The 50 Olds I bought has air bags. I am thinking about replacing them with springs. What has anyone used to lower the car an inch or two, and handle good?
I am in Australia, and I used late 70’s Ford Falcon coils in the front and early 70’s Holden Torana coils in the rear. The Torana is an Aussie produced small Chev, probably the size of a Nova, I’m sure you will find an equivalent spring in the US. Good luck.
1968-72 GM intermediate rear coils will bolt in. There is quite a range of springs from a Chevelle to an Olds Vista Cruiser wagon.
If you call Eaton Detroit Springs and tell them that you want stock springs -2", they will make them for you.....and they will be a 2" drop. I've used them several times and the lady that answers the phone is the owner's wife. She's been doing it a long time and she will steer you to what you want. https://www.eatondetroitspring.com/
I will vouch for Eatons as well. I had cut stockers under my 50, and it was too much. Did 2" drop eatons up front and couldn't be happier. I did 79 elcamino springs in the back, but they matched the cut stock fronts, so I don't have them in currently.
I used 70 BB Chevelle springs with air in front of my '57. Took 1.5 coils off and the car sits 1 inch lowered. The resulting spring rate is more performance oriented. Handling is very subjective, some like a soft, flaccid ride. The 39-57 Pontiac & Olds suspensions are very similar. The Olds front suspension is basically the same from 39-53. I found KYB shocks for a 61-73 Volvo front were perfect for a 1 inch drop and firm ride. If you can find a larger front sway bar that fits, this will help also but I have no idea what would fit as Buick, Olds, Pontiac & Cadillac were all slightly different. Go figure. Keep us posted!
I finally got the car in drivable condition, and went for a test ride. It is un drivable on anything but a super smooth road. The air ride is going away, and I will be calling a few spring shops on Monday. Eaton Spring wants $400 a pair, plus another $75 for a 2" drop. That would be $950 plus tax and shipping. Way too expensive for me.
Get some used stock springs from French lake auto and cut off 1.5 rounds off the front and 1 round off the rear (***uming the rears are 1 diameter top to bottom)
Healey Spring is now standard spring, and only does big truck springs now. So no luck there. I called French Lake and they told me they don't sell coil springs. So that's out.
When I was shopping for lowered leaf springs for my Olds project, I went to Eaton first. VERY expensive! Somehow I got to Jamco's website (the guys that do shoebox Ford stuff), and found that they would make the springs I needed for just about half of what Easton wanted. I don't know if they still do that, though.
If they are the same as a 50 Buick, I may still have my cut stockers around if you want to try them. They are flat on both ends (no pig tail).
Does the car have shocks? Lots of poorly done air ride set ups omit relocating the shocks. I would be investigating that if it rides poorly.
Yes stock shocks all round. I don’t know if they are the same as Buicks as I have nothing to compare with. I have read mid 80’s Olds Cutlas fits the rear, or 70’s C10. But nothing about the front.
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