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This is a great forum! People helping people! it's cool. I bought this thing right at the end of Summer. Learning as much as I can and getting it road ready for when it dries out here in the Pacific Northwest.
I am just unsure of what it look like if I change the rear, so it is safe...and the front remains the same. I don't have enough experience to know about how it will look, I don't want it to look "jacked" up in the back. My current tires look fine, but are old and need to be replaced, I am looking at some options now. Those BF T/A's mostly..... Currently they are 255 60 R15.
Last edited by JeffWhite73; Dec 15, 2016 at 09:19 PM.
Here is a photograph of my '73. The prior owner told me the suspension is stock front and rear and I'm running 245-60-R15's on all four. Mine sits a little higher in the rear end than yours, but about the same in the front. With my tires on the stock rally's the front tires just kiss the frame rails when my front wheels are fully locked in either direction. I would check for any clearance issues in the front if you go any wider. If it were my car, I would fix the safety issue with the rear bolts and before I did anything else to the suspension, I would determine what size tires and wheels I was going to run. You'll find many people change to 17" and 18" wheels so they can run a larger verity of tires dependent on their driving parameters. Once the tire and wheel sizes are determined it may cause you to adjust the suspension accordingly. Beautiful car by the way!
OldCarBum, The way yours sits looks great. If that's how mine will look by putting in the correct length bolts and solving the safety issue, that's great! Like I mentioned, I am looking at new tires, so the 245 vs. the 255 is that they are a bit narrower? When I get a minute, I will scroll back through this and see what length bolts you are using. I had really planned on using the same wheels.
The bolts on mine are stock, with the stock springs. I'll be doing a frame off rebuild of my car within the next year. I'm replacing my wheels but staying with 15". When I reassemble the car I'll replace and upgrade the suspension, brakes, steering, transmission, engine and more.
I was just afraid if I went to stock bolts, the back of the car would be ridiculously high, compared to the front. Doesn't appear to be the case, however. Yours looks good.
Its a real safety issue with the bolts hanging lower than the rim. If you had a low tire, flat or a blowout it could cause a major injury accident.
There are recommended ways to lower your corvette on this forum.
I'd install 8" bolts. If its then too high I would replace the spring with a composite spring from VB&P.
Oh man! ok, I get the point! that looks exactly like what I have now, will be changing that this Winter before driving at all! Thanks for the advice! I will look for an 8" bolt kit. Any preference and or suggestions on where to purchase, said kit?
A 255-60 series tire is slightly wider and taller than a 245-60 series tire.
My rear spring and bolts are exactly the same as posted in the photographs attached by DonnieP73 in post #4 of this thread.
Kid Vette is right on the money. Can you imagine if that happened on the highway at 65-70 mph???
No, I don't even want to think about it! I think I will price the 245-60. I will look at a stock bolt kit, the way yours is sitting looks great. I will check Eckler's?
Oh man! ok, I get the point! that looks exactly like what I have now, will be changing that this Winter before driving at all! Thanks for the advice! I will look for an 8" bolt kit. Any preference and or suggestions on where to purchase, said kit?
Got my rear leaf spring bolts changed out (stock length now), hopefully will get some dry weather up here in the Pacific Northwest this coming weekend and I can go for a drive and let the suspension settle a bit. When I had everything apart I noticed the right rear brake caliper is leaking. Looking for advice on best Service Manual I can get for my 73 so I can determine if I can tackle that project on my own, or not.
Jeff,
Here's the one I have. I've used it along with my AIM for Reference many times. The one I have is an old original. These are easily found on eBay. There may be others on the market too.
Good Luck,
Tooch
Hi Jeff,
Since there's been mention of the Chassis Service Manual I thought I'd encourage you to purchase a 73 Assembly Instruction Manual too.
It contains detailed information/drawings about how the cars were assembled in St.Louis.
It won't help you with your leaking caliper per se but will help you understand how they were originally installed which may help you get it off and back on at this point.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
PS: Looking at the length of the bolt that was on the car and comparing it to the original leads me to believe the rear of this car will be quite a bit higher even after the suspension settles. What is causing this will have to be determined.
From the photo it appears the spring MAY be a replacement spring and that may be affecting the car's ride height.
The use of the longer bolts is common, but is just a 'quick fix' which doesn't address the cause of the high ride height.
Thanks, I will google the Assembly Instruction Manual, as well. The height in the rear isn't as high as I expected it would be initially, and I haven't had a chance to drive it yet. I can post pics later. I would have to investigate to know how to spot the difference of an "original" spring versus replacement.
