Eh have any of you guys put heavier/ stiffer springs in your camaro clips? What did you use? My truck is about 4000lbs and I wanna stiffen it up a bit. Thanx guys! -Shiny
There is a heavyer Trans Am spring. I'm using those in my truck. ( about $80 new, if I remember right...) Did not change the rideheight, but did change the stiffness.
Check out circle track suppliers, Speedway may even carry them. Springs in every weight range you could want.
You can also buy front overload shocks for a camaro. I run camaro shocks on a narrowed pacer uncer my 1956 F100. I tried the overload but was to stiff for my setup. Gary
Big block chevy or Pontiac would help some. You can also measure yours and cross referance to maybe something like Impala with A/C with a BBC
Trans Ams were factory lowered as compared to standard Firebirds. They were shipped with spacers between the A arm and frame to be able to get them on the transporters. They may not be the best for what you need. Big block Camaro springs should still be available and help some. If you can find some for big block with AC that would be better. I'd also check into big block ac Chevelle springs as I think the spring buckets are the same general diamater.
All of the older factory spring rates are very soft compared to modern spring rates. I used to have an old moog catalog that had all the specs and I remember using coils for a Kingswood wagon with a coil or 2 cut down to get ride height that I wanted in an old Camaro I had, the big block/Z28 springs are just a tad stiffer than the standard spring the wagon spring rate was highest
I found this chart from my Camaro stuff keep in mind this is for a first gen and I dont know if the pockets are the same size as later Camaros but the rates and heights are here to compare notice the rates marked at the side for big block and Z28 springs (these are pretty soft by modern spring rates) these are Moog part numbers
If you can get your hands on a Moog or TRW spring catalog you can look in the back (similar to the chart posted above) and figure something out. Most likely you'll come up with a full size GM car spring like out of an Electra that'll fit your spring pockets and then you'll cut them down a little in length as they are looooong springs compared to a Camaro; then you'll have something to do what you need....... Al in CT
Thanks guys. It has Z/28 springs in it now and is just shy of sitting on the snubbers, so its a lil heavy and they seemed to be fading I've thought about Impala springs or even 1/2ton truck springs, I can cut em to suit the rideheight. Was thinkin someone on here might have gone threw this already. I'll look into the old stockcar stuff, prolly got something kickin around. -Shiny
I found that the later camaros (74-up) were a lot heavier than the earlier cars - have you looked at the later springs or do you have them already?
When we originally built my '41 Ford some 20 years ago, we put a Nova clip in the front, and when it was all loaded with the sheetmetal and motor, it sat too low. We wound up trying some Impala springs up front, and eventually wound up with some Buick V6 springs. As you've already decided and others have suggested, I'd go with the Impala spring and cut coils to get it to your desired ride height. Otherwise, you may be stuck with a 1/2 or even a 3/4 ton pickup spring. Hell, these might even be the better option for you.
The Jalopy Journal
