Sorry, it seems the closer the car comes to completion the more stupid questions I have. What kind of spring compressor did all of you you use? Rent? Buy?

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...p-3169/c-10101

That seems like the only kind that would fit but it's expensive! Thanks!

Bry

 

I use one just like it. I bought mine from a tool outlet store. works good and most of the time i can just go up through the upper shock mount hole and just tighten it up to remove the lower control arm on the older gm trucks.

Larry

 

Go rent one from your local auto zone. They will charge you like $45 or so, but they give you back all of your money when you bring it back.

I kept one for 2 weeks, and they didn't say anything.

 

This style spring compressor will work best because (as said above) you can insert it through the hole that is there for the shock.

You said you are close to re-assembly/completion, which springs are you going to install ? I noticed that the car's weight is good enough to compress the relativly short 460lbs springs. I needed my compressor only to get the old springs out.

If you have the 460lbs springs then you may want to cut 3/4 coil off, my front was very high at 29" after I installed them.

If you cut them then you really don't need the compressor for the installation.

 

You can get one of these at Harbor Freight for about $15. I took mine apart and useing a 2 foot piece of 5/8" all thread and some nuts was able to take the front springs out of my '70. It has no body and no engine. Had no problems.

BigBlockk

Later.....

 

Thanks for all the input.

RedBad: The springs are new from the previous owner's start of a restoration, however, many people convinced me to do a frame off resto so I'm taking everything off to get it sandblasted.

I like the idea of renting from AZ or buying if its only $15

is this the one? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=3980

and what do you mean 2 foot peice 5/8" all thread?

 

Bryan: No that is NOT the one you need. That is an external spring compressor. You want an INTERNAL spring compressor like your link from J. C. Whitney. You may need to go to a local Harbor Freight store to get one.

As far as the all thread goes, I have a small problem (well, my wife sez I got a big problem but thats another story) in that my frame was stripped down. No body, no motor. There was no weight to compress the front springs. So I went to the hardware store and got a 5/8" piece of all thread. This is a 3' rod that is all threads. Get 3 nuts, 2 good size washers and some anti seize.

These spring compressors are great but trying to put them together inside the spring is a PITA. Now one side of these is a screw fit and the other is a slip fit. So, I took mine apart and useing only the slip fit side I assembled the compressor inside the spring with the all thread sticking up through the top shock mounting hole. Two jam nuts on the bottom to hold the compressor. One nut and two washers with generous amounts of anti seize on the top to compress the spring. The jam nuts are in case you need to use a sockit to keep the all thread from turning while your compressing the spring. Start crankin.

You can pull the spring clear out of the lower control arm with this puppy.

Hope this helps.

BigBlockk

Later.....

 

Bryan, forget HFT, rent the one from AutoZone for $50 or so and get it back when finished. I have the HFT type and it's good for some things but for not putting springs on Corvettes.

 

have 2 set's