kolsen911

I'd like to lower the front of my Hemi/Vette. It has the stock coil springs. I believe I could take them out myself, then maybe take them to a shop and have them cut. Does anyone know how much cut will give you how much drop??

GTOguy

It's not precise. A half coil cut off can lower the car 2" or more. And cutting the spring causes the spring rate to increase, which stiffens it up a lot. Did this once to a car I had 25 years ago and would not do it again. In fact, after about 6 months, I grew tired of the harsh ride and slammed look and returned the car to stock. Your best bet is custom springs, which will lower the car but maintain good ride quality.

Vette5311

AZDoug

This probably applied to your car. To be sure, you need to measure the distance from the control arm pivot to the center of the spring and to the mounting flange the wheel bolts to. That ratio, determines the amount to cut.
Doug

dinocajic

This is huge in the budget import tuner world. I've seen people cut a small amount 10+ times until they get it just right. I couldn't do it. Take the springs off, cut, then put it back and drive it until the suspension settles to see if you have to take it off again and make another small cut.

bosshog8

I have similar flares to you and cut 1 coil off new 460# springs. It's pretty low. I would have bought the QA1 coil overs if I knew it was thing at the time, which it may or may not have been. I'll probably retrofit to them at some point because I would prefer to have the adjustability.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/qa1-gs507-09450d

All you need to cut them is a $2 cutoff wheel and a grinder. Takes about a minute. If you take them somewhere don't let them use a torch to cut them. Always cold cut springs.

Also, I'm not sure what a Hemi represents in terms of the weight of your front end but I'm running a small block with the 460# springs.

Drothgeb

3JsVette

I agree with all the others. The is no guarantee you will get the drop you are looking for. On top of that yes you will stiffen the ride. With that said since several of us have already told you you need custom springs or coil overs you can cut 1/2 a coil and see what happens. You may be happy with it which is something you are not happy with now. As far as cutting the spring goes you can cut them with a cut off wheel or even a sawsall or hacksaw if the blade is good. Yes it's not easy but it can be done. Ask me how I know.

cv67

Wouldnt go more than 1/2 coil at a time. I found out the hard way..1 coil was good but still had a fair gap. out came another coil, 1/2 in too low.
Can always cut more off-If need be they make aluminum spacers of different thicknesses you can slide under them.

jimbo1972

I have been looking at the Viking coil over kit for C2's. Gets great reviews and is well priced and you can lower/raise the car as your please.
Off topic.....what size wheels/tires/offset are you running on the hemi-vette? They look great!
-Jimbo

ejboyd5

Haphazard cutting is an old school, low budget approach that we did as kids with junk cars along with torching to change the spring rates. Not very precise and difficult to get the two sides the same, but what did we really care. Much better methods are available today and your car deserves them.

Pop Chevy

If I had your car and wanted to lower the front, I wouldn't hesitate to take 1/2 coil off it. I lowered my Chevy Colorado that way and it worked out well. I took a full coil off it and it went down 2", just where I wanted it. That was 2 yrs ago and it's still that way. BTW I am old AND old school !

reno stallion

I cut one full coil the car rides and handles great and looks good. I do not have any before pics because the engine was out when I got it. I cant see that cutting only half would do much. I'm running 225/70s and they do not rub. I did rebuild the front suspension first.

Tiros

What springs you have now? You said stock but there are two kinds of stock spring.
The F40/F41 spring is less tall than standard spring, and iirc it lowers front about an inch from std.
The standard spring has more coils and thinner wire.

kolsen911

Here's the issue. When I get the car up on my 4 post lift and walk around underneath, I notice something is off. The passenger side of the car is higher by about an inch. When I measure the bottom of the frame to the ground under the side vents the distance is equal 6". Bottom ball joint nut to ground is also equal but the body is higher, fender well, and distance from the turn signal area is off by about and inch. It appears the body is tilted. Is it possible the the body is not mounted to the frame square on the right front?

Vette5311

Kevova

Body mounting anything is possible. It would be unlikely on a virgin car. It is curious.
With the springs I would get different front springs vs cut and guess. Stock car suppliers offer different rates and lengths to dial in height and ride your looking for. Hobby or street stock springs are normally thrifty. Larger front stabilizer can be used to compensate for low rate front springs. Stock springs could be reinstalled if life changes require it.

kolsen911

No, I don't see any evidence of damage.




Oh the Wheels and Tires::

ET 17" wheels (found them some place in the SFO area) and the tires are Firestone Indy 225 X 55. I think the backspace was 4.5 ".

Pop Chevy

Possible but not probable. Didn't you have coil overs put on the back? Is one higher than the other? What happens to the rear affects the front as in weight jacking. You could also have a bad front spring from the weight of the engine. Many variables.

kolsen911

I remember in 65 they had heavier springs for the big block than the small block. I don't know what these are and yes the lower one could be weak. The conversion to coil overs out here would be about $2000 so I'm looking at other avenues first. I'll get my micrometer and measure the two springs, it would be to easy if one was for a small block and the other for a big block.