cutting coil springs vs. heating them. need info!

I took a coil and a half off my Victoria the other day, and it sat on the bump stops. So i took them out, and now I have 20mm suspension travel... So I will get some thin rubber and put it in place of the bump stop, because I took it for a drive and it really did drive fine. I just need to block out the back now.

 

chances are your current springs are how old? and worn don't waste time cutting them just heat them slowly until the car starts lowering then back off. heat them evenly. run around with a tape measure. i lowered my 62 fairlane 4 inches in front 8 in the rear leaf springs i drove it daily it was my only driver for 4 years i put about 40,000 miles on that car i loved how the car handled and rode. before i lowered it i thought the car was going to roll over in hard corners i seriously beat the shit out of that car the springs never cracked.

i also had a 1981 malibu with heated front springs. drove it 3 years. then put 2 inch drop spindles and 3 inch drop springs in front it rode and handled like shit after that. i messed with two sets of adjustable shocks i still liked the ride and handling before. after the swap it was 1/2 inch lower.

in one summer i installed 9 sets of drop springs in imports and my fairlane handled and rode better than half of them.

heat them first. then replace them as needed or wanted with cut coils.

make sure your bump stop clearance is ok for suspension travel. too little rides like big time shit. run stiff shocks.

and if anyone gives a shit i'm ase certified and have over 10 years experience with alignments

 

Down here in NZ ,we cant do either,have to get springs made ,we have a good company that has data on all cars ,tell em type of car,weight,how much ya wanna go low etc,then they make a spring to suit.We have strong laws on springs, all because of the jap boy racer thing that goes on here, Cutting is ok I still think ,if down right !

 

thanks for all the input! cut,cut,cut,and cut! i'll have pics up of the Galaxie as soon as its
slammed and painted! thanks again!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Make sure you have before and after photos. No better feeling than lowering the jack to see where the car finally sits. Unless its still sky high.

 

EEEE...well if you want LOW and you want it now i guess cut-em..its gonna prob ride like shit..but leave your bump stops your gonna need them or else it will sound and Ride even worse then shit...Like Mega shit..: P

 

so I just read this post from you talking about all that drama in Sacramento, and you were speaking some good truth.

so why be a dick to this dude?

last time I checked none of us started out knowing everything
and most of us sure as hell did not get to start out with a 50 merc...

point is, why make fun of some one because of what they have or dont have and because they asked a genuine question?

was it a rather elementry one?
yes, but the point should be the same.

I guess I would just expect more from some one that has been around as long as you have.

c/s
give it
get it

 

First off...... there's alot of young talent on this site.I'm amazed at the workmanship and building skills of the "Young Guns"
But Bad Bob?
Have you ever really built a car from ground up?
or did you buy a running car off Ebay
Bad Bob,
I've seen you type before
Your the kinda guy that bothers every car "Celebrity" to have your picture taken with them so you can display it on your garage wall (As if you're best friends with them)
"LOOK AT ME!"
You attend all the car shows, only to walk around and make fun of everyone's car and point out everything that is wrong with them
Your kind has never built a car from scratch
You have 12000 Posts?....... Maybe that time should have been spent in your Garage building something instead of posting some of your wise ass remarks
Let's see................Jessee James has 200 Posts
Ya know where he's been
"Littleman" has 112 posts
Your Probably not a "Bad" guy........ so don't take it personal
I'd just have more respect for you, if you could show us what you can build rather than all the remarks
I'm not impressed in "Who ya know"
by the Way...................You ain't nobody
DORK!
As for me?
I've probably built more cars, in my lifetime than you've owned

Sorry,I didn't mean to Steal a thread

Here's another one of BAD BOB's Answers
Re: Shirley Muldowney

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Quote:
Originally Posted by Trichop
That's Funny..................I just watched it last week!
I'm converting all my old VHS tapes to DVD
Who wants to start a thread on old "HOT ROD" movies? and Car Movies

1. 2 lane Blacktop
2. American Grafitti
3. Hot Rod Girls
4. Heart like a wheel
5. Christine
6. Ghost of Dragstrip Hallow?
Come On!
Give me more!


Bad Bob's Reply.........


There's about 20 of them already! Don't waste your time...or ours!
__________________
"I ain't nobody,DORK!"
MoFo's cc
HAMB Merc Club (Check out the thread!!!)
*SHIRTS COMING SOON!!!*

 

Sounds like a lot of work!

Just drop a 429 or 460 motor in it and put a 100 gallon gas tank in the trunk to keep her fired up, and then yea'll have a tire burnin, spark makin, low rider that will be a blast to drive!

 

I use the all the time, my preferrred blade is Milwaukee "the torch".
butter baby butter.

not really, so you passed a test, doesn't mean you get to give bad advice, and heating coils is bad advice...


Where do I get a flamed mouse pad?

 

I've use a cut-off wheel and a sawzall. Both seen to work.
We even bought a set of shortened springs. This is a total waste of money - cut em off.

Whats with some of the hostility on this site.
State you opinion, ask for advice, mispell something. Somebody's always ready to jump on your ass. I guess if you can make somebody feel smaller you are somehow made bigger.

 

I want to thank you for covering this topic as I was curious as well.

 

MercDeuceMan, Nice , yeah if a guy spends too much time on the computer, he ain't doin to much in the garage, right on brother

 

well said MERCDEUCEMAN!

 

Here's the result of "torch slammin" by the PO of my '63 C-10 next to a new spring. Suspension was bump rubber only and it sucked.

 

I have not read all of the responses, so I apologize if I repeat what was said:

Cutting them screws up the spring rate & heating screws up the heat-treat. Call up Eaton and get springs w/ desired drop and the correct rate. It will cost more, but worth it. At the same time, the other methods have worked for decades I guess...

 

Can someone post a pic of how to cut a coil spring with a chop saw? I just can't visualize it...

Heat kills coil springs. My brother in law loaned us a '68 shortbox once with heated springs. The thing rode like a 2x4 on rollerskates.

 

eaton will only do a two inch max drop.......

 

mercdeucman, i needed u on my thread when i was lookin to see some door art

 

Cut. Measure twice, cut once.