front tires, but the oil pan was scraping on speed bumps. Rear spring lowering bolts to match 1” drop. Charlie
Thank you. It looks like you could come down another inch in the front if you wanted to. Would that be a problem?
I tried smaller diameter tires to lower a little more. Oil pan scraped on speed bumps unless I crept over them very slowly. There was a previous CF post where the Ridetech springs had a coil removed to get an extra inch.
I feel if I'm going to cut coil springs, I'll cut my stock ones. I run KYP gas adjust shocks and I definitely don't need the car any firmer. If I bounce all my body weight on any corner of the car it might Flex a 1/4 inch. She's stiff.
Are there coil overs that bolt to OEM control arms?
Yes,the instructions call for drilling out,knocking out the lower 5/16 nuts that are welded to the lower shock mount for 3/8 bolts but I didn't want to change anything I couldn't go back to stock so I just used a longer 5/16 bolt and put a nut on the end. These are set about 3/4 down on the shock body,I could go about 2 more inches. I like my cars lowered but not stupid low. At the ride height I won't go over a speed bump and the front spoiler will skim the ground if I come out if a steep driveway too fast. Lowered cars aren't for everybody but I'll sacrifice a little to get the look I want. This was before I lowered the car. It took me about an hour to get the stock spring out and 30-45 minutes to put the coil overs in ,each side.
Both pictures are after I rebuilt/upgraded the OEM L-82 with aluminum AFR heads which significantly lightened the weight over the front axle. The ultra high performance summer only tires and rims are SLP 17's with 255/45/17's in front and 255/50/17's in the rear (needed to preserve the OD of the tire in the back because of 3.70 gears and 1:1 4 speed manual). I had to cut a half a coil off the front 550 springs after the engine was reinstalled and have a 360lbs composite monospring in the back since the late 80's.....
Second picture has C4 Borla Type S mufflers along with 1 7/8 inch long tube headers versus very restrictive Monza Turbo mufflers in the first pic with shorty headers I put on the car in the late 80's.....The 355 L-82 now is probably one of the more powerful SBC's (including just about any 383) I have experienced and the sound from those Borla Type S's are like no other muffler and worth every premium dollar for them....quiet at cruise, muted rumble at idle, and get your attention at mid to high throttle.....
Last edited by jb78L-82; Aug 14, 2025 at 09:05 AM.
why in the fuc4 did i have to verify my post are you shm
Lowering question
