Front End Question.........
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,473
Likes: 10
From: New Paltz, New York USA
Front End Question.........
Actually 2 questions. I am thinking about buying a set of front springs from Mid-America. Question #1- There is a NOTE at the end of the description that says " Springs are shorter design than stock. Will this make any difference and will they still fit. it says they are for 1963-1982 and mine is an 81. Question #2- There are two different sets of springs, Grand Touring Front springs and Street and Slalom front springs. Which ones do you guys & gals suggest? I am also ordering the front end rebuild kit from them. Thanks for any help and have a nice weekend. :seeya
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 998
Likes: 1
From: Frisco TX
Re: Front End Question......... (Richard Cooper)
I just went to Napa and got stock replacements for $64. They were about 2-3 inches shorter than the stock rusty ones...
As far as the rebuilt of the front end, I just got done with that today (whew). Its a whippin. Air tools really help! I got my kit from Muskegon and it had everything I needed...
As far as the rebuilt of the front end, I just got done with that today (whew). Its a whippin. Air tools really help! I got my kit from Muskegon and it had everything I needed...
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 8,518
Likes: 3,863
From: Palm Springs, CA.
Re: Front End Question......... (goofygrin)
Hey Rich,
When the grand touring (the softer ones) are installed they will be the same hieght as your original ones. The slalom springs are just heavier and unless you drive the car hard, hard you probably won't be as happy with their stiffness.
Greg
When the grand touring (the softer ones) are installed they will be the same hieght as your original ones. The slalom springs are just heavier and unless you drive the car hard, hard you probably won't be as happy with their stiffness.
Greg
Racer
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 478
Likes: 3
From: Huntsville AL
Re: Front End Question......... (Richard Cooper)
Richard,
Here is what you may find when you replace the springs as I did. The new springs are shorter but stiffer so they won't compress as much plus the original springs had collapsed a bit with age. I found that my front end actually set up about an inch higher with the new 460# springs after I got them installed. So I ended up pulling them back out and cutting a full coil off them to get the front end back down to where it was with the original coil springs. There are some pics here of before and after cutting the coil off here www.angelfire.com/al/swhite7/frontend.html
YBNormal...drive a vette
Here is what you may find when you replace the springs as I did. The new springs are shorter but stiffer so they won't compress as much plus the original springs had collapsed a bit with age. I found that my front end actually set up about an inch higher with the new 460# springs after I got them installed. So I ended up pulling them back out and cutting a full coil off them to get the front end back down to where it was with the original coil springs. There are some pics here of before and after cutting the coil off here www.angelfire.com/al/swhite7/frontend.html
YBNormal...drive a vette
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 2,473
Likes: 10
From: New Paltz, New York USA
Re: Front End Question......... (Richard Cooper)
Thanks to all, Goofygrin I will go to NAPA tomorrow and check their prices.
greg, thanks, I was wondering which ones to use, now I know.
ybnormal, thanks for the pictures. This is a great place. :seeya
greg, thanks, I was wondering which ones to use, now I know.
ybnormal, thanks for the pictures. This is a great place. :seeya
