I'M ordering springs for my Impala and I'M thinking of getting BBC springs. I need to cut them to the height I need either way. The BBC springs are stiffer and I think they will bottom less and have less body roll. Does this sound like reasonable thinking?
Just be aware that springs will settle after awhile. My buddy cut coils in his car and after a year, it settled too much and he had to get new springs. I put new springs in the front of my Biscayne. It looked like a g***er for about a year. The biggest improvement in handling came from using Hotckis suspension pieces and sway bars.
That's good to know , I will leave some extra or just install them and let it sit a while with the car on them. Thanks. I think before I get sway bars etc, I need to get power disc breaks.
I would just put them in. On my daily I bought a parts truck that had the heavy duty springs, sway bar and all and then put my stuff on it and sold it.
Even the stock springs will be stiffer after you cut them, a bit, just figure what percent of the spring you remove and that is the amount of stiffness you gain. I too would recommend sway bars, they make all the difference in the world, and only take a few minutes to install.
I bought new coils for the front of my Thunderbird and cut 1 1/4 off before I installed them. That was 2 years ago and the car still sits at the same height. If you do cut them,DO NOT use a torch,use a cut-off wheel and start with 1 full coil,install them and see if that's how you want it to look.
Excelent , I had no plans to torch them , sawzall probably. Looks like I might have to invest in a nice thick sway bar and bushings.
Herb Adams has a great book on ch***is design. Be aware of ride quality, how much one guy likes is way to rough for another. Remember that roll stiffness can be reduced by stiffer springs, but the tire/wheel ***embly won't react as quickly to bumps, stiffer springs make it stiffer for the whole car, not just the body. Also remember shocks control the harmonics of the springs, so if your shocks are shot they'll only get worse. I bring it up because you'll be pulling them out anyway, so check them before you install anything. By the way I run Moroso "trick" springs in the front of my Firebird, 230 lb/in with a coil cut. The stock v-6 springs (300 lb/in) were causing jounce/rebound handling issues. Now it handles better and rides smoother with lighter springs. I let the sway bars control the roll. I've taken about 400 lbs off my front end and I think springs can be too stiff.
I transplanted a 305 into a BB Impala several years ago, and I had to cut a full coil to get the front end down to a reasonable height. I would suggest you go a half coil at a time until you get the right stance, and remember that a loaded coil spring is dangerous as hell.
In case anyone cares I have replaces all the springs with new , one coil off the rear and get this... 3 full coils off the front , I think it's sitting ok now. These are the wheels and tires I plan on using. I did new ball joints and break lines / swaybar bushigs and all new rubbers. What do ya think? Sitting OK? Thank for the input guys..
Watch out for poor quality springs. I bought some replacement springs for our two 86 Cutl***', cut them with a grinder and cutoff wheel. The cars sat too high in the front so I just cut them enough to get the cars to sit even/level, I didn't "slam" them. After a year (as daily drivers) three of the four springs broke. I never checked the box but I'd be willing to bet they were made in China...well like they say, that's the way the egg rolls.
They were " raybestos" springs. Used a cut off wheel to cut them. Rockauto.com ,$80 for the front and the same for the rear. Sorry to hear about your misfortune with your springs. I know how much it ****s taking them out / cutting / back in / cut/ back in / cut some more, lol.
Yeah, it was a pain. Finally got them sitting right and then a year later the wife is paying for gas as i'm pumping it and she says "the car is sitting crooked". Your car sits nice, hope it doesn't settle too much.
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